Latest Interviews
Showing 1021–1035 of 1,615 transcripts.
Clear all filters- Milken Institute58 min
STEM Education: Preparing Kids for Jobs Their Parents Don't Understand
Caroline Fairchild, Kimberly Bryant, Stanley Litlow, Tom Khalil, Brent Bushnell, Doug Mellinger, Gloria Condrup, Precious Baskin
A panel of educators, industry leaders, and policymakers addressed the critical shortage of 1.4 million projected STEM jobs by highlighting severe proficiency gaps and advocating for structural reforms such as universal apprenticeships and mastery-based learning. The discussion highlighted successful models like IBM's P-TECH and Black Girls Code while calling for immediate federal CTE reauthorization to align funding with labor market demands and address teacher retention issues. Ultimately, the consensus emphasizes shifting from age-based promotion to skill verification to ensure a diverse, qualified workforce can fill high-wage positions in fields like data analysis and cloud computing.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Playing Games with Our Children's Education
Gary Weisserman, Nolan Bushnell, Mizuko Ito, Jeff Kupperman, Mimi Ito, Jane McGonigal, John Holly
Experts argue that the traditional classroom's batch-processing model hinders learning by failing to match the neurological engagement of gaming, which activates key brain regions like the hippocampus and caudate. Proponents advocate for "play-to-mastery" systems using tools like Minecraft and VR to enforce full skill acquisition and provide stealth assessments, while also highlighting the need to bridge digital infrastructure gaps and address exclusionary design in the game development industry. Ultimately, the shift toward personalized, game-mediated education aims to reframe learning as an active practice culture that fosters creativity and cognitive longevity across all ages.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
Editing the Genome: Promise and Peril
Jonathan Thomas, David Agus, David Baltimore, Amander Clark, Hank Greely, John Thomas
A panel of biomedical experts characterizes the current period as a golden era in biological research, driven by the Supreme Court's decision to ban human gene patents and the rapid deployment of CRISPR-Cas9 technology. While somatic cell editing is already treating conditions like sickle cell disease, the discussion highlights that germline editing remains legally blocked in the U.S. and poses significant technical risks, including off-target mutations. The experts advocate for a global, scientist-led regulatory framework similar to the 1975 Asilomar Conference to address ethical concerns regarding genetic enhancement and security threats from non-human applications.
- Milken Institute1h 4m
Global Retail: Adapting to Changing Tastes
Lyndon Lee, Guilherme, Daniela, Christophe, Sonu, Coral Chung, Michael, Yasmin Chehata, Cameron Sewell
Industry leaders Lyndon Lee, Guilherme, Danielle, and Sonu discussed how millennial consumers are driving a global shift toward authentic, experience-based luxury and digital-first strategies. To counter market disruption and price volatility, these executives detailed pivots such as abandoning wholesale models for direct ownership, maintaining strict non-discounting policies, and integrating omnichannel technologies like virtual reality to preserve brand integrity. The event concluded with a consensus that while emerging markets are rapidly evolving through distinct stages of luxury consumption, success now depends on aligning with values of sustainability, local craftsmanship, and personalized engagement rather than traditional status symbols.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
After Ebola and Zika: Preparing for the Next Pandemic
Cristina Alesci, Anthony Banbury, Dara Erck, Raul Ruiz, Rajeev Venkayya, Michelle, Aaron Bedtru, Susanna Amos, John Thomas
UN Assistant Secretary General Anthony Banbury, ARISE VP Dara Erk, Representative Rajiv Ruiz, and Takeda President Rajiv Venkay convened to analyze critical failures in the 2014 Ebola response and assess threats from emerging pathogens like Zika and antimicrobial resistance. The panelists advocated for shifting from reactive crisis management to proactive infrastructure investment, specifically calling for "push incentives" in pharmaceutical R&D and a $1.9 billion Zika funding package to address systemic financing and regulatory gaps. These discussions culminated in the operationalization of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), which aims to establish global pandemic insurance mechanisms and standardize rapid vaccine deployment strategies.
