Latest Interviews
Showing 196–210 of 243 interview transcripts.
Clear all filters- Goldman Sachs17 min
A Conversation with Chief Information Officer Marty Chavez
Marty Leverett details a 25-year career trajectory at Goldman Sachs that evolved from a serendipitous biochemistry degree to leading computational trading strategies by leveraging the firm's unique data assets and avoiding the separation of technology from markets. He analyzes how exponential growth in compute power and cloud infrastructure has transformed machine learning from an impractical theory into a vital tool for solving complex financial problems. Beyond his corporate achievements, the discussion highlights his commitment to philanthropy, specifically his leadership in the foundation plan to cure HIV/AIDS and his involvement in the High Line urban development project.
- Goldman Sachs8 min
Alex Tapscott: The Blockchain Revolution - Talks at GS
Blockchain technology is being promoted as a second-generation Internet infrastructure that replaces centralized intermediaries with a distributed ledger to securely transfer value and establish identity for billions of unbanked individuals. By utilizing Bitcoin as an incentive mechanism to validate transactions, the network currently secures assets ranging from financial instruments to land titles, addressing specific failures in countries like Honduras and Haiti where traditional record-keeping collapsed. While the technology offers a path to resolve systemic poverty and identity crises through immutable registries, industry observers warn that the coming 18 months are critical for shifting from speculative investment to practical, daily-life utility before market momentum evaporates.
- Goldman Sachs6 min
Meet Ciiru An Inspiring Entrepreneur from Nairobi
Ciiru, Tiffany Dufu, Shiro Avera-Waidaka
Nairobi-based entrepreneur Shiro Avera-Waidaka founded the children's brand Fun Kids to replace Western-centric narratives with products reflecting local Kenyan culture while navigating export challenges to Uganda through a strategic network of female mentors. Her leadership journey, further accelerated by the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women program, leveraged cross-sector peer accountability and reciprocal business relationships to turn classmates into both suppliers and customers. This approach underscores her philosophy that effective leadership relies on collective vulnerability and self-belief to transform external obstacles into opportunities for growth.
- Goldman Sachs10 min
Andrew Bolton: The Intersection of Fashion, Art And Technology - Talks at GS
Following the Costume Institute's establishment as a self-funded department in 1959, the annual Met Gala organized by Anna Wintour has served as its critical financial engine, enabling major exhibitions like the *Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty* retrospective and the current *Manus Ex Machina* display. Curator Andrew Bolton utilizes these platforms to challenge historical barriers to fashion's recognition as art, highlighting the intersection of handmade and machine-made techniques while critiquing the industry's unsustainable, socially accelerated production cycles. Through a strategy that balances educational discourse with public appeal, the Institute aims to slow the fashion pace and foster deeper appreciation for design talent amidst the pressures of modern commercialization.
- Goldman Sachs9 min
Bjarke Ingels: Transforming the Skyline: Talks at GS
Bjarke Ingels, founder of the award-winning BIG firm, discusses his methodology of transforming strict project constraints into generative forces for high-profile projects like the World Trade Center and the Vancouver tower. He further details his approach to the year's Serpentine Summer Pavilion, which utilizes simple materials like fiberglass and aluminum to create a "gigantic shelf" that elevates ordinary elements into an extraordinary form. By treating architectural limitations as variables in a consistent logic, Ingels demonstrates how his firm achieves functional necessity and added value across radically different scales and contexts.
- Goldman Sachs9 min
Loyd Grossman - An American-British Gastronome on Global Food Trends: Talks at GS Session Highlights
Television producer Lloyd Evans details the near-rejection of the *MasterChef* concept by a skeptical BBC executive and its subsequent success as a cornerstone of the UK's thirty-year food revolution. Evans analyzes current culinary trends, noting a shift from exclusive molecular gastronomy to the "one-item" restaurant model, foraging, and high-quality local produce, while offering a nuanced critique of the queuing culture that dominates trendy dining. Drawing on his career philosophy and observations of British identity, he argues that food remains an affordable alternative to travel and highlights the enduring appeal of accessible, high-quality dining experiences.
- Goldman Sachs10 min
Christy Turlington Burns - Advancing Global Maternal Health: Talks at GS
Established in 2010 by Christy Turlington-Burns following her own postpartum hemorrhage, the organization Every Mother Counts leverages the documentary *No Woman, No Cry* to address preventable maternal mortality driven by barriers in transportation, education, and medical supplies. While Turlington-Burns extends this advocacy to the United States through the CNN series *Giving Birth in America* to highlight domestic disparities in care access and Medicaid reimbursement, the initiative remains focused on a global statistic that 98% of maternal deaths are avoidable. Her approach combines personal experience with public health expertise to confront systemic failures in both developing nations and the U.S., where the country's maternal mortality ranking has notably declined despite high provider density.
- Goldman Sachs9 min
Ken Thompson - Strengthening Trust in the Criminal Justice System: Talks at GS Session Highlights
The Brooklyn District Attorney's Office manages approximately 100,000 cases annually through initiatives like the "Begin Again" program, which resolves one million low-level warrants via mobile courts, and the Conviction Review Unit, which has exonerated 17 wrongfully convicted men. To address gun violence, the office operates a fast-track multi-judge court system to accelerate case resolution and collaborates with the NYPD on long-term investigations targeting the out-of-state smuggling of firearms that comprise 90% of recovered weapons. This dual approach aims to correct systemic inequities for the poor while simultaneously enhancing public safety through faster adjudications and targeted intercepts of illicit weapons.
