Latest Interviews
Showing 1–10 of 10 transcripts.
Clear all filters- Milken Institute51 min
Innovation in Artificial Intelligence and Manufacturing | Middle East & Africa Summit 2025
Hunny Bhagchandani, Kaushik Burman, Frans Cronje, Songo Didiza, Guy Diedrich, Mostafa El-Ghorab, Kweilin Ellingrud, John Kamara, Francis Kariuki, Ayaan Mohamed, Editha Mshiu, Emily Musil, Nneile Nkholise, Derick Nwumfor Chunga, Michael Milken
Launched in 2021, the Milken-Mozzeppe Innovation Prize's fourth "AI and Manufacturing" track selected ten semi-finalists from over 12,000 global applicants to compete for a $1 million grand prize at the May 2026 Milken Institute Global Conference. A panel of industry experts evaluated these contenders based on commercial viability and technological depth, with five companies including Digitech Oasis and Blee Glee Management Company advancing to the final round while all ten recipients received $50,000 seed awards. Strategic commentary from leaders such as Michael Milken underscored the program's role in catalyzing local African manufacturing, creating youth jobs, and disintermediating global industries through AI-driven innovation.
- Milken Institute56 min
The Global M&A Outlook
Dana Mattioli, Leon Kalvaria, Navid Mahmoodzadegan, James Sprayregen, Chris Stadler, John Waldron
With year-to-date M&A activity reaching a record $1.6 trillion driven by tax reforms, activist pressure, and technological disruption, corporations are increasingly pursuing de-conglomeration and offshore consolidation despite regulatory uncertainties. Industry leaders are prioritizing cultural due diligence and capital allocation efficiency to navigate a landscape defined by aggressive private equity competition and a shift toward relational retail models. While panelists forecast a robust remainder of the year fueled by strong valuations and low rates, they caution that geopolitical shocks and potential regulatory blockages could disrupt the current market euphoria.
- Milken Institute56 min
The Next Urban Revolution: Reimagining Cities for an Aging Population
Nora Super, James Anderson, Julián Castro, Thomas Lantzsch, Jaana Remes, Jim Anderson, Tom Lanch, Jana, David Rockefeller Jr., Quinn, Yana Shih, Tom Hanksman Jr.
Demographic shifts project a global surge in the senior population that is reshaping urban dynamics, housing models, and consumption patterns while exposing gaps in economic security for aging communities. Cities like Tokyo, Los Angeles, and Singapore are responding with innovative multigenerational housing, autonomous mobility solutions, and talent recruitment programs to maintain independence and address infrastructure needs. Experts recommend a strategic pivot from viewing aging as a vulnerability to an asset-based approach that leverages the continued productivity of retirees through targeted policy, public-private innovation, and data-driven resource allocation.
- Milken Institute59 min
Navigating Investments from Cryptocurrencies to Blockchain
Suna Said, Mike Novogratz, Charles Noyes, Bill Tai, Cameron Winklevoss, Tyler Winklevoss
This panel of cryptocurrency experts defines Bitcoin as a protocol for digital scarcity and decentralized auditing while projecting that institutional derivatives will stabilize market volatility within the next decade. Experts analyze the speculative ICO landscape as a nascent "storytelling stage" and predict that decentralized applications and tokenized identity systems will achieve mass industrial adoption as trust in centralized banking continues to erode. Looking toward long-term displacement of traditional finance, the discussion highlights Bitcoin's potential to replace gold as the primary store of value for digital natives and anticipates a regulatory shift where major economies clarify standards to harness the technology's efficiency.
- Milken Institute1h 2m
Sustainable Solutions For a Green Future
Tracy Gray, Tom McGrath, Nancy Pfund, Dakota Semler, Azita Yazdani, Richael Young
Moderator Tracy Marder convened a panel featuring investment leaders Nancy Fund of DBL Partners and Tom McGrath of Vital Clean Tech Ventures to explore how impact capital drives innovation in sectors like transportation, energy storage, and agriculture. The discussion detailed specific breakthroughs from founders including Michelle of Mammoth Trading, Dakota Simler of Thor Trucks, and Azita Yazdani of Exergy Systems, who presented data-driven solutions for groundwater management, electric heavy-duty logistics, and decentralized water recovery. Ultimately, the session emphasized the necessity of long-term policy stability and equitable workforce development to scale these technologies toward the $1.3 trillion annual sustainable energy investment required by 2030.
