Latest Interviews
Showing 631–645 of 1,615 transcripts.
Clear all filters- Milken Institute1h 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.
- Milken Institute57 min
The Business Case for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Cheryl Strauss Einhorn, Matthew Fust, Matthew Harrington, Tony Prophet, Lesley Slaton Brown, Anilu Vazquez-Ubarri, Matt Harrington, Gina Diaz Barroso, Mamta Patel
CEOs and institutional investors are increasingly mandating board diversity and societal engagement, with major firms like BlackRock voting against non-diverse slates and companies such as HP and Goldman Sachs implementing structural changes like dual mentorship and ally coaching. These organizations are shifting from abstract commitments to data-driven strategies, evidenced by HP's 50% diverse board representation and Salesforce's elimination of pay gaps, while simultaneously addressing global challenges through policy advocacy and pipeline development. Despite significant progress in retention and leadership metrics, the dialogue continues to focus on closing transparency gaps and balancing universal corporate values with diverse local legal environments.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Trends in Venture Capital
Cameron Lester, María Ariza, Ron Cao, Jalak Jobanputra, Ela Madej, Ella Amadei
Venture capitalists Ella Amadei, Jalil Jobin, Maria Arisa, and Ron Cao convened to analyze divergent global capital trends, from late-stage liquidity gluts in the U.S. to Mexico's structural IPO gaps and China's emerging pre-IPO surge. The panelists identified critical sector-specific opportunities in synthetic biology, blockchain infrastructure, and fintech while warning that regulatory uncertainty and "people risk" remain the primary impediments to scaling deep-tech solutions. Despite these challenges, the group expressed heightened optimism for a more inclusive innovation wave driven by the convergence of mission-aligned investing and digital asset digitization.
- Milken Institute58 min
Gaming Breaks Into the Mainstream
Dean Takahashi, Kathee Chimowitz, Emily Greer, Peter Levin, Frank Soqui
Industry leaders and investors convened to analyze the global video game market's projected growth to $180 billion, highlighting mobile gaming's dominance in emerging markets and the strategic shift toward long-term "Games as a Service" models. Key figures from Intel, Lionsgate, and Epic Games discussed the transformative potential of VR and AR technologies while addressing critical challenges regarding accessibility, online toxicity, and the complex dynamics between industry centralization and democratization. The event concluded with a consensus that gaming is evolving into a universal cultural force extending into education and healthcare, driven by advancements in mobile infrastructure and inclusive design initiatives.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
Speed Bumps Ahead: China's Belt and Road Initiative
Sheryl WuDunn, Lincoln Leong, Kevin Lu, Winston Ma, Dominic Ng, Perry Wong
The Belt and Road Initiative represents a trillion-dollar, 68-nation infrastructure strategy by China designed to export industrial overcapacity, secure energy routes, and achieve geopolitical dominance by 2049. While the project faces significant sovereign debt risks and regulatory hurdles in emerging markets, it has attracted Western corporate participation and positioned Hong Kong as a key financing hub despite US strategic hesitancy. Experts anticipate a transition from state-led funding to private market dominance over the next decade, driven by the commercial viability of interconnected digital and physical networks.
- Milken Institute59 min
Hacked and Back: Cybersecurity Lessons From the C-suite
Dmitri Alperovitch, Sanford (Sandy) Climan, Christopher Krebs, Thomas Pritzker, Tom Pritzker, Sandy Kleiman, David Batts, Jr., Jeffrey Brown, David Brooks, Eric Schmidt, Alan Seales, Tom Ginsburg, Chris Collins, John McWhorter
This event analyzes the evolution of cyber threats from state-sponsored espionage to disruptive attacks like the 2017 NotPetya incident, highlighting the strategic responses of Hyatt and the Department of Homeland Security. Hyatt integrated cybersecurity into its core governance by allocating six percent of its IT budget and empowering its CISO to share threat intelligence with federal agencies within minutes of detection. The presentation further outlines critical lessons for the entertainment industry, emphasizing the need for robust data protection, cross-sector collaboration, and a culture that treats security as a continuous strategic imperative rather than a temporary IT function.
- Milken Institute57 min
Art, Politics and Popular Culture
Julia Boorstin, Sophia Bush, Sarah Gubbins, Damon Lindelof, George Takei
Moderated by Julia Boorstin, panelists Sophia Bush, George Takei, Sarah Gubbins, and Damon Lindelof examined how contemporary art and entertainment influence political discourse while addressing persistent industry inequalities. Participants highlighted specific initiatives such as Gubbins' theater parity list, Takei's success with the musical *Allegiance*, and Lindelof's efforts to diversify writers' rooms on *Watchmen* to combat groupthink and tokenism. The group concluded that despite the fragmenting media landscape, creators retain a moral responsibility to use storytelling as a vehicle for social change, though they remain concerned that executive suites lack the diversity necessary for true cultural transformation.
- Milken Institute58 min
Fulfilling the Promise of National and Military Service
Kevin Klowden, Cutler Dawson, Susan Eisenhower, Mark Graham, Blaine Holt, Andrew Peek
Panelists addressed the widening civil-military gap and associated career transition challenges, highlighting how information asymmetry and support system loss often drive veterans into financial insecurity or unsuitable employment. To counter these issues, the discussion showcased successful recruitment models from firms like Goldman Sachs and Amazon that leverage transferable skills, while proposing structural reforms such as leader-led career planning and reciprocal civilian-military exchange pipelines. The dialogue concluded by weighing the complexities of reinstating national service against insularity concerns, urging organizations to bridge socioeconomic divides through aggressive retention strategies and community-based economic integration.
