Based on research, business professor Thomas Wright describes what character is and why it matters. He gives a personal example to demonstrate the “heads, hands, and heart” approach to character development. Thomas A. Wright is currently the Felix E. Larkin Distinguished Professor in Management at Fordham University. He received his PhD from the University of California, Berkeley. Wright enjoys conducting research and consulting on such topics as character-based leadership, optimizing employee performance, developing effective employee recruitment and retention strategies, and finding innovative ways to enhance employee health and well-being. In recognition of his career accomplishments, he has been awarded Fellow status in the Association for Psychological Science, the American Psychological Association and the Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology. The highlight of his professional career has been publishing a number of articles with his father, Vincent P. Wright This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx