Goldman Sachs

Strategic Roadmap and Goals - Goldman Sachs 2020 Investor Day

Goldman Sachs is advancing a strategic transformation through its "One Goldman Sachs" initiative, which unifies siloed franchises to deliver holistic client solutions while targeting a Return on Equity exceeding 13% over the next three years. The firm is capitalizing on the digital revolution and sustainability themes by launching a $750 billion financing target and expanding into adjacent sectors like transaction banking and digital consumer finance to drive durable revenue growth. Guided by core values of partnership and integrity, the leadership team leverages its global scale and top-tier talent to optimize operational efficiency and maintain a CET1 capital ratio between 13% and 13.5% while executing long-term growth plans.

Karlie Kloss, Model and Founder of Kode With Klossy

Karlie Kloss

Supermodel Karlie Kloss leveraged her early fashion success to pivot toward technology, founding the "Code with Klossy" scholarship program that has since taught over 2,500 girls in 25 U.S. cities to code. Expanding her influence beyond modeling, she now hosts *Project Runway* and uses her 8.5 million social media followers to advocate for women in leadership while mentoring the next generation of innovators. Her career trajectory, driven by a desire to bridge the gap between creative industries and technical education, emphasizes vulnerability and continuous learning to dismantle barriers for young women.

Steve Inskeep, NPR Host and Author of "Imperfect Union"

Steve Inskeep, Tanya Cushman, Steve Yensky

Journalist Steve Yensky discusses the enduring power of audio storytelling and the historical legacy of the Fremonts in his new book, *Imperfect Union*, which details how John Charles and Jessie Benton invented modern celebrity through the strategic use of the telegraph and newspapers during the 1856 presidential campaign. Yensky draws parallels between that 19th-century political realignment and contemporary demographic shifts while analyzing modern geopolitical tensions, such as the dangerous strategic calculations underlying U.S.-Iran relations and the 2020 killing of General Soleimani. The conversation concludes with reflections on the journalist's need for constant readiness in a chaotic news cycle and a critique of social media as a source of misinformation compared to established news apps.

David M. Rubenstein, The Carlyle Group Co-Founder and Author of "The American Story"

David M. Rubenstein

David Rubenstein, co-founder and executive chair of The Carlyle Group, recounts his transition from a legal career in public service to establishing a pioneering global private equity firm driven by the power of persuasion. Drawing parallels between historical figures like Abraham Lincoln and modern leadership challenges, Rubenstein emphasizes that effective leadership relies on oral communication, persuasive writing, and leading by example to navigate complex environments. He concludes by urging current and future generations to dedicate their careers to work they love while striving to leave their communities better than they found them.

Daniel Lubetzky, Founder and Executive Chairman of KIND Snacks

Daniel Lubetzky

Daniel Lubetzky leverages his childhood experience as a concentration camp survivor to forge a career that merges peacebuilding economics with the snack industry, founding PeaceWorks to foster Middle Eastern cooperation and Kind Bars to disrupt the market with transparent nutrition. His entrepreneurial journey, shaped by early retail setbacks and a rigorous focus on consumer demand, established a corporate culture that extends equity to all employees and funds the Kind Foundation's Empatico platform to cultivate global empathy among children. Through high-stakes roles on "Shark Tank," Lubetzky continues to apply these principles of shared interest and resilience, utilizing his real investment capital to mentor entrepreneurs while scaling his dual mission of kindness and economic integration.

Paul Lindley OBE, Founder of Ella’s Kitchen

Paul Lindley OBE, Natasha Pope

Paul Lindley founded Ella's Kitchen in 2006 by applying his Nickelodeon experience to create a $100 million global baby food brand that prioritizes health over profit, eventually transitioning the company into a UK-certified B Corporation to legally embed stakeholder values. After funding the venture through personal mortgage remortgaging and securing an initial deal with Sainsbury's, Lindley sold the business while mandating its adherence to environmental and ethical standards that outpace traditional shareholder primacy. Today, the enterprise serves as a case study for how purpose-driven leadership and "childlike" internal reward systems can challenge short-term economic metrics and influence future corporate structures.

Former Ambassador Nikki Haley, Author of "With All Due Respect"

Nikki Haley

Former South Carolina Governor and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley details her career navigating domestic polarization, her decisive removal of the Confederate flag in South Carolina, and her assertive diplomatic strategy at the U.N. during the Trump administration. Drawing on her unique background as the daughter of Indian immigrants, she outlines her confrontational approaches toward regimes in Iran, China, and Russia while advocating for increased global engagement and urging ordinary citizens to enter public service. Haley concludes that her experiences with international atrocities have provided perspective on domestic political conflicts, emphasizing that the United States must prioritize its own interests while maintaining alliances.