- Milken Institute59 min
The Influencers: How Increasing Longevity Will Shape Our World
Paula Kerger, Marc Freedman, Linda Fried, Ai-jen Poo, Nora Super
A panel of experts addresses the critical demographic shift toward an aging population, highlighting the economic potential of a 25-million-strong "second act" workforce and the systemic gaps in caregiving infrastructure. The discussion contrasts outdated retirement models with emerging intergenerational strategies, such as formalized "gap years" for older adults and technological integration in home care, while noting the urgency of reforming Medicare and Social Security to sustain these changes. By framing longevity as a collective national opportunity rather than a burden, the session urges policymakers to adopt new life-stage categories and invest equally in the quality of extended lives alongside longevity itself.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
The Great Global Migration: Beyond the Refugee Crisis
Nicholas Kristof, Nancy Aossey, Paul Collier, Peter Laugharn, David Miliband
This panel examines the structural inadequacies of the current humanitarian system in addressing the record 60 million displaced people, emphasizing the shift from temporary crises to long-term urban displacement. Speakers advocate for reconfiguring refugee policy toward economic integration and private sector investment, citing Jordan's industrial zone initiatives and the World Bank's $1 billion funding commitment as models for treating refugees as assets rather than liabilities. The discussion also challenges Western narratives of sole responsibility while highlighting the urgent need to rebalance global resources, noting that 11-month grant cycles and severe underfunding currently fail to support a reality where displacement averages 17 years.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
The Future of Aerospace in California
George Whitesides, Jacob Anziel, Kelly Johnson, Jen Simpson, Brian Kessler
California's aerospace sector, which commands 25% of the U.S. market and concentrates billions in defense spending, faces a critical juncture defined by a aging workforce, high regulatory costs, and the need to retain its supply chain ecosystem. Key players like Virgin Galactic, JPL, and Aerojet Rocketdyne are advancing commercial space tourism, Mars exploration, and additive manufacturing technologies to drive innovation despite a 17% structural cost disadvantage against global competitors. The industry's future growth hinges on legislative reforms to reduce liability burdens and the successful integration of private-sector agility with established government research capabilities to counter emerging geopolitical threats.
- Milken Institute57 min
Common Sense from Uncommon Investors
Sarah, Mark, Kyle, Mitch, Michael
Managers from Causeway, Crescent, Hamana, and Canyon Capital analyze how passive investing strategies and post-2008 regulations have created significant pricing inefficiencies in cyclical equities, sovereign debt, and the shadow banking sector. Experts including Sarah of Causeway, Mark of Crescent, Kyle of Hamana, and Mitch of Canyon highlight specific structural risks in China's banking system and argue that volatility offers active managers opportunities to exploit mispriced assets while avoiding the "risk-free" illusion of state-backed debt. To capitalize on these anomalies, these firms prioritize hiring individuals who combine fundamental insight with complex capital structuring skills to navigate a fragile macroeconomic environment where traditional balance sheets are contracting.
- Milken Institute57 min
Alternative Investing: Cure for Stock and Bond Blues?
Tom Petruno, Jonathan Grunzweig, Jodie Gunzberg, Jonathan Rotolo, Scott Sperling, Carrie Thome, John Rotolo, Jody Gunsberg
Leading asset managers including Scott Sperling, Kerry Tomei, and Jody Gunsberg convened to advocate for shifting from traditional asset-class allocation to risk-based strategies amid expectations of underperformance in equities and bonds. The panelists detailed how private real estate credit, intellectual property, and diversified real assets offer compelling alpha while mitigating volatility through proprietary deal flows and structured liquidity. Despite concerns regarding the risks of packaging illiquid assets into retail vehicles like 401(k)s, the experts emphasized that long-term horizons and operational expertise remain essential for sustaining returns in a complex market environment.