- Goldman Sachs14 min
David Benioff - Behind the Scenes of HBO's 'Game of Thrones': Talks at GS Session Highlights
David Benioff, Stephen Friedman
Co-creators David Benioff and Dan Weiss transformed *Game of Thrones* into the world's largest television production by expanding George R.R. Martin's universe from six countries and thousands of extras while navigating the unprecedented challenge of original storytelling beyond published books. Despite initial pilot setbacks, the team secured unprecedented control from HBO to forge new narrative paths for Season Six and beyond, marking a shift toward a series they consider their most proud work. The collaboration remains defined by Martin's unique mentorship, which continues to influence the writers' approach to complex character dynamics and historical fidelity as the show prepares for its eighth and final season.
- Goldman Sachs12 min
Panel - Entrepreneurship and Building a Business: Talks at GS Session Highlights
Byron Dixon, Matt Riley, Lance Uggla, Michael Sherwood, Lance Ugler
Market.com CEO Lance Ugler, Daisy Group founder Matt Riley, and Microfresh leader Byron Dixon discussed how regulatory shifts and strategic location choices drive business growth while maintaining a "people first" culture. The panelists emphasized that true innovation involves changing operational methods rather than just products, highlighting intangible assets like work ethic and a family-like atmosphere as key competitive advantages. Despite the complexities of scaling publicly traded entities, the leaders stressed that remaining close to customers and staff is essential for sustaining long-term success and employee retention.
- Goldman Sachs9 min
Revolutionizing Cancer Treatment with Immunotherapy: Talks at GS Session Highlights
Giovanni Caforio, Laurie Glimcher, Jill O'Donnell-Tormey, Dr. Giovanni Coforio, Dr. Lori Glimcher, Jamie
Immunotherapy has emerged as a transformative cancer treatment by harnessing the patient's immune system to target mutated cells through checkpoint blockade, offering a personalized alternative to the non-specific toxicity of traditional chemotherapy. Clinical trials in melanoma and lung cancer have demonstrated that this approach yields response rates exceeding 60% and has nearly eliminated the need for first-line chemotherapy in these malignancies. Looking ahead, the field aims to expand these outcomes by addressing patient non-responsiveness through strategies that personalize therapy based on unique tumor genetic profiles.
- Goldman Sachs9 min
Mrs. Laura Bush - A Conversation on Empowering Women in Afghanistan: Talks at GS Session Highlights
Laura Bush, Mrs. Laura Bush, Manizha Naderi, Mrs. Bush, Manisha
Former First Lady Laura Bush launched her book *We Are Afghan Women*, which chronicles the struggles and resilience of 29 Afghan women alongside activist Manisha, who details the founding of a shelter network now serving over 21,000 survivors. The work highlights how marginalized women like Manisha transformed decades of conflict into progress, establishing educational systems and advocacy groups while noting that the nation's reconstruction may take another forty years. Bush emphasizes that female civic participation is a prerequisite for national stability, drawing parallels to the 1920 U.S. suffrage movement to advocate for patient, long-term investment in Afghan women's rights.
- Goldman Sachs11 min
Shaquille O’Neal: Talks at GS Session Highlights
Shaquille O’Neal, Tanya Cushman Reviewer, Peter van de Ven
LSU basketball alum and scholar Peter van de Ven, who transitioned from a struggling teen athlete to a doctorate holder in organizational leadership, discusses his unique philosophy of blending humor and seriousness to drive community revitalization in Newark. Through his "Impact Newark" initiative, van de Ven is working with local officials to prevent resident displacement by establishing apprenticeship programs that keep residents employed in their home city. His presentation also details personal anecdotes ranging from his recruitment by Coach Brown and a humorous 50% free-throw success rate to being distracted by Halle Berry during a professional game.
- Goldman Sachs15 min
Jamie Redford: Talks at GS Session Highlights
Jamie Redford launched his documentary *Resilience* at the Sundance Film Festival to expose the biological and societal impacts of adverse childhood experiences, a project developed alongside *Paper Tigers* to showcase a compassionate school model that significantly improved graduation rates and reduced violence. Driven by his family's history with organ donation and dyslexia, Redford utilizes the Redford Center's collaborative framework to produce purpose-driven films that link toxic stress to chronic disease and criminal behavior. These efforts align with the Sundance Institute's continued mission to amplify underrepresented global voices, ensuring diverse narratives reach audiences while demonstrating how stable adult relationships can alter life trajectories for traumatized youth.
- Goldman Sachs15 min
Kelly Holmes: Talks at GS Session Highlights
Kelly Holmes, Dame Kelly Holmes
Dame Kelly Holmes recounts her journey from a self-proclaimed clumsy student in Kent to a British Army Physical Training Instructor who defied a male-dominated military structure to become an elite athlete. After overcoming a decade of severe injuries, a depression diagnosis, and a strategic decision to prioritize the 1500m, she achieved the historic Olympic double by winning gold in both the 800m and 1500m at the 2004 Athens Games. Her narrative emphasizes how military discipline and resilience enabled her to conquer athletic setbacks and fulfill a childhood dream sparked by watching Sebastian Coe in 1984.