Duke Sanford School of Public Policy Professor Anirudh Krishna has been studying a seemingly simple question: why do people in certain countries just seem better at some things than others? Think of the large number of world-class runners from Jamaica like Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, or the long list of top female golfers from South Korea. Why are people in tiny Estonia keep hatching software companies worth billions? Krishna's research shows that these examples are due in large part to structures that are specifically designed to support the rise of talent. By giving a fair chance to everyone these "ladders of opportunity" both produce champions and serve as avenues of upward mobility, supporting community development. Krishna's TED Talk, The 7 Pillars of Unlocking Potential, has garnered half a million views. His latest book is The Broken Ladder: The Paradox and Potential of India's One-Billion.