- Milken Institute59 min
Gay Rights: Corporate America's New Export?
Katie O'Reilly, Randy Berry, Beth Brooke-Marciniak, Jason Collins, Fred Hochberg, Ross LaJeunesse, Harry Keeley, Tim Hoy
A recent panel discussion analyzed the shifting legal and corporate landscape for LGBT rights, highlighting a transition from advocacy driven by human rights to one grounded in economic imperatives like the $3.7 trillion global consumer market and superior stock performance for inclusive firms. Experts emphasized that personal visibility and strategic corporate engagement in sensitive regions, such as Google's initiatives in Singapore and Hungary, often prove more effective than government pressure or market exits when navigating complex cultural and legal environments. Key figures including Jason Collins and Beth Brooke Marciniak underscored the power of leadership to dismantle workplace assimilation, while strategies from the "Open for Business" coalition aim to leverage investor partnerships to advance inclusion through profitability arguments rather than social pressure.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Prescription for a Longer (and Healthier) Life
Paul Irving, Freda Lewis-Hall, Becca Levy, Loretta DiPietro, Patricia Boyle, Jeff Hogan, Byron Boston, Laura Ladd
Experts advocating a lifelong "platform" model for healthy aging emphasize that positive age stereotypes and a sense of purpose can extend survival by 7.5 years and significantly delay cognitive decline. Despite these findings, systemic barriers such as a medical budget skewed 90% toward treatment and a three-decade gap in public perception hinder the adoption of preventive strategies. To overcome these challenges, leaders recommend integrating early education on aging, designing age-neutral communities, and accelerating the translation of scientific data into immediate policy shifts.
- Milken Institute58 min
California: Global Incubator for Innovation and Growth
Kevin Klowden, Bracken Darrell, Gil Elbaz, Adam Miller, Donna Morris
California maintains its status as a global economic power and innovation laboratory through a unique consumer culture and deep university talent pipelines, even as regional dynamics shift between Northern California's venture-driven software sector and Southern California's entertainment-infused tech ecosystem. Global competition is intensifying as China, Europe, and the Nordic region accelerate their own innovation capabilities, prompting US firms to establish overseas operations while facing significant hurdles from restrictive visa policies and data privacy regulations. To sustain this leadership, stakeholders urge urgent reforms in education to promote design thinking, strategies to retain local and international talent amidst high living costs, and legislative changes to streamline skilled immigration.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
Accelerating Democracy: Creating Pathways to Prosperity
Felix Salmon, Cheryl Dorsey, Ed Foster-Simeon, Andrea Hoffman, Rosie Rios, Jose Antonio Vargas
This panel convened diverse leaders including U.S. Treasurer Rosie Rios and Echoing Green's Cheryl Dorsey to connect systemic racial inequality with stalled U.S. economic growth. Participants detailed specific mechanisms for progress, ranging from currency redesigns featuring Harriet Tubman to evidence-based mentorship programs targeting the 9 million at-risk children. The discussion concluded with a strategic framework that prioritizes closing capital formation gaps and shifting narratives to foster a society where inclusivity becomes the default economic engine.
- Milken Institute58 min
The Alchemy of Capital Structure
Erik Schatzker, Joshua Friedman, Joshua Harris, Carey Lathrop, Jonathan Sokoloff, John Sokoloff, Kerry Lathrop
A panel of financial experts analyzes the current high-yield debt market, identifying a late-cycle environment where record leverage multiples and covenant erosion have created a fragile "refinancing wall" for overextended issuers. Drawing on historical shifts from the Drexel era to post-2008 regulatory constraints, the discussion highlights specific vulnerabilities in the energy sector and warns that passive investing has exacerbated liquidity mismatches. Consequently, the experts advise investors to maintain selective discipline and prioritize senior secured positions while urging corporate leaders to extend debt maturities and fortify balance sheets against an anticipated rise in borrowing costs and subsequent restructuring wave.