Stephen Schwarzman – Blackstone CEO and Author of "What It Takes"

Stephen Schwarzman

Founded in 1985 by Steve Schwarzman and Pete Peterson, Blackstone evolved from a struggling startup with no initial capital into a global asset manager overseeing $550 billion in assets through a strategy focused on data mining and strict investment discipline. Schwarzman's career trajectory, marked by his unconventional entry into Lehman Brothers and his ability to bridge divergent operational styles, enabled the firm to capitalize on specific macro-economic inflections and create unique underwriting opportunities. Beyond financial growth, the event details Schwarzman's analysis of U.S.-China political dynamics, his prediction that trade deals require immediate execution due to shifting market realities, and his broader reflections on leadership patterns drawn from historical figures like Jack Welch and accidental presidents.

Tom Brokaw, Author of "The Fall of Richard Nixon: A Reporter Remembers Watergate"

Tom Brokaw, Richard Nixon

In a new memoir, journalist Tom Brokaw chronicles the Watergate scandal and President Nixon's 1974 resignation, emphasizing how the "California crew's" hubris and efficient control systems led to the unprecedented imprisonment of Nixon's top aides. Brokaw details the methodical, cross-party investigation led by Peter Rodino and Bill Cohen, which utilized limited 1970s news cycles to dismantle Nixon's claims of executive privilege and result in a landmark Supreme Court ruling. The narrative also explores Brokaw's personal career trajectory, including his refusal of a White House offer from Haldeman and his later coverage of the Berlin Wall's fall, framing these events through the lens of journalistic integrity and the dangers of unchecked political power.

Safi Bahcall, Author of "Loonshots"

Safi Bahcall, Safi Bakal, Charlie

Drawing on his experience as a PCAST advisor and biotech entrepreneur, Safi Bakal advocates for a structural strategy that protects fragile, high-impact innovations from the risk-averse cultures of large organizations. Through the "Vannevar Bush" model and case studies like the invention of statins and Nokia's missed opportunity, Bakal demonstrates that innovation fails not due to a lack of ideas, but because organizations fail to quarantine "loon shots" from standard operational metrics. His framework urges leaders to actively manage the tension between creative scientists and operational managers to ensure that groundbreaking technologies, such as vascularized 3D-printed organs, survive the critical "three deaths" required for success.

Dr. Arie Belldegrun, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, Allogene Therapeutics

Dr. Arie Belldegrun, Dr. Ari Beldegren, Owen Weedy, Steve Rosenberg, David

Dr. Ari Beldergren and Owen Weedy founded Kite Pharma to commercialize NIH-licensed engineered T-cell therapies that overcame industry skepticism regarding the complexity of living drugs. The venture successfully demonstrated the ability to induce complete remission in terminal cancer patients, attracting David from Amgen and catalyzing a sector now comprising roughly 300 companies. Beldergren defines the organization's legacy by its tangible impact on patient survival across lymphoma, bladder cancer, and prostate cancer, positioning clinical improvement as the primary metric for the field's value.

The Most Rev. Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church

Michael Curry, The Most Rev. Michael Curry

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, the first African-American to lead the Episcopal Church, navigated profound internal tensions regarding LGBTQ+ rights while uniting the denomination through his 2018 wedding sermon for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. His tenure emphasized racial justice initiatives in the American South and facilitated a nuanced resolution at Canterbury Cathedral to keep the church within the global Anglican Communion despite theological disagreements. This leadership, rooted in a faith born of ancestral resilience, culminated in a message delivered to two billion viewers that championed love as the essential force for bridging societal divides.

Ethan Brown, Founder and CEO of Beyond Meat

Ethan Brown

Founder Ethan Brown directs Beyond Meat's mission to replace animal protein with plant-based alternatives that simultaneously address human health, climate change, and resource conservation. The company leverages proprietary extrusion technology and strategic retail expansion to secure partnerships with major chains like McDonald's and Subway while aiming to become a global leader rivaling Tyson and JBS. Supported by high-profile athlete endorsements and data showing up to 99% reduction in water and land usage, Beyond Meat is actively scaling its operations into Asian and European markets to drive a cultural shift toward sustainable eating.

Wes Moore, CEO of Robin Hood

Wes Moore, Asahi Pompei

Former Governor Wes Moore and Robin Hood Foundation CEO outlines how systemic failures in housing, justice, and employment sustain poverty for millions in New York City despite high employment rates. Drawing on his personal journey from homelessness in the Bronx to military service and academic excellence, Moore argues that solving the crisis requires addressing historical inequities like redlining alongside data-driven philanthropy. He challenges the notion of a post-racial society, asserting that explicit policy reforms are essential to dismantle the racial wealth gap and prevent the sixty percent of individuals lifted from poverty from falling back in.

Lord John Browne, Author of "Make, Think, Imagine: Engineering the Future of Civilization"

Lord John Browne, John Browne, David

Former BP CEO John Browning traces his career from Cambridge physics student to engineer, highlighting how his early fieldwork shaped a strategic shift toward climate accountability and measurable environmental goals despite industry isolation. He argues that oil and gas firms must address Scope 3 emissions while leveraging carbon capture and nuclear fission as near-term solutions, all underpinned by the belief that civilization relies on an engineering platform rather than humanities. Browning further contends that automation will evolve to prioritize human empathy, warns against reactive regulation regarding emerging technologies, and asserts that economies dependent on obsolete industries face extinction rather than redemption.