Milken Institute
Showing 1156–1170 of 1442 transcripts.
- 59 min
The Transformation of Mexico
Jana Remes, Marcela Meireles, Alberto Gomez-Alcala, Enrique Perret, David Fong, Martha Minowski
A high-level economic panel highlighted Mexico's duality as a nation driving manufacturing booms and structural reforms while simultaneously battling entrenched corruption and regional inequality. While figures such as President Enrique Peña Nieto and economist Jana Remes acknowledged progress in fiscal stability and foreign direct investment, experts warned that rising security costs, an uncompetitive energy sector, and a productivity gap between modern and informal firms threaten sustainable growth. Ultimately, the consensus projects a modernization trajectory toward deeper North American integration, though long-term success depends on resolving rule-of-law deficiencies and managing the political risks of potential populist resurgence.
- 1h 0m
Deploying the Human Capital of Military Veterans: A Global Priority
General Parker, Minister Gutenberg, William, Secretary Sullivan
A panel of government leaders and nonprofit executives discussed strategies to bridge the cultural and employment gaps facing approximately 7,500 UK veterans and millions of US service members annually. The discussion highlighted Team Rubicon's model of repurposing military skills for global disaster response while outlining reforms like shifting transition training to a "pull model" and integrating veterans into C-suite leadership roles. Initiatives from the US Veterans Affairs Department and recommendations from figures such as General Petraeus aim to reduce stigma by framing veterans as capable professionals rather than beneficiaries.
- 1h 0m
Technology, Creativity, Values: What Drives the New Disruptors?
Andy Serwer, Brandon Beck, Brad Delson, Dave Gilboa, Payal Kadakia, Mike Shinoda, Eric Schmidt, Bradley Horowitz, Brad Lee O'
Four industry leaders from Riot Games, Linkin Park, ClassPass, and Warby Parker present a "New Disruptor" business model that replaces quarterly profit maximization with long-term stakeholder unity. By integrating employees, fans, and customers into a single ecosystem, these organizations leverage deep empathy and real-time feedback to achieve Net Promoter Scores in the high 80s and 90s. This strategy reframes relationships as the primary asset, enabling rapid organizational scaling while maintaining social missions that directly drive sustainable profitability.
- 1h 1m
Bridging the Graduation Gap for Low-Income Students
Goldie Blumenstick, George Weiss, Nick Dirks, John Baker
This event examines the widening socioeconomic stratification in American higher education, where stagnant wages and rising costs force low-income students into community colleges while affluent peers access elite institutions. Experts detail holistic interventions such as the Say Yes to Education model, which integrates mental health clinics and free tuition partnerships to address non-academic barriers, alongside data-driven technologies like predictive analytics that personalize student success pathways. The discussion concludes by emphasizing the urgent need for state funding restoration, vocational training alternatives, and stackable credentials to close the current national attainment gap and support a more equitable workforce.
- 1h 1m
The Catalyst for Change: What's Working in Philanthropy -- and What's Not?
Rich, Paul, Rochelle, Tom, Adam, Tzitzi, Hulunrosho, Michael Greenstone
This session outlines a strategic shift in philanthropy from passive funding to impact-driven capital that prioritizes fiscal responsibility and measurable results across global challenges. Experts detail specific initiatives ranging from biometric verification for widows and orphans to government-backed pilot programs that transition communities from dependency to entrepreneurship through rigorous evaluation models. By highlighting successful mergers, pharmaceutical commercialization, and the critical need for professional talent development, the dialogue emphasizes a future where sustainable economic models replace temporary aid to solve systemic issues in education, healthcare, and disaster response.
- 1h 3m
Southeast Asia: A Compelling Case for Investment
Cecilia Mazzeca, Kirk Wagger, Cesar Purisima, Kasim Sid Patumsok, Richard Lee, Dina Jalal, AJ Gandhi, Carl Harris, Ben Rosen Manning, Nate Pierce
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a 50-year-old bloc comprising ten member states with a population of 620 million, is positioning itself as a single market poised to become the world's fifth-largest economy by 2015. With foreign direct investment surpassing China and the United States injecting $204 billion into the region, multinational corporations are increasingly adopting "China Plus One" strategies to diversify supply chains across high-growth sectors like electronics, healthcare, and logistics. Despite challenges regarding political instability, nationalism, and asset valuation risks, the ASEAN Economic Community leverages Singapore's legal framework and a demographic dividend of 65% youth to drive infrastructure development and meritocratic entrepreneurship.
- 1h 1m
Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: Why L.A. Is Working
Steve Drobny, Julie Gerberdinger, Kara, Walter, Scott, Eric Schmidt, Steve Groveyard
The Silicon Beach panel highlights Los Angeles' rapid evolution into the third-largest global tech ecosystem, driven by a surge in venture capital from $500 million to $2.5 billion and a unique blend of engineering talent, design-focused "experience economy" companies, and diverse capital sources. Key figures from Upfront Ventures, TrueCar, and Strobe outlined how the region leverages lower hiring competition and quality of life to counteract high real estate costs, though the city still faces challenges in securing institutional-grade exit valuations compared to Silicon Valley. Despite hurdles like traffic and regulation, the consensus indicates that LA's distinct microcultures and aggressive expansion in sectors like autonomous vehicles and the experience economy are normalizing term sheets and fostering a resilient entrepreneurial environment.
- 59 min
What Keeps CEOs Up at Night -- and What Gets Them Up in the Morning?