- Milken Institute1h 2m
Paying for Cures
Colleen Rye, Christiana Bardon, Louis DeGennaro, Joe La Barge, Mark Trusheim, Cynthia Verst, Cindy Virst, Mark Trusseimer, Chris Barden, Joe Medina, Eric Schmidt, Lou, Louis Kombolaini, John McWhorter, Tanisha Carino, Martha Minowski
Discussions on the evolution of curative gene therapies analyze the projected surge of over 500 pipeline candidates and the necessary shift from chronic treatment models to one-time cures that disrupt traditional pricing structures. Industry experts highlight innovative financial mechanisms, including outcomes-based rebates and installment payments, designed to navigate complex regulatory hurdles like Medicaid best price rules and FASB accounting volatility while addressing manufacturing costs. Despite significant challenges in social equity and international reimbursement disparities, the consensus suggests that historical precedents and market-driven competition will ultimately sustain a system capable of integrating these high-cost, durable medical breakthroughs.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
So You Want to Be an eSports Owner
Stephanie Snowden, Andy Miller, Shawn Sanford, Ari Segal, Barney Waters, Noah Whinston
Traditional sports executives and venture capitalists are transforming esports from a niche passion project into a scalable franchise ecosystem by leveraging existing infrastructure and adopting diverse business models tailored to specific game mechanics. Key organizations like Immortals and the LA Valiant are driving this shift through strategic brand partnerships that prioritize authentic engagement over impression counts, while simultaneously implementing robust player welfare systems to ensure long-term viability. As the industry matures, leaders anticipate a convergence where youth-centric consumption habits reshape corporate strategies, positioning esports teams as essential data points for understanding generational shifts in media and content consumption.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Building Bridges to Developing Economies: Reports From Field Practice
Glenn Yago, Clare Akamanzi, Eli Groner, Peretz Lavie, Janet McKinley, Julie Monaco
Israel is expanding its Global Fellows Program and enacting strategic cabinet resolutions to formalize economic expansion into Africa, India, and China while addressing a global infrastructure funding gap of $90 trillion. Simultaneously, institutions like Citi and the SDIP are leveraging blended finance and innovative instruments, such as Rwanda's regulatory reforms and the Technion's high-impact health and AgTech programs, to mobilize private capital and transform stalled projects into bankable deals. These coordinated efforts aim to attract institutional investment with projected 5% to 8% returns, ultimately driving sustainable economic growth in emerging markets where traditional financing models have faltered.
- Milken Institute59 min
Things That Will Blow Your Mind
Staci Warden, Eduardo Cabrera, Stuart Jones, Jr., Mark Rosenberg, Stephen Scott, Paul Daugherty, Dr. Hyunjun Park, Josh Hoffman, Dr. Vivian Ming
At the Milken Global Conference, moderators Paul Daugherty, Dr. Hyunjun Park, Josh Hoffman, and Dr. Vivian Ming analyzed the transition from an information age to one defined by biological engineering, DNA data storage, and cognitive enhancement. Park detailed Catalog Technologies' enzymatic DNA storage capable of compressing 200 petabytes per gram to solve global data scarcity, while Hoffman described Zymergen's machine learning-driven production of sustainable materials that replace petroleum-based chemicals. Concurrently, Ming highlighted the potential for non-invasive neurostimulation to boost working memory and lifetime earnings, while warning of the ethical risks regarding a "human divide" if cognitive enhancement remains inaccessible to the poor.
- Milken Institute1h 2m
The World in Transition | Africa and the Middle East: The Cradle of Civilization Once Again?
Staci Warden, Mohammed Alardhi, Madalitso Mandiwa, Michael Milken, Patrice Motsepe, Stephanie von Friedeburg
The panel convened to address the critical nexus of Africa's demographic surge and infrastructure deficits, highlighting how the continent's addition of 12 million annual workers requires urgent capital mobilization to prevent a demographic curse. Industry leaders and officials, including Patrice Motsepe and Mike Milken, argued for regional integration, private sector de-risking strategies, and the development of local capital markets to transform population potential into sustainable economic growth. The discussion concluded that bridging the $170 billion annual infrastructure gap through innovative financial instruments and open borders is essential to stabilize the region, retain local talent, and prevent mass global migration.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
The Final Frontier: Space as a Business Opportunity
Jane Wells, Chad Anderson, Steve Isakowitz, Jennifer Lopez, Will Marshall, Philip McAlister, Phil McAllister
Leading aerospace experts and government officials convened to address the space industry's projected growth from $350 billion to nearly $3 trillion, focusing on hybrid government-private models for lunar and Martian exploration. The discussion highlighted critical commercial shifts, including the $58 million per seat commercial crew program and the commercialization of the International Space Laboratory, while emphasizing urgent needs in space traffic management to mitigate collision risks from 20,000 orbital debris objects. Furthermore, panelists debated emerging legal frameworks for resource extraction and advocated for regulatory reforms to balance national security concerns with the rapid expansion of private sector satellite constellations.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
Power Plant? Exploring the Cannabis Industry
Karan Wadhera, Mike Harden, Ben Kovler, Bharat Vasan, Jeff Wells
Projected to reach a $75 billion valuation by 2030, the U.S. cannabis industry is undergoing a structural shift from unregulated commodity sales to a branded, data-driven sector supported by 64% public approval. While federal restrictions currently inflate capital costs and isolate the market, political momentum and state-level innovations are driving investment into operational technology and consumer-focused brands that challenge traditional alcohol and opioid consumption. This trajectory sets the stage for eventual federal reform, where industry consolidation and the entry of major multinational corporations will likely redefine the competitive landscape alongside expanding global export opportunities.