Latest Interviews
Showing 1–9 of 9 transcripts.
Clear all filters- The Economist10 min
Is China the new superpower?
Zanny Minton Beddoes, Edward Carr, Ant, David, Ed, Alice
The analysis examines the People's Liberation Army's advanced regional military capabilities and manufacturing dominance while highlighting severe internal economic stagnation, including three years of deflation and rising youth unemployment. Although China lacks the global projection power of the United States, its strategic focus on national security and superior hypersonic technology positions it to dominate the Indo-Pacific region. Experts conclude that while Beijing will achieve significant geopolitical strength, its long-term stability faces challenges from domestic discontent and an overreliance on foreign markets that it cannot fully control.
- Goldman Sachs19 min
James Citrin, Leader, Spencer Stuart North American CEO Practice
James Citrin, David, Jim Citrin
Spencer Stewart's analysis identifies the "20-80 Principle" as a key differentiator where top 1% performers redefine roles by initiating unrequested value-add projects, a strategy that extends from interns to CEOs. The discussion also addresses the "Permission Paradox" by showcasing how candidates like Jim Citrin manufactured specific experiences to secure roles, alongside the RAMP model for hybrid leadership that balances relationships with rigorous processes. Finally, organizational leaders such as those at Goldman Sachs and Google emphasize clear return-to-office mandates and protected discretionary time to drive innovation and prevent workforce ambiguity.
- Goldman Sachs17 min
Frank Del Rio, President and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Lines
Norwegian Cruise Line secured $2.4 billion in emergency financing and established the Healthy Sail Panel with former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb to navigate the 2020 CDC shutdowns and launch vaccination-based safety protocols. As the company plans to reinstate 25% of its fleet by late 2021 with record bookings for 2022 and 2023, it is adjusting its capital strategy to maintain higher cash reserves while leveraging inflationary pricing power. CEO Frank Del Rio projects a potential record year driven by pent-up demand from 50 million displaced cruisers, supported by a strategy focused on fleet expansion and demographic-driven operational governance.
- Goldman Sachs16 min
Mary Dillon, CEO of Ulta Beauty
Under the leadership of Mary Dillon, Ulta Beauty transformed its market strategy to prioritize multi-ethnic demographics and a hybrid retail model, resulting in a tripling of market capitalization and over 1,200 store locations by 2024. The company has advanced its sustainability goals through the "Conscious Beauty" platform and launched a strategic partnership with Target to establish 100 exclusive shops while maintaining an aggressive expansion in suburban real estate. As Dillon transitions to Executive Chair, she hands the CEO role to Dave Kimball, who will continue to drive innovation and authentic representation to capitalize on the brand's evolving loyalty ecosystem.
- Goldman Sachs14 min
Sasan Goodarzi, CEO of Intuit
Intuit CEO Sasan Ghadarzi announced a strategic pivot from a tax-centric provider to an AI-driven expert platform, highlighted by the Credit Karma acquisition and the integration of machine learning to automate financial workflows. This repositioning includes refreshing corporate values around customer obsession and courage while establishing an open ecosystem that hosts competitor applications like HubSpot to support small businesses. Concurrently, leadership emphasizes a constructive dissatisfaction with current performance through direct customer engagement and advocates for fiscal stimulus to stabilize the global economy dependent on the 50% of businesses that constitute small enterprises.
- Goldman Sachs16 min
Arvind Krishna, CEO of IBM
IBM CEO Arvind Krishna, who has led the company since 2020, is driving a strategic pivot toward hybrid cloud and artificial intelligence through the recent spin-off of IBM's technology services business. Krishna advocates for quantum-resistant encryption and proposed leveraging supercomputing and AI to accelerate pandemic recovery efforts, including vaccine development and remote education. Looking forward, he predicts the pandemic will compress five to ten years of digital transformation into just two years while emphasizing that human creativity will remain essential alongside these technological advances.
- Goldman Sachs17 min
From “The Way Forward" Conference: Kevin Johnson, President and CEO, Starbucks Coffee Company
Starbucks Executive Kevin Johnson described a global crisis response strategy that adapted a China-derived playbook to guide operations across 32,000 stores in 80 countries while prioritizing employee safety and government health guidelines. The company leveraged AI-driven digital dashboards to manage market-specific closures and implemented rigorous health protocols, transitioning from containment to a "monitor and adapt" phase that emphasized mobile ordering and curbside pickup. Concurrently, leadership fostered ongoing racial justice dialogues through virtual family meetings and "pour-over sessions," aiming to balance these social initiatives with a long-term vision that merges the traditional in-store "third place" with convenient digital services.
- Goldman Sachs13 min
Dr. Arie Belldegrun, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, Allogene Therapeutics
Dr. Arie Belldegrun, Dr. Ari Beldegren, Owen Weedy, Steve Rosenberg, David
Dr. Ari Beldergren and Owen Weedy founded Kite Pharma to commercialize NIH-licensed engineered T-cell therapies that overcame industry skepticism regarding the complexity of living drugs. The venture successfully demonstrated the ability to induce complete remission in terminal cancer patients, attracting David from