Jim, Greg, Alexandra, Aaron Levy
Executives from major financial and technology firms discussed shifting existential threats, ranging from a redesigned talent strategy that reversed millennial attrition through gamification and flexible work models to cybersecurity's elevation to a board-level imperative against nation-state actors. Panelists highlighted how complex regulatory burdens and global misalignment create competitive disadvantages for incumbents while driving disruption in media and data collection, forcing companies to adopt open innovation partnerships. The consensus forecast predicts a transformative decade defined by exponential technologies like AI and autonomous vehicles, urging strategic adaptation to emerging business models despite ongoing debates over automation's impact on job creation.
- 46 min
Engaging a Curious Mind: Brian Grazer Talks With Bob Iger About Life, Listening
Brian Grazer, Bob Iger, Robert Iger
Producer Brian Grazer attributes his success in film and television to a disciplined practice of seeking diverse conversations, ranging from political leaders like Vladimir Putin to scientists like Jonas Salk, which consistently reshape his creative perspectives. This approach, which he details in *A Curious Mind*, treats curiosity as a strategic superpower that has directly influenced major projects such as *Apollo 13* and *Empire* by connecting disparate experiences into coherent narratives. Executives like Bob Iger have adopted similar metrics for leadership, prioritizing authentic curiosity in hiring and strategic decision-making to navigate complex market dynamics.
- 1h 0m
My Edited Video
This panel discussion examines the evolution of marketplace lending from a retail-focused model to one dominated by institutional capital, driven by advanced underwriting data and operational agility that bypass traditional banking constraints. Participants highlight key industry shifts, including the transition to "offer-first" application processes, the rejection of regulatory arbitrage, and the growing reliance on holistic data points rather than FICO scores to assess risk for both consumers and small businesses. With projections indicating a surge in online lending volume to $20 billion, the dialogue addresses how platforms are democratizing access while navigating regulatory complexities and competing against established banks and international markets like China.
- 58 min
Private Equity: Rotation and Valuation
Robert Smith, Steve Schwarzman, Jonathan Nelson, Jim Coulter, Leon Black, Maria
Leading private equity executives including Steve Schwarzman, Leon Black, and Jim Coulter discuss the industry's evolution from traditional buyouts to a diversified alternative asset class driven by post-2008 regulatory shifts and public market passive flows. Despite valuations at historic highs and rising interest rates compressing returns, panelists identify specific alpha opportunities in distressed energy credit, cybersecurity, and healthcare innovation while capitalizing on the exit of banks from proprietary trading. The sector is strategically bifurcating between large generalists managing sovereign capital and specialists focusing on deep vertical transformations to navigate a market shifting from passive macro bets to active operational value creation.
- 1h 2m
Paving the Way to Next-Generation Infrastructure
Dale Bonner, John Delaney, Charles Harrington, James Pass, Jim Pass, Chuck Harrington
Following an ASCE "D+" rating and significant underinvestment compared to China and India, the proposed Infrastructure 2.0 Act seeks to capitalize a $50 billion private-sector fund by eliminating tax deferrals on overseas earnings and lowering the corporate tax rate. This legislation aims to generate $170 billion in revenue to secure long-term transportation funding and incentivize state-level public-private partnerships through conditional allocation. By leveraging $500 to $750 billion over fifty years, the plan addresses critical permitting bottlenecks and skill gaps to restore U.S. competitiveness and drive economic growth through high-fiscal-multiplier investments.
- 1h 2m
I'm Not an Impact Investor, or Am I?
Caitlin MacLean, Janet Cowell, Sharon Hendricks, William Lee, Shawn Wischmeier, Bill Lee
Representatives from Cargill Philanthropies, North Carolina State Treasurer, CalSTRS, and Kaiser Foundation convened to discuss managing a combined $400 billion in assets through tailored frameworks ranging from mission investing to long-term risk mitigation. The panel highlighted strong financial performance, including a 20% internal rate of return for North Carolina's in-state program, while identifying critical operational hurdles such as standardized data gaps and a scarcity of sophisticated managers. Moving forward, the institutions plan to establish common metrics, integrate ESG checklists into daily research, and shift from divestment strategies toward active engagement to balance fiduciary duty with environmental and social goals over multi-decade horizons.
- 59 min
The Imperative of Early Childhood Education
Elanna Yalow, John Engler, J.B. Pritzker, Linda Smith, John Woodward, Alana Yallo
Leading experts and policymakers converge to address a critical disconnect between the proven economic returns of early childhood investment and the U.S.'s current underfunding of infants and toddlers. Panelists highlight the "Heckman Curve" and persistent vocabulary gaps to argue that the nation must shift political will toward scalable home-visitation models and outcome-based funding mechanisms rather than traditional center-based care. Without immediate intervention to close these developmental deficits, the country risks perpetuating a cycle of poor third-grade literacy and diminished workforce quality that current spending structures fail to resolve.
- 1h 1m
Architecture of the American Economy: Policies to Drive Economic Growth and Our Competitiveness
Ben White, Shaun Donovan, Alan Schwartz, Mark Weinberger
Key figures from Guggenheim Partners and EY analyzed the U.S. economy's projected 1% Q1 growth, highlighting the tension between a record job streak and persistent middle-class wage stagnation amidst structural headwinds like an aging demographic. The discussion detailed the administration's proposed fiscal strategies to lift sequestration and the critical case for Trade Promotion Authority to prevent China from setting global trade rules. Furthermore, experts debated the risks of secular stagnation and deflation while examining specific tax reform pillars designed to repatriate overseas earnings and fund a $240 billion infrastructure package through corporate rate reductions.