Latest Interviews
Showing 61–75 of 80 interview transcripts.
Clear all filters- Milken Institute1h 0m
MI Forum: Creating a World Without Poverty
Muhammad Yunus, Mike Milken, James McGowan, Betsy Zyman, Ross Duvall, Steve Barth
Founded by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to democratize access to capital, the Grameen Bank operates a unique microfinance model where 7.3 million borrowers, 97% of whom are women, own the institution itself. This structure inverts traditional banking by eliminating collateral and legal enforcement while utilizing social pressure to maintain repayment rates exceeding 98%, thereby extending credit to the world's poorest populations. Building on this foundation, Yunus has expanded into social business ventures like Grameen Danone and Grameen Shakti, which deliver essential services ranging from nutrition to solar energy without relying on external dividends.
- Milken Institute1h 24m
Where Is the Economy Headed? A View From the Presidential Campaigns
Michael J. Boskin, Leo Hindery, Jr., John McCain, Barack Obama, Mike Clouden, Peter Purcell
Economic advisors Leo Hendry for the Obama campaign and Michael Boskin for the McCain campaign engaged in a moderated policy dialogue at a Milken Institute event, debating critical issues including income inequality, the causes of the financial crisis, and the efficacy of global trade agreements. The participants presented divergent views on taxation, where Hendry advocated for repealing tax cuts for high earners to reduce deficits, while Boskin argued that such measures would harm the U.S. standard of living and cited technology rather than policy as the primary driver of inequality. Through structured opening statements and rebuttals, the forum highlighted deep disagreements on regulatory approaches to the mortgage crisis and the role of government intervention in stimulating the economy.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
A Conversation with Barry Diller (updated)
Barry Diller outlines a strategic vision for the media industry that prioritizes disintermediation and open internet ecosystems to dismantle closed cable bundles and legacy publishing models. Through specific assessments of companies like Aereo, Netflix, and Google, he predicts that disruptive innovation will shift market power from incumbents resisting change to agile, consumer-centric platforms. Diller identifies critical leaders such as Rupert Murdoch and Jack Welch as exemplars of risk-taking and bureaucratic agility necessary to survive in this evolving landscape.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
A Conversation with Larry King and Carlos Slim (updated)
Mexican businessman Carlos Slim outlined his philosophy that wealth is a byproduct of solving problems rather than an end goal, while criticizing Western fiscal policies and obsolete education models for failing to address global underdevelopment. He advocated for privatizing public assets, extending retirement ages, and integrating technology into education to combat high youth unemployment in Latin America. Slim further detailed his foundation's targeted health and digital inclusion initiatives, defending his telecommunications empire against monopoly accusations as he prepares to leverage infrastructure partnerships for regional economic growth.
- Milken Institute58 min
The Role of Universities in Accelerating Bioscience Research
David Baltimore, Joel Burdick, James Economou, Michael Quick, Owen Witte, Stephen Mayo, Steve Mayo, Nick, Francis Collins, Remy, Joe Boistak, Charles, Eric Green, Ray Deshaies
A consortium of leading academic figures, including Nobel Laureate David Baltimore and experts from Caltech, UCLA, and USC, convened to evaluate the intersection of biological engineering and clinical translation in the face of funding constraints. The panel detailed successful strategies for "engineered immunity" projects, such as converting muscle cells into antibody producers and conducting early-stage human trials within university settings, while highlighting the critical need for interdisciplinary programs that bridge the gap between engineering PhDs and MDs. Despite progress, participants identified a persistent "valley of death" in early-stage financing and urged a cultural shift toward professional management and team-based funding mechanisms to sustain innovation.
- Milken Institute56 min
A Conversation with Howard Marks and Mike Milken
Howard Marks, Mike Milken, Michael Milken
Oaktree Capital employs historical market cycles and behavioral analysis to teach that asset quality is secondary to valuation, as demonstrated by repeated failures when investors extrapolate linear growth during bubbles like the Nifty Fifty and the 2008 crisis. By emphasizing that risk is often misperceived and that true success requires focusing on knowable fundamentals rather than unknowable macro trends, the firm structures its culture around team-based incentives to ensure long-term survival and client prioritization. This approach positions investors to profit by remaining aggressive when others are terrified and conservative when optimism dominates, effectively navigating market temperatures without relying on specific economic predictions.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
Lunch Panel: A Conversation with Tony Blair and Michael Milken
Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair reflected on the psychological demands of executive leadership while outlining his strategies for addressing global challenges including the Eurozone crisis, religious extremism, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He emphasized the necessity of structural reforms to drive economic growth and argued that open immigration policies and private-sector innovation are critical for future stability, contrasting his experiences managing unforeseen crises with his current freedom to select specific international causes. Blair concluded by calling for a $6 million initiative to link 1,000 schools globally, aiming to combat radicalization through shared education and the promotion of common values across cultures.
- Milken Institute55 min
A Conversation with Al Gore: Six Drivers of Global Change
Former Vice President Al Gore addresses the corrosive impact of corporate money on American democracy and outlines six drivers of global change, including the shift of economic power to Asia and the accelerating climate crisis. He critiques the reliance on short-term financial metrics while promoting sustainable capitalism through his firm Generation Investment Management as a proven alternative model. Gore concludes by urging immediate global leadership to transition to renewable energy and adopt independent redistricting to restore political integrity.
