Latest Interviews
Showing 766–775 of 775 interview transcripts.
Clear all filters- 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.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Value and Values: Building a High-Performance Company
Mark Benioff, Ken Hicks, Walter Robb, Jay Rizzullo, Tom Wyatt, Willow
Salesforce CEO Mark Benioff, Whole Foods Co-CEO Walter Robb, Disney CFO Jay Rizzullo, Foot Locker's Ken Hicks, and Knowledge Universe CEO Tom Wyatt convened to discuss aligning corporate social responsibility with high-performance cultural strategies across their respective enterprises. The panelists detailed how empowering local decision-making, integrating philanthropy into operations, and enforcing ethical transparency have driven talent retention, brand loyalty, and financial resilience despite short-term investment pressures. Looking forward, the group emphasized that future market success depends on leveraging social technologies to rebuild legacy systems and maintaining radical accountability as consumer expectations shift toward ethical business models.
- Milken Institute58 min
Magic Johnson and David Ho: Winning the Battle Against AIDS
Magic Johnson, David Ho, Earvin (Magic) Johnson, Al Michaels
This event examines the historical parallel between the 1955 polio vaccine breakthrough and the 1991 HIV diagnosis of Magic Johnson, contrasting how celebrity advocacy and scientific innovation transformed both diseases from fatal epidemics into manageable conditions. Featuring physician Dr. David Ho and former NBA star Magic Johnson, the presentation details the shift from terminal diagnoses following the 1996 "Hiroshima" treatment breakthrough to current efforts targeting a functional cure and global eradication. The discussion concludes by analyzing persistent disparities in sub-Saharan Africa and among racial minorities in the United States while highlighting how HIV research has accelerated broader medical advancements in immunology and drug approval processes.
- Milken Institute52 min
Dinner Panel: Mike Milken Interviews Eike Batista and T. Boone Pickens
Mike Milken, Eike Batista, T. Boone Pickens, Michael Milken
Nobel laureates and energy advocates Boone Pickens and Ike Batista identified energy and education as the two primary drivers of global societal challenges, contrasting U.S. legislative gridlock over natural gas solutions with Brazil's stable "unleveraged economy." While Pickens advocates for replacing imported diesel with domestic natural gas to reduce reliance on OPEC, Batista highlights Brazil's massive offshore oil discoveries and strategic investments as a key frontier for global energy needs. The panel further outlined specific economic strategies, including U.S. job creation through fuel conversion and Brazil's $15.5 billion EBX Group expansion, positioning both nations as critical players in the future resource landscape.
- Milken Institute1h 6m
Milken Institute/Google -- Innovation
Aneesh Chopra, Vijay Vaitheeswaran, Tony Fratto, Pablo Chavez, Brad Belk, Tony Prado, Shalina, Alayna Nolan, Tim Jarbo
Google and the Milken Institute co-hosted the maiden restart of "DC Talks," featuring a panel of experts including former U.S. CTO Anish Chopra and journalist Vijay Vaitheeswaran to dissect the role of government in fostering an innovation-driven economy. The discussion highlighted policy strategies such as open data initiatives, technology-neutral prizes, and infrastructure investment that have successfully accelerated adoption in sectors like health IT and renewable energy while emphasizing a shift from invention to value-creating fresh thinking. Looking forward, the speakers advocated for tolerance of failure, lifelong learning systems, and new accounting standards to recognize intangible assets as essential drivers for solving complex global challenges in the 21st century.
- Milken Institute1h 15m
The Comeback: How Innovation Will Restore the American Dream
Gary Shapiro contends that innovation must serve as the primary national strategy to resolve the U.S. fiscal crisis, arguing that traditional spending cuts and tax hikes are insufficient to address the unsustainable trajectories of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. He advocates for specific reforms including strategic immigration of high-value STEM talent, the reduction of aggressive antitrust litigation that stifles companies like Boeing and Google, and the reallocation of capital from low-return stimulus projects to a dynamic economy driven by creative destruction. Shapiro challenges the government to leverage American heterogeneity and risk tolerance by joining the "Innovation Movement" to pressure leaders into prioritizing long-term growth over political convenience.