Latest Interviews
Showing 796–810 of 822 transcripts.
Clear all filters- Milken Institute57 min
A Conversation with Najib Ghadbian: Syria's Choices
Established in Doha in 2013, the Syrian Opposition Coalition functions as a unified political body recognized by 114 nations to coordinate the removal of Bashar al-Assad and govern liberated areas while the conflict has claimed over 70,000 lives. Under the command of General Salim Idris's Supreme Military Council, the group seeks urgent international support for strategic weaponry to counter regime forces and prevent the emergence of radical factions. Additionally, the coalition is developing a post-conflict framework requiring $60 billion to ensure state continuity, territorial integrity, and transitional justice while rejecting any political settlement that includes the current leadership.
- Milken Institute1h 3m
Global Financial Regulation
Jared Seberg, James Barth, Bob Corker, Gary Lathrop, Kevin Lynch, Tom Pirelli, Bruce Brown, Chris Cole, Michael D.
A panel of senators and banking executives concluded that financial instability stems primarily from excessive risk and regulatory failure rather than sheer institutional size, with Senator Bob Corker and experts like James Barth advocating for targeted GAO studies over mandatory bank breakups. The discussion emphasized the risks of fragmented global regulations and overly stringent capital requirements, which threaten to shift lending activity to the unregulated shadow banking sector while stifling economic growth. Furthermore, the group uniformly rejected a financial transaction tax, called for regulating specific activities instead of institutions, and supported opening the banking sector to non-financial firms to foster innovation and accountability.
- Milken Institute1h 2m
Plotting a Course for Post-Crisis Europe
Paul Coulson, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, Erik Nielsen, Keith Savard, Josef Stadler, Anatole Kaletsky
Europe currently serves as the primary constraint on global economic recovery, characterized by stagnation in major nations like France and Italy while the US enjoys stronger growth indicators. Political developments, particularly in Italy, alongside deep structural disparities in energy costs and banking fragmentation, have intensified pressure for a unified fiscal and monetary response within the Eurozone. While market participants anticipate eventual alignment with US and Japanese monetary strategies to stabilize the currency, the long-term viability of the bloc hinges on overcoming political resistance to debt mutualization and implementing urgent labor reforms in key economies.
- 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 Institute1h 12m
Alternative Investments
Andrew Whitaker, Josh Harris, Vinay Choudhary, Julia Lawler, Andrew Serwer, Eric Schmidt, Brevin Howard, Arvind
Leading alternative investment managers Josh Harris, Wilbur Ross, and Vinay Choudhary detail a strategic market pivot driven by the unattractiveness of traditional fixed income and the need to escape equity volatility, with private equity demonstrating a historical 26% net return against the S&P 500's 9%. Panelists identify specific high-yield opportunities in energy, distressed European banking, and marine transport while warning of an impending credit cycle caused by a massive debt bubble and a $500 billion annual refinancing wall between 2018 and 2020. This consensus positions institutional capital toward direct co-investments and value creation in distressed assets as the Federal Reserve prepares to normalize rates and end quantitative easing.
- Milken Institute58 min
In Tech We Trust? A Debate with Peter Thiel and Marc Andreessen
Peter Thiel argues that technological innovation has significantly decelerated since 1970, pointing to stagnant wages, declining biotechnology patents, and a "rust belt" of legacy hardware firms as evidence of cultural risk aversion and over-regulation. In contrast, Mark Andreessen contends that innovation is accelerating by citing surging global engineering talent, new transportation and communication platforms like Twitter and Tesla, and argues that clean energy stalls are due to fossil fuel subsidies rather than technical failure. While both speakers agree that deregulation is essential for future growth, they fundamentally disagree on whether current economic stagnation reflects a structural breakdown in the physical world or a historical lag in recognizing transformative digital tools.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Immigration Strategy for the Borderless Economy
Ron Brownstein, Antonio Villaraigosa, Laureen Powell Jobs, Michael Bennett, Carlos Gutierrez, Rupert Murdoch, Vivek Wadhwa
Driven by profound demographic shifts and urgent labor shortages, a bipartisan Senate effort led by the "Gang of Eight" proposes a 13-year pathway to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants, a move supported by business leaders like Secretary Carlos Gutierrez and tech innovator Vivek Wadhwa for its potential to boost GDP and innovation. While the legislation includes increased H-1B caps and agricultural visas, it faces significant hurdles in the House due to the Hastert Rule and fears of primary challenges, even as polling indicates 70% of the public favors a citizenship track. Key figures warn that without this comprehensive reform or a viable "Plan B" focused on the DREAM Act and startup visas, the U.S. risks economic stagnation, social division, and the Republican Party's long-term political alienation from growing Hispanic and Asian American voter bases.
- 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 Institute57 min
Building a Global Community to Drive Social Change
Alden, Sean, Ben, Jesse, Michelle, Yancey, Patty, Xavier, Dwayne Johnson, Steven Spielberg, George Soros, Clinton, Barack, Obama
A panel discussion at a media industry event detailed how organizations like TakePart and Good magazine are pivoting from passive content consumption to decentralized, action-oriented community platforms that leverage social media for civic engagement. Key examples included a Facebook game raising $200,000 and mobilizing 700,000 players globally, alongside successful film campaigns for *Lincoln* and *Food, Inc.* that drove measurable consumer behavior changes and policy shifts. The conversation highlighted a broader industry trend where authentic, two-way digital conversations and grassroots organizing are replacing traditional top-down communication to address global challenges effectively.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Building the Apps Economy
Kara Swisher, John Malloy, Diane, Mike Mandel, Ray Sharma
A 2012 analysis reveals that the U.S. app economy generated over 81 billion downloads and 500,000 jobs, a growth rate far exceeding traditional software sectors and driven primarily by enterprise adoption. The industry is rapidly shifting from simple downloads to complex "freemium" monetization models and location-based services, despite significant regulatory challenges regarding privacy and sector-specific oversight. Looking forward, market consolidation and emerging technologies like augmented reality are expected to transform mobile computing into wearable interfaces, fundamentally altering how value is measured and delivered across healthcare, transportation, and retail.
- 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 Institute56 min
Power Shift: The Changing American Electorate
Joel Benenson, Harold Ford Jr., Frank Luntz, Dan Schnur, Matt Miller
A panel of political analysts examines how demographic shifts and a generational divide have restructured the American electorate around a "freedom vs. fairness" conflict, fundamentally altering the dynamics observed in the 2012 re-election of President Obama. The discussion highlights how institutional structures, including primary mechanics and the Senate filibuster, incentivize extreme polarization while eroding trust in corporations and the political system. Looking ahead to the 2014 midterms and future governance, the experts argue that successful leadership must emerge from outside traditional congressional channels to navigate ideological silos and address the specific economic and social anxieties of women and Latino voters.
- 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.