Milken Institute
Showing 31–45 of 1442 transcripts.
- 59 min
FinTech's Global Playbook: Breaking Barriers and Borders | Global Conference 2026
Nicole Valentine, Roberto Campos Neto, Denelle Dixon, Nigel Morris, Haseeb Qureshi, Barry Silbert
Industry pioneers including Roberto Campos Neto, Nigel Morris, and Danelle Dixon convened to map the global shift from legacy banking to a decentralized financial system driven by stablecoins, tokenization, and AI. The panel detailed how digital rails like Stellar and Nubank are bancarizing millions in Latin America while stablecoins challenge state power by enabling permissionless value transfer across borders. Ultimately, the discussion established that future leadership in this $300 billion sector demands extreme adaptability and technical literacy to navigate a volatile landscape where agentic commerce and asset tokenization are redefining economic sovereignty.
- 1h 0m
Capital in Motion: Repositioning at Scale for the Next Cycle | Global Conference 2026
Sara Eisen, Marcie Frost, Ron O'Hanley, Harvey Schwartz, Daniel Simkowitz
Geopolitical conflicts and tariff pressures are driving a fundamental reprioritization of global capital toward national security, supply chain resilience, and AI infrastructure, fundamentally altering the fifty-year status quo of international markets. Leading institutional investors, including Carlyle, State Street, and Morgan Stanley, characterize the current private credit environment as a healthy cycle transition rather than a systemic risk while deploying significant resources to capture the estimated $3.2 trillion in shifting sovereign wealth and the emerging artificial intelligence sector. As the global economy pivots to prioritize defense and compute capacity, market participants are redefining portfolio allocations to focus on US innovation hubs, robust Asian markets, and rigorous underwriting standards to navigate rising capital demands and potential labor displacement.
- 28 min
Building a Brand in Midlife: A Conversation with Daphne Oz and Molly Sims | Global Conference 2026
Daphne Oz, Molly Sims, Loretta Lynch, Tara Hernandez O, Weronna Choi, Dorina Arellano Gonzalez Van Cleveen
At the 2026 Milken Global Conference, Molly Sims detailed her strategic expansion of WISE Beauty, a skincare brand securing $15 million in Series A funding to address the unmet needs of women aged 35 and older through a hero-focused product philosophy. Complementing the brand's growth with a rigorous "hire slowly, fire fast" culture and advanced AI integration for operational efficiency, Sims also launched her podcast *Lipstick on the Rim* to provide transparent industry insights outside traditional gatekeeping channels. Simultaneously, Daphne Oz introduced her *The Mothership* podcast to counter negative narratives about female misery, collectively positioning both entrepreneurs as key drivers in redefining the economic and emotional landscape for midlife women.
- 31 min
Conversation with Eldridge Ind. CEO Todd Boehly & MassMutual CEO Roger Crandall | Global Conference
Todd Boehly, Roger Crandall, Dani Burger
Industry leaders from MassMutual and Eldridge contrast their long-duration, policyholder-aligned ownership models against traditional banking systems to demonstrate the strategic advantages of private capital in financing U.S. infrastructure and mitigating maturity mismatches. While both firms address risks related to credit cycles and AI disruption through rigorous capital structure controls and multi-model technology partnerships, they emphasize their capacity to withstand liquidity shocks that threaten short-term financial vehicles. These perspectives highlight a shifting landscape where insurers act as the primary stabilizing capital source for the economy while adapting antiquated legacy systems to meet modern digital consumer expectations.
- 26 min
Investing in Hollywood’s Connective Cultural Power: Eva Longoria & Kevin Yorn | Global Conference
Eva Longoria, Kevin Yorn, Rebecca Keegan
Eva Longoria and Kevin Glickman discuss a shifted investment landscape where successful ventures require rigorous operational execution rather than celebrity names alone. Longoria highlights her high-ROI successes with Siete Foods and John Wick, while Glickman emphasizes the critical need for protecting intellectual property and leveraging enterprise relationships in AI and cross-industry deals. Together, they outline a future where "hyphenate" talent must pair storytelling with proven business discipline, relying on specialized operators to ensure financial viability and authentic market conversion.
