Milken Institute
Showing 931–945 of 2094 transcripts.
- 58 min
What's Next in the Hunt for Yield in Credit?
Justin Baer, Michael Buchanan, Robert Kricheff, AJ Murphy, Fred Orlan, Christian Stracke, Mike Buchanan
A panel of financial experts assessed the current credit cycle as entering its latter innings, citing record corporate debt levels and a flattening yield curve alongside a shift toward a more volatile market environment without a near-term recession. While high-yield issuance has slowed and leveraged buyout ratios have climbed, strategists note that passive ETF flows are distorting prices and creating crowding risks that favor active management. The discussion concluded with recommendations to pivot toward floating-rate loans, senior CLO tranches, and specific distressed opportunities to navigate the asymmetrical risks of the current macroeconomic landscape.
- 1h 2m
Mobility in the Future | Part 1: The Art of the Possible | Part 2: Urban Transportation
Brian Sullivan, Pierre Beaudoin, Phil Bredesen, Jack Hollis, Steve Morriss, Amy Purdy
Toyota is evolving from an automotive manufacturer into a comprehensive mobility company by leveraging partnerships with Paralympic athletes like Amy Purdy to develop assistive technologies that enhance independence for the elderly and disabled. Concurrently, urban planning experts highlight the critical role of mass transit and autonomous vehicles in overcoming infrastructure bottlenecks, noting that software upgrades and flexible route designs can significantly boost public transport efficiency in high-density areas. Together, these initiatives illustrate a broader industry shift toward inclusive, technology-driven solutions that address both individual mobility challenges and complex systemic urban transportation needs.
- 56 min
What's Next: Harnessing the Momentum of #MeToo and #TimesUp
Alex Witt, Ashley Judd, Kerry Kennedy, Catharine MacKinnon, Stacy Smith, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Caroline Biden
Moderated by Alex Witt, the "What's Next" panel convened leading advocates including Ashley Judd, Alyssa Milano, and Catherine McKinnon to evaluate the post-Cosby landscape of the Me Too and Time's Up movements. The discussion highlighted critical gaps in legal recourse and industry representation while detailing specific strategies such as the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund, the WOKE committee's #MuteRKelly campaign, and Stacey Smith's inclusion rider proposal to combat harassment and bias. Speakers also addressed the necessity for institutional courage and legislative reforms like the Equal Rights Amendment, citing global initiatives and successful worker-driven models as blueprints for systemic change.
- 58 min
Checking In With Stephen Cloobeck
Stephen Cloobeck, Jared Carney
In his book *Checking In*, hospitality executive Dan Klubeck outlines a management philosophy centered on extreme employee protection, reciprocal trust, and the view that dyslexia serves as an entrepreneurial asset. The narrative details his aggressive crisis management during the 2008 financial downturn, where he secured company survival through strict cash-based operations, personal salary cuts, and the strategic acquisition of distressed competitors. Beyond business operations, Klubeck leverages public stunts from his *Undercover Boss* appearances and political advocacy to demonstrate that reputation and human connection ultimately drive sustainable growth more effectively than traditional branding or technology.
- 1h 6m
Using Prevention to Improve Global Health
Ed Greissing, Michiel Bakker, Tom Beauregard, Lynn Goldman, Christopher Murray
Experts and industry leaders converge to address the $3.7 trillion U.S. healthcare crisis driven by chronic disease, highlighting how linguistic framing and financial incentives can bridge the gap between prevention spending and actual consumer adoption. Innovators like UnitedHealth Group and Google demonstrate that rebranding medical programs, offering free nutrition, and utilizing digital health tools significantly improve engagement rates and metabolic outcomes among millions of participants. Despite rising global obesity and a bifurcation in U.S. mortality trends that threaten long-term economic stability, the consensus points toward a future where healthcare reimbursement and corporate strategy shift from treating acute illness to scaling early, lifestyle-based interventions.
- 59 min
Artificial Intelligence: Beyond the Robot Singularity
Rich Karlgaard, Tom Bianculli, Virginie Maisonneuve, Sumant Mandal, Usman Shuja, Tom Siebel, Brian Seth Hurst, Francois Benemias
Industry leaders warn that the global software market is expanding at an unprecedented pace while 70% of current Fortune 500 incumbents risk obsolescence without aggressive AI adoption. The event analyzes the geopolitical race for dominance, data sovereignty shifts, and the transition from static record-keeping to dynamic systems that drive real-time decision-making across sectors like energy and defense. Experts conclude that despite exponential compute gains, scaling relies on overcoming organizational inertia and preparing a workforce for imminent economic displacement through automation.
- 58 min
The Future of Higher Education
Jeffrey Selingo, Bill Achtmeyer, Rafael Bras, Mitch Daniels, Yoshimasa Hayashi, Candace Thille
Facing record tuition discount rates and a growing skills gap where 89% of employers find graduates unprepared, higher education is pivoting from a traditional four-year degree model to a "100-year lifetime" framework of recurrent, skills-based learning. Leaders at institutions like Georgia Tech and Purdue, notably Mitch Daniels, are driving this transformation through aggressive online expansion, AI integration, and financial innovations like Income Share Agreements to ensure affordability and relevance. As smaller schools face potential closure, the sector is consolidating around agile, market-driven models that treat credentials as dynamic data sets of verified competencies rather than static diplomas.