- Milken Institute57 min
A Conversation With Gary Becker, David Rubenstein and Robert Rubin
Gary Becker, David Rubenstein, Robert Rubin, Bob Rubin
Panelists Gary Becker and Bob Rubin argue that the U.S. economy can return to a sustainable 3% growth trajectory by leveraging its energy revolution, real estate recovery, and manufacturing expansion while addressing a structural $10 trillion debt burden through entitlement reform and tax loophole elimination. They attribute current stagnation primarily to political gridlock, advocating for open primaries, nonpartisan civic education, and a market-based immigration system to foster compromise. Despite risks from Federal Reserve quantitative easing and inflation, the experts maintain that the American dollar remains the superior long-term investment vehicle provided the political system functions effectively.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
A Conversation with William Clay Ford Jr.
William Clay Ford Jr., John Casesa, John Kossess
Under the guidance of Executive Chairman Bill Ford and CEO Alan Mulally, Ford Motor Company navigated the 2008–2009 financial crisis by leveraging a unique family governance structure and securing $23 billion in liquidity to survive while competitors collapsed. The company differentiated itself through preemptive restructuring, flexible manufacturing, and a "power of choice" strategy that simultaneously advanced fuel economy and technology investment without halting traditional engine development. Looking forward, Ford continues to pivot toward a connected, shared mobility ecosystem while addressing critical infrastructure gaps and maintaining disciplined cost controls to adapt to evolving global market dynamics.
- Milken Institute1h 3m
New Directions in Private Equity
Leon Black, David Bonderman, Jonathan Nelson, Jonathan Sokoloff, Scott Sperling, Maria Bartiromo
Despite a 30% drop in private equity deal volume, market leaders like Apollo's Leon Black and TPG's David Bonderman are pivoting from traditional leveraged buyouts to high-growth assets, minority stakes, and distressed opportunities in Europe. While valuations remain stretched due to cheap credit and seller reluctance, firms are prioritizing capital deployment in defensive sectors like media and consumer staples while navigating macroeconomic uncertainty. Panelists anticipate a continued harvest phase over the next 18 months, with capital flows shifting toward customized structures and emerging markets that offer differentiated returns beyond standard GDP growth metrics.
- Milken Institute55 min
The Awesome Responsibility of Leadership: A Conversation with Harry Reid and Eric Cantor
Harry Reid, Eric Cantor, Michael Milken
Senators Harry Reid and Eric Cantor discussed urgent challenges to federal biomedical funding, public health, and education while outlining a bipartisan strategy for comprehensive immigration reform ahead of the July 4th recess. Reid emphasized the severe impact of sequestration on research institutions and nutrition programs, whereas Cantor advocated for technology-driven wellness initiatives and proposed an "ag worker" immigration measure alongside STEM visa retention. The leaders concluded by pledging continued collaboration through a joint trip to the NIH, future joint fundraising in their home states, and the pursuit of an immigration bill that offers a pathway to citizenship while maintaining the rule of law.
- Milken Institute52 min
A Conversation with Thorsten Heins: The Future of BlackBerry and Mobile Computing
Under CEO Torsten Heinz, BlackBerry executed a drastic 75% workforce reduction and complete management overhaul to halt financial insolvency and transition from crisis-mode governance to a culture of decentralized innovation. The company relaunched as a unified brand with the Z10 and Q10 devices powered by the secure QNX-based BlackBerry 10 operating system, which uniquely combines enterprise-grade security with a distinct separation of personal and business environments on a single endpoint. Targeting the "third player" market for carriers and enterprises, BlackBerry leverages its private global data network to dominate the mobile computing sector by integrating automotive telematics and emerging market financial infrastructure while positioning itself as the leader in secure, unified user experiences.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
A Conversation with Larry King and Carlos Slim
Carlos Slim, a telecommunications magnate known for his disciplined approach to business and extensive philanthropy, attributes his success to an innate curiosity and a belief that wealth should serve as a tool for social development rather than an end goal. His economic analysis highlights unsustainable Western fiscal deficits, prompting proposals for structural reforms such as privatizing state assets and rethinking labor models, while his foundation actively advances global health and digital literacy through massive infrastructure projects in Latin America and Indonesia. Despite facing criticism regarding market dominance, Slim maintains that his operations are driven by efficiency and competition, viewing his survival of multiple life-threatening health crises as a testament to his philosophy that happiness is defined by a continuous "love for life."
- Milken Institute1h 0m
A Conversation with Barry Diller
Barry Diller, John Haskell, Jr., Brett Helen
Media veteran Barry Diller characterizes the internet as a radical revolution that will dismantle incumbent media bundles by removing intermediaries, a strategy he exemplifies by defending the legality of Aereo against broadcast lobbies. Diller distinguishes between surviving platforms like Netflix and HBO, which can thrive with standalone subscription models, and failing legacy structures such as newspapers and Best Buy that lack unique value propositions or pricing power. Ultimately, he argues that while established companies often resist change to protect closed systems, innovation driven by leaders who take massive risks remains the only viable path to survival in an increasingly open digital economy.