In her talk, Iyengar explained how the challenges of making choices in today’s dynamic world are getting more and more complex. She highlighted her own experiences and research studies to develop a list of steps that individuals can follow to get the most out of their choice and shared it with the audience.

Iyengar suggested we think bigger (what do we want to accomplish?), be choosy about choosing (minimize your choices); develop expert intuition (using your experience); and combine opinions of others.

Iyengar’s work has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, and on CNN, PBS, and the BBC. Her TED talks have attracted more than 5 million views.

Iyengar’s most influential research focused on the psychology of decision-making, addressing how humans face challenges in a world with too many choices. Her current research examines how we construct our selves and social networks, and how we experience authenticity in an increasingly technological and uncertain world.

The event was part of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s “Better Tomorrow Speaker Series” to bring experts from around the world to address important issues of our time. The Shidler College of Business served as the title sponsor. Other sponsors included College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Hawai‘i Community Foundation, Kahala Hotel & Resort, Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work, Scholars Strategy Network and UH Mānoa Alumni Relations.