Latest Interviews
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Goldman Sachs Chairman on Why Finance Adopts AI Differently | a16z
A senior financial leader outlines a risk management philosophy centered on rigorous contingency planning rather than prediction, while highlighting the unique systemic threats posed by autonomous AI and untested technology. The speaker details how Goldman Sachs maintained stability during the 2008 crisis through strict collateral agreements and mark-to-market accounting, preserving a partnership culture that prioritizes firm-wide ownership even after its IPO. Drawing parallels between financial crises and active shooter scenarios, the discussion advises current and future technology leaders to build public trust proactively and cultivate broad resilience to navigate an uncertain future.
- Goldman Sachs1h 1m
Danny Meyer: Shaking it Up: Stories of Success from a Disruptor
Danny Meyer, Tim O'Neill, John F.W. Rogers, Kevin McCarthy, Tyler Perry, Sarah Kauss, Wilbur L. Ross, Sara Blakely, Michael Bloomberg, Gina Raimondo, Rick Snyder, Marco Rubio, Lloyd Blankfein, Richard Branson, Warren Buffett
Danny Meyer launched Union Square Cafe in 1985 by applying an "enlightened hospitality" philosophy that prioritizes employee well-being over profit, a strategy that transformed a struggling neighborhood eatery into a cultural icon following a pivotal New York Times review. This approach evolved into the Union Square Hospitality Group, which expanded to include Shake Shack and over 100 locations globally by institutionalizing a culture where leaders act as "culture carriers" and growth is driven by a specific stakeholder hierarchy. Meyer's career demonstrates how maintaining core values while aggressively pruning non-performing assets allows an organization to scale without losing its soul or financial stability.
- Goldman Sachs49 min
Rising Tide: How Small Businesses Boost Communities
Senator Chris Coons, Senator Tim Scott, Mike Allen, John F.W. Rogers, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, Tyler Perry, Danny Meyer, Sarah Kauss, Wilbur L. Ross, Sara Blakely, Michael Bloomberg, Gina Raimondo, Rick Snyder, Marco Rubio, Lloyd Blankfein, Richard Branson, Warren Buffett
Senator Chris Coons and Senator Tim Scott convened to discuss bipartisan legislative strategies addressing immigration reform, economic competitiveness against global rivals, and sentencing corrections. Drawing from their diverse backgrounds in small business and public service, the pair highlighted their "Investing in Opportunity Act" and a new coalition aimed at revitalizing distressed communities through tax incentives. Looking ahead, they emphasized a shift toward substantive policy negotiations on education and healthcare to improve congressional approval ratings while navigating a polarized political landscape.
- Goldman Sachs46 min
Talks at GS – Ron Chernow: Lessons in Leadership – The Unlikely Rise of Ulysses S. Grant
Ron Chernow, Ulysses S. Grant, Lloyd Blankfein
Biographer Ron Chernow reconstructs Ulysses S. Grant's arc from a failed businessman and dismissed officer to a strategic genius who secured Union victory and championed Reconstruction through the Department of Justice. Chernow utilizes Grant's presidency to challenge the "Lost Cause" narrative, highlighting the passage of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments and the unprecedented political representation of African Americans before the era's eventual collapse. While documenting Grant's tragic financial ruin and his unique psychological capacity for calm under fire, the work reframes the general as a modernizing leader whose legacy has surged from historical obscurity to the center of civil rights history.
- Goldman Sachs48 min
10,000 Small Businesses - New York Conference: Michael Bloomberg and Lloyd Blankfein
Michael Bloomberg, Lloyd Blankfein, Warren Buffett, Dr. Michael Porter, Mike Bloomberg, May Gorilla, Pete Wendell, Theresa Lawrence, Rhonda Jackson, Jessica Johnson, Ray Rupp, Kenneth Coates, Jason Burns, Navjot Vajwa, Raj Thakur, Elizabeth Colon, Reece Powell, Saudia Davis, Amy Voloshin, I.M. Tucker, Brian Custer, Mike Brown, Male Presenter 1
The 10,000 Small Businesses initiative functions as a practical "mini-MBA" that has enabled graduates like Maya Gorilla and Reece Powell to achieve average revenue growth of over 60% and significant job creation across 23 cities. By fostering peer learning and strategic insights from leaders such as Mike Bloomberg and Lord Blankfein, the program addresses critical hiring challenges while empowering immigrant entrepreneurs to scale operations and secure major contracts. This evolving network now supports remote participation at Babson College and has cultivated a robust alumni community where members actively transact business to drive economic expansion.