- 59 min
Digital Pioneers: A Conversation With Joe Tsai and Jerry Yang
Joe Tsai, Jerry Yang, Laura Deal Lacey, Emily Chang, Joseph C. Tsai, Laura D. Olasi, Colin Tate
Milken Institute's Laura D. Olasi moderated a panel featuring Yahoo founder Jerry Yang and Alibaba co-founder Joe Tsai to analyze the divergent trajectories of US and Chinese digital ecosystems. The discussion highlighted the strategic implications of Yahoo's 2005 $1 billion Alibaba investment and contrasting market dynamics, including China's mobile-first dominance, regulatory frameworks prioritizing stability, and the risks of global supply chain fragmentation. Both executives concluded that while current tech giants face monopoly vulnerabilities, the next two decades will be defined by a new generation of leaders driving innovation in AI and alternative interaction models.
- 1h 2m
The Impact Investing Continuum: Alternatives for Engagement
Christopher Lee, David Bohigian, John Buley, Ann-Marie Griffith, Jim Sorenson, John Streur
Impact investing has matured into a $24 trillion global sector characterized by the shift from philanthropy to disciplined, data-driven strategies that integrate environmental and social goals into mainstream financial portfolios. Leading institutions like Calvert and APG demonstrate the viability of this approach through rigorous shareholder engagement and pension fund integration, while government bodies utilize blended finance tools such as the BUILD Act to catalyze private capital in emerging markets. Driven by a demographic shift toward millennial and female investors who prioritize purpose alongside profit, the industry is now focused on overcoming infrastructure gaps by establishing standardized impact metrics and legal frameworks to ensure scalability and transparency.
- 1h 0m
Luxury Brands: When Radical Transparency Is the Best Look
Vanessa Friedman, Francois-Henry Bennahmias, Chip Bergh, Neil Blumenthal, Meridith Valiando Rojas
Representatives from Audemars Piguet, Levi Strauss, Warby Parker, and Digifest convened to redefine corporate transparency as a non-negotiable pillar for trust among Gen Z consumers and in talent acquisition. The panel detailed specific initiatives, such as Audemars Piguet's internal storytelling shifts, Levi's early fulfillment of environmental pledges, and open apologies for operational failures, demonstrating how admitting mistakes and sharing data can convert critics into advocates. While differing on the scope of political engagement, all executives agreed that long-term brand integrity requires strategic alignment with values and a shift away from traditional mystery toward authentic, values-driven business models.
- 1h 1m
eSports: Will Competitive Gaming Be the Next Major Sport?
Dean Takahashi, Steven Cohen, Ann Hand, Ramon Hermann, Nate Nanzer, Kent Wakeford
The esports industry is transitioning from a grassroots activity to a structured, franchise-based model driven by a 1,125% surge in 2017 investment and the entry of traditional sports owners and entertainment corporations. Major leagues like the Overwatch League are pioneering high-salary player contracts and city-based home-and-away schedules to replicate the infrastructure of traditional professional sports while expanding the global audience to 550 million by 2021. Despite challenges regarding lower average revenue per user compared to traditional sports, the sector is securing its future through diverse revenue streams, mobile gaming expansion, and a robust collegiate pipeline that attracts STEM-focused demographics.
- 59 min
Emerging Markets Outlook
Douglas Rediker, Teresa C. Barger, Binay Chandgothia, Binod Chaudhary, Penny Foley, Francisco N. González
The event challenges the traditional divide between developed and emerging markets by arguing that political volatility and legal opacity now characterize the global investment landscape, effectively making "all markets emerging." It details how structural shifts over the last two decades, such as improved credit quality and a 75% rise in local currency sovereign debt, have created a resilient environment where investors are positioned in the early stages of a nine-to-ten-year growth cycle. Furthermore, the discussion outlines actionable strategies for capturing value through constructive corporate governance activism in family-controlled firms and capitalizing on demographic and consumption-driven trends in Asia, all while navigating a complex geopolitical backdrop where trade flows are increasingly redirected toward markets like Mexico.
- 59 min
The Business of Aging: Capitalizing on the Demographic Shift
Patricia (Pat) Milligan, Kirsten Axelsen, Laura Carstensen, Camilla Cavendish, Scott Frisch, Pat Milligan
Global demographics are driving a critical divergence between rising life expectancy and stagnant healthy aging, creating urgent labor supply pressures and widening socioeconomic health gaps. Contrary to prevailing myths, data indicates that older workers enhance team productivity and stability, yet systemic barriers like age bias and a lack of targeted retention strategies continue to exclude them from the workforce. Experts recommend shifting from age-based to life-stage benefits and fostering flexible, two-way conversations to integrate aging populations into a reimagined career lifecycle.
- 56 min
The International Business of Sports
Shelley Smith, Dan Beckerman, Todd Boehly, Chris Park, Vivek Ranadivé
ESPN correspondent Shelley Smith moderated a panel featuring Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé, Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly, MLB executive Chris Park, and AEG CEO Dan Beckerman to discuss the technological and strategic transformation of sports franchises. The executives detailed shifts from transactional revenue models to subscription-based loyalty systems, highlighting innovations such as VR integration, real estate development, and the expansion of e-sports and international markets like India and Mexico. While participants agreed on the necessity of adapting to digital distribution and betting regulations, they diverged on the extent to which virtual reality will replace live communal experiences and the feasibility of scaling large entertainment districts in smaller cities.
- 1h 1m
How to Build a Brand
Brian Sullivan, Dmitry Balyasny, Janet Gurwitch, Tommy Hilfiger, Jamie Salter
At the Milken Global Conference, industry leaders Tommy Hilfiger, Jamie Salter, Janet Gerwisch, and Dimitri Baliozny discussed the critical necessity of global expansion and data-driven innovation for long-term brand survival. The panel outlined successful strategies for differentiation, such as Authentic Brands Group's licensing model and Laura Mercier's focus on "white space," while warning that over-reliance on mass distribution or stagnant product cycles can irreparably damage brand equity. Participants emphasized that combining advanced analytics with human creativity and authentic influencer partnerships is now essential for navigating rapid consumer behavior shifts and securing competitive advantage.