- 39 min
International Security: Innovation, Investment, and Partnerships | Global Conference 2026
David Trulio, Christopher Coons, Eric Schmidt, Adam Smith, Chris Coons
Panelists including Eric Schmidt, Senator Chris Coons, and Representative Adam Smith argue that the war in Ukraine has exposed the critical need for the U.S. to replace expensive, traditional military assets with autonomous drones and AI-driven systems to secure a cost-effective deterrence against adversaries. To overcome entrenched bureaucratic inertia and fiscal constraints, the group advocates for bipartisan legislation like the SPEED Act, expanded co-production with international allies, and a workforce shift toward technical innovation over four-year degrees. These strategic adjustments aim to leverage the agility of private sector competitors against legacy defense primes while ensuring American technological leadership in an era of algorithmic warfare.
- 30 min
Backing What's Next: A Conversation with Serena Williams | Global Conference 2026
Serena Williams transitioned from angel investing to launching Starfire Ventures, a firm established to support underrepresented founders in sectors like financial services and technology. Under the leadership of General Partner Serena Williams and co-general partner Beth Farah, the firm differentiates itself by applying an "AI first" investment thesis while providing deep operational support to scale companies such as Isuzu. This strategic approach addresses the historical lack of capital allocation to women by combining institutional discipline with a mission to empower entrepreneurs serving "middle America."
- 59 min
Private Equity: Value Creation Under New Rate Regimes | Global Conference 2026
Hugh MacArthur, Joe Baratta, Martín Escobari, Raoul Hughes, Meredith Jenkins, Pete Stavros
Leading private equity firms like KKR and Blackstone are pivoting from speculative AI experimentation to targeted operational efficiency, achieving modest EBITDA improvements while redefining software investment criteria to prioritize durable infrastructure over vulnerable point solutions. As the industry confronts extended holding periods and a capital stack constrained by high entry multiples, firms are shifting focus from financial engineering to deep operational value creation, leveraging specialized sourcing and geographic diversification in markets like Japan and Germany. Looking ahead, the sector anticipates a surge in liquidity driven by a wave of maturing assets and a strategic expansion of retail capital access, provided that new vehicles maintain structural parity with institutional standards to avoid conflict-of-interest pitfalls.
- 1h 1m
Emma Grede "Start with Yourself: A New Vision for Work & Life": Author Talk | Global Conference 2026
Emma Grede, Stephanie Phair, Kristin Juszczyk, Ashley Graham, Jens Grede
Kim Kardashian West shares her core philosophy of radical ownership and direct communication, advocating for visible proximity to decision-makers over the pursuit of work-life balance. Leveraging her experience as a founder of billion-dollar ventures like Skims and Good American, she challenges women to reject performative diversity and embrace strategic partnerships to build sustainable, inclusive businesses. Looking ahead, she aims to facilitate a massive transfer of wealth to the next generation of female leaders by using her platform to fund and mentor women from underprivileged backgrounds.
- 59 min
Global Economic Outlook: Navigating Growth, Risk, and Opportunity | Global Conference 2026
Conrad Kiechel, Zanny Minton Beddoes, Kristalina Georgieva, Mohamed Kande, Ariel Szarfsztejn, Mike Wirth
A two-month closure of the Strait of Hormuz has removed 14 million barrels daily from the global market, driving Brent crude near $115 while depleting strategic reserves and forcing the IMF to adopt adverse economic scenarios. Simultaneously, the AI sector has pivoted from generative tools to agentic automation, eliminating entry-level roles and triggering an international cyberarms race. These converging crises create a volatile environment where Europe faces energy and innovation lag, whereas nations securing reliable power and flexible capital markets are positioned to dominate the coming decades.
- 34 min
Conversation with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink & Brookfield Corp CEO Bruce Flatt | Global Conference '26
Larry Fink, Bruce Flatt, Laurence D. Fink, Michael Milken
Bruce Flint of Brookfield and Larry Fink of BlackRock refuted private credit liquidity concerns while projecting a $10 trillion global infrastructure expansion driven by urgent shortages in power, compute, and defense-grade facilities. The executives detailed how hyperscalers are shifting from self-funding to external financing models, facilitating a massive capital transition where private credit and long-term asset managers fund AI data centers and autonomous security infrastructure. Furthermore, these leaders highlighted a structural evolution in retirement investing and asset consolidation, noting that consistent 12% annual returns and bespoke 50-year lock-up periods are essential to support this new "K-economy" where massive capital blocks outcompete traditional public equities.
- 26 min
A Conversation with Venezuelan Democratic Leader Maria Corina Machado | Global Conference 2026
Maria Corina Machado, Fareed Zakaria
Nobel Peace Prize recipient María Corina Machado, having escaped Venezuela's repressive regime, advocates for a three-phase democratic transition that prioritizes electoral legitimacy, judicial restoration, and the privatization of the oil sector to address a $190 billion debt and 650% inflation. Her roadmap, supported by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, outlines a strategic framework involving debt restructuring with the IMF and the recruitment of the diaspora to rebuild infrastructure, while ensuring accountability for crimes against humanity through the International Criminal Court. Despite significant security challenges and international opposition from state actors like Russia and Cuba, Machado posits that the military's potential support and the nation's critical mineral reserves could facilitate a "nearshoring" economic boom and position Venezuela as a leader in artificial intelligence.
- 58 min
AI and Humanity: Evolution or Revolution? | Global Conference 2026
Erik Schatzker, Suzanne Dibianca, Tristan Harris, Amy Webb, will.i.am
Strategic foresight expert Amy Webb, ASU professor Will Iacovelli, and ethics founder Tristan Harris convened to argue that the current AI "arms race" threatens an "anti-human future" characterized by mass unemployment and social destabilization unless proactive governance is established. While panelists cited massive productivity gains and new job creation in sectors like Salesforce, they warned that without a modernized economic framework akin to a new Bretton Woods conference, the intelligence curse could drive 60–70% of GDP to machines while incentivizing the replacement of human labor. The group concluded that immediate implementation of dynamic incentive systems, such as contribution credits to fund social safety nets and a licensing framework for developer ethics, is essential to prevent a descent into fascism and ensure AI coexists constructively with humanity.
- 1h 0m
Global Capital Markets | Global Conference 2026
David Faber, Waleed Al Mokarrab Al Muhairi, Jon Gray, Jenny Johnson, Robin Vince, James Zelter, Robin Wright
Mubadala CEO Waleed Al-Saad outlines a resilient investment strategy that leverages the UAE's strong domestic cohesion to drive a global V-shaped recovery focused on long-term themes like AI, energy, and healthcare. While the US economy remains insulated by energy independence, unprecedented capital expenditure totaling trillions is reshaping asset markets through a shift from asset-light to heavy models, supported by a record $1.1 trillion in investment-grade issuance. The discussion further projects a labor market surge in blue-collar sectors due to physical AI infrastructure demands, while warning that US debt sustainability and European energy fragility necessitate a multi-faceted, open-architecture approach to funding future growth.
- 44 min
A Conversation with Tom Brady & Shaquille O'Neal | Global Conference 2026
Tom Brady, Shaquille O'Neal, Jim Gray, Michael Ferro, Jamie Salter, Mike Milken
Hosted by Jim Lampley to honor Mike Milken, a panel featuring Tom Brady and Shaquille O'Neal alongside business partners Jamie Salter and Michael Farrow explored the critical necessity of transitioning from sports to entrepreneurship. The athletes emphasized that enduring success requires obsessive preparation, resilience in the face of failure, and strategic partnerships that protect a legacy while addressing health and family values. Their dialogue extended to specific industry insights, including Brady's ownership strategies for the Las Vegas Raiders and O'Neal's championship predictions for the Spurs, all framed within the shared mission of the upcoming Hall of Excellence initiative.