- Milken Institute58 min
Cracking the Code of Addiction and Mental Health
Lynn Goldman, Thomas Insel, Gary Mendell, Richard Pops, Garen Staglin, Nora Volkow
A panel of experts from NIDA and public health organizations identifies the opioid crisis as a preventable epidemic driven by systemic healthcare failures, including aggressive pharmaceutical marketing and inadequate medical training, which have caused mortality rates among white non-Hispanic Americans to rise for the first time in history. To address this, the group advocates for mandating CDC prescribing limits, expanding access to proven medication-assisted treatments, and shifting workplace cultures to reduce stigma, emphasizing that the primary obstacle remains the implementation of existing evidence-based protocols rather than a lack of scientific knowledge. Despite these proposed solutions facing significant barriers such as insurance coverage gaps and reimbursement policies that delay care, the consensus holds that coordinated policy changes could reduce new addiction rates by half and reverse decades of escalating overdose deaths.
- Milken Institute49 min
MI Summit 2013 - London: U.S. Overview: Gathering Steam? (updated)
Gregory Cappelli, Ross DeVol, Harold Ford Jr., J. Todd Morley, Eric Spiegel, Philippa Thomas
Facing a potential partial government shutdown and debt ceiling breach by mid-October, U.S. political leaders like Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell are navigating intense intra-party gridlock driven by primary threats. Concurrently, the economy hovers near 2% growth sustained by Federal Reserve stimulus, though experts warn of a structural skills gap, a housing mini-bubble, and an over-reliance on monetary policy that masks underlying weaknesses. Panelists advocate for urgent structural reforms including corporate tax cuts and immigration changes to resolve regulatory stagnation and stimulate genuine long-term innovation.
- Milken Institute1h 11m
Lunch Panel: A Cure for What Ails Us: Celebrating the Impact of Science (updated II)
Nancy Brown, Francis Collins, Thomas Frieden, Andrew von Eschenbach, Michael Milken, Mike Milken, Tom Frieden, Andy Van Eschenbach, Jack Andreyka
A comprehensive analysis of global bioscience reveals a dramatic increase in life expectancy and major breakthroughs in disease eradication, such as the near-elimination of polio and HIV management through programs like PEPFAR. Despite these successes, the sector faces a critical funding crisis where declining NIH grant success rates and inflation-adjusted budget cuts threaten the pipeline of young researchers and the translation of genetic discoveries into new treatments. Strategic initiatives like the Brain Initiative, precision medicine efforts, and the shift toward prevention are now essential to address rising chronic disease burdens and sustain the bioscience industry as a primary driver of US economic growth.
- Milken Institute1h 16m
MI Forum: Clutch: Why Some People Excel Under Pressure and Others Don't
Paul Sullivan, Skip Reimer, Cyrus Hekmat, Eric Schmidt, William Rickles, Jamie Dimon
Paul Sullivan distinguishes "clutch" performance from mere luck by defining it as the repeatable execution of high-level skills under extreme pressure, characterized by laser-focused attention, adaptability, and a strategic balance between fear and desire. Through case studies ranging from Eli Manning's Super Bowl victory to Jamie Dimon's disciplined leadership, Sullivan demonstrates that these traits are learned via deliberate practice rather than innate talent, enabling individuals to avoid the paralysis of overconfidence and overthinking. The presentation concludes by urging a shift from outcome-oriented anxiety to present-moment execution, making elite performance accessible to professionals across various fields through consistent, pressure-simulated training.
- Milken Institute1h 14m
Investing in African Prosperity
Tony Blair, Bill Gates, H.E. Paul Kagame, Strive Masiyiwa, Rhonda Zygocki, Michael Milken
Economic and health data reveal that twenty-five African nations have achieved middle-income status, driven by demographic dividends, rapid mobile adoption, and strategic investments from corporations like Chevron and the Agricultural Transformation Agency in Ethiopia. Successful interventions in countries such as Rwanda and Zimbabwe demonstrate that combining local capacity building with global partnerships can eliminate extreme poverty, eradicate diseases like polio, and transform sectors ranging from agriculture to financial services. These outcomes suggest a future where infrastructure leapfrogging and transparent governance create a sustainable win-win scenario for both private investors and African populations.