Latest Interviews
Showing 1–15 of 48 transcripts.
Clear all filters- Milken Institute1h 3m
Credit Outlook | Global Conference 2025
Michael Milken, Lee Kruter, Drew McKnight, Purnima Puri, James Reynolds, Christian Stracke
Driven by the 2023 banking retrenchment and rising institutional demand for yield, major asset managers including PIMCO, Fortress, and Goldman Sachs are shifting capital from traditional lending to non-investment-grade private credit and alternative financing structures. Panelists identify significant growth opportunities in undervalued asset-based credit, data center infrastructure, and expanding markets in Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, while emphasizing defensive strategies focused on recovery rates rather than default probabilities. Despite regulatory uncertainties and untested default cycles, experts project the sector will scale significantly to fill the void left by contracting bank balance sheets.
- 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 Institute1h 2m
Global Overview: Innovation, Partnerships, and Growth | Middle East & Africa Summit 2025
Hadley Gamble, His Excellency Jasem Al Budaiwi, Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed AlMheiri, Yasseen Mansour, Michael Milken, Yassine Mansour, Jasem Al Budaiwi, Mariam bint Mohammed AlMheiri
The 46th GCC Summit united regional leaders to prioritize collective defense following recent security threats while accelerating economic diversification, evidenced by non-oil GDP reaching 76% and the UAE becoming the global top destination for millionaires. Strategic investments totaling $150 billion target Africa's demographic growth and energy sectors, complemented by a joint AI strategy designed to transform government services and healthcare across the region. Positioned as a neutral mediator in global affairs, the bloc combines regulatory stability with massive infrastructure projects to attract capital flows and challenge traditional economic centers like Europe and the United States.
- Milken Institute48 min
Toward a Flourishing Future | Global Conference 2025
Michael Milken, Sian Beilock, Jon Clifton, Francis Collins, Jenny Johnson
A multi-disciplinary panel convened to redefine leadership through the lens of human flourishing, contrasting stagnant global GDP metrics with critical declines in mental well-being, youth purpose, and social connection. Experts from Dartmouth, Gallup, and financial sectors outlined a roadmap integrating physical health, ethical education, and blockchain-enabled financial democratization to counter rising anxiety and workplace misery. The discussion concluded with a call to embed these flourishing dimensions into public policy, advocate for mandatory civic service, and utilize technology to dismantle barriers to economic opportunity.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Common Sense from Uncommon Investors | Global Conference 2025
Michael Milken, Victor Khosla, Marc Lipschultz, Robert F. Smith, Jonathan D. Sokoloff, Anne Walsh
On May 5, 2025, a panel of investment leaders including Anne, Jonathan, Robert, Mark, and Victor analyzed a geopolitical landscape upended by U.S. fiscal policy and trade shifts that have heightened market volatility and debt concerns. Despite these macroeconomic headwinds, the group highlighted robust opportunities within private equity, generative AI, and private credit, citing specific strategies such as expanding employee ownership, deploying "agentic" AI solutions, and providing stable capital for hyperscale infrastructure. The discussion concluded with a focus on governance and succession, emphasizing the necessity of shifting from short-term arbitrage to long-term value creation while mentoring the next generation of investment professionals to navigate structural market changes.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Bold Proposals for Protecting the Free-Enterprise System while Closing the Wealth Gap | GC 2024
Michael Milken, John Hope Bryant, Brad Gerstner, Teresa Ghilarducci
At a May 2024 Milken Institute panel moderated by Michael Milken, experts including Stephen Mnuchin, Brad, John Hope Bryant, and Theresa outlined a consensus strategy to protect the free enterprise system by replacing wealth taxes with universal financial literacy and private capital access. The discussion detailed specific legislative and corporate initiatives such as the Retirement Savings for American Act and the "Invest America" proposal, which aim to automatically enroll millions of workers in retirement accounts and establish seed accounts for newborns to counteract economic inequality. Proponents argue these structural reforms, alongside private equity expansion, are essential to prevent national decline and ensure that the impending intergenerational wealth transfer builds lasting capital rather than dependency.
- Milken Institute1h 14m
Navigating a Changing Global Economy | Middle East and Africa Summit 2024
Laura Deal Lacey, Michael Milken, His Royal Highness Prince Turki Al Faisal Al Saud, Makhtar Diop, Mohamed Mansour, Alan Schwartz, Prince Turki Al Faisal Al Saud
Held in Abu Dhabi in December 2024, the 6th Annual Middle East and Africa Summit convened global leaders from the Milken Institute, the International Finance Corporation, and the Mansour Group to mobilize capital toward healthcare, economic development, and environmental sustainability. The event highlighted a strategic pivot where emerging markets are transforming from passive capital providers into technology hubs capable of bridging the gap between the aging Global North and Africa's young, growing workforce. Participants addressed critical investment barriers such as regulatory uncertainty and currency mismatches by proposing blended finance models and de-risking strategies to unlock trillions of dollars in private and philanthropic resources.
- Milken Institute53 min
Health Care of the Future | Future of Health Summit 2024
Michael Milken, Alex Azar, Buddy Carter, Diana DeGette, Renee Wegrzyn
The event detailed how ARPA-H and legislative initiatives like "Cures 2.0" are addressing systemic healthcare challenges by funding high-risk biomedical innovations and ensuring pharmaceutical independence. Key figures including Rep. Diana DeGette and Rep. Chris Carter highlighted strategies to reform Medicare Advantage payment models and repatriate drug manufacturing to counter supply chain vulnerabilities. The panel concluded with a call for increased federal investment in translational science and a broader call for business leaders to enter government to sustain the pace of medical breakthroughs.
- Milken Institute46 min
The Road Ahead: Reflections and Insights to Improve Health for All | Future of Health Summit 2023
Alex Azar, Xavier Becerra, Michael Milken
Former and current HHS Secretaries Alex Azar and Javier Becerra contrasted their divergent economic philosophies regarding the Inflation Reduction Act and pandemic response while detailing the collaborative frameworks used in Operation Warp Speed and current legislative efforts to lower drug costs. Their discussion highlighted a unified push toward healthcare equity, evidenced by significant vaccination rate improvements among minority populations and the expansion of the 988 mental health crisis lifeline, despite ongoing challenges in data transparency and life expectancy trends. Ultimately, both leaders emphasized the critical need for international coordination on pandemic preparedness and domestic investments to address structural gaps in rural and maternal care.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
Credit Outlook | Milken Institute Global Conference 2024
Michael Milken, James Keenan, Victor Khosla, Marc Lipschultz, Purnima Puri
Leading institutional investors from BlackRock, Blue Owl Capital, Strategic Value Partners, and J.P. Morgan Partners outlined a rigorous selection framework that targets only 2% to 5% of reviewed deals to navigate a "higher for longer" interest rate environment. Panelists emphasized that private credit offers superior covenant protection and recovery rates compared to public markets, positioning it as a permanent portfolio diversifier rather than a temporary boom as bank deleveraging drives capital toward asset managers. Looking ahead, industry leaders anticipate a multi-year opportunity in distressed debt and non-sponsor financing, where operational involvement and strict governance will define success amid projected $600 billion in annual maturities.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Proposals for Protecting the Free-Enterprise System while Closing the Wealth Gap | Global Conference
Michael Milken, John Hope Bryant, Brad Gerstner, Teresa Ghilarducci, Steven T. Mnuchin
On May 8, 2024, the Milken Institute convened a panel featuring Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, investor Brad Jacobs, and advocate John Hope Bryant to propose structural reforms that reconcile free enterprise with closing the wealth gap. The group outlined specific legislative and private-sector solutions, including the "Invest America Birth Account" to seed universal child savings and the Retirement Savings for Americans Act to automatically enroll workers in retirement plans. These initiatives aim to mitigate retirement insecurity and promote financial literacy by 2026, leveraging contributions from high-net-worth donors and private equity firms while avoiding wealth taxes that could stifle innovation.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Reinvigorating the American Dream through Sport, Celebration, and Education | Global Conference 2024
Jim Gray, Janet Evans, Gianni Infantino, Rosie Rios, Lindsey Vonn, Michael Milken
The Milken Institute is launching the Center for Advancing the American Dream in Washington, D.C., during 2025 to coordinate with the America 250 Commission's bicentennial preparations and the 2026 World Cup. Key figures such as FIFA President Gianni Infantino, U.S. Treasurer Rosie Rios, and Olympian Lindsey Vonn are driving a strategy that leverages the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 and 2034 Olympic Games to foster national unity, combat youth screen addiction, and mobilize billions of global viewers. This multi-decade initiative combines historic commemorations with a $160 million investment in youth sports to promote physical engagement and ensure broad community access to major sporting events.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Common Sense from Uncommon Investors | Milken Institute Global Conference 2024
Michael Milken, Joshua Friedman, Dan Ivascyn, Steven Tananbaum, Anne Walsh, Tony Yoseloff
Panelists from PIMCO, Guggenheim, and GoldenTree analyze the current fixed income advantage over equities while warning of rising defaults in the oversaturated private credit market and systemic leverage risks in real estate and regional banks. The discussion highlights specific opportunities in liability management exercises, single-family mortgages, and pension risk transfers, even as regulatory changes accelerate banking consolidation. Strategic insights from leaders like Tony Blair and Dan Ivascenko further outline robust investment committee protocols designed to mitigate behavioral biases during volatile market cycles.
- Milken Institute49 min
Dialogue with Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim
Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Dato' Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim, Haslinda Amin, Michael Milken, Curtis Chin, Anwar Ibrahim, Michael Swaito, Joe Brock
Anwar Ibrahim and Mahathir Mohamad lead a transition government in Malaysia that prioritizes dismantling race-based economic policies, combating systemic corruption, and replacing the New Economic Policy with a need-based framework. The administration plans to recover billions from the 1MDB scandal to fund education and social services while managing a predetermined handover of the premiership from Mohamad to Ibrahim in May 2020. This strategic governance aims to redefine the nation's "Asian Dream" by fostering multiracial democracy, addressing severe poverty statistics, and positioning Malaysia as a stable economic force amid regional geopolitical tensions.
- Milken Institute1h 2m
Credit Is a Cycle: Global Market Outlook
Michael Milken, Ilfryn Carstairs, Josh Friedman, Sir Michael Hintze, David Miller, Jim Zelter
A panel of leading alternative asset managers including CQS, Canyon, and Apollo analyzed a late-cycle credit market characterized by covenant-light public securities, regulatory constraints on bank inventory, and significant dislocations in commercial real estate. Focusing on structural opportunities, these firms detailed strategies to pivot from passive trading to active origination, leveraging high-volume distressed assets in India, demographic-driven yield hunger from Japan, and short positions against deteriorating CMBS tranches. With substantial private equity dry powder and institutional demand for yield, the consensus indicates a strategic shift toward building proprietary platforms and utilizing long/short strategies to capture alpha as the sector expands toward $3 trillion in combined purchasing power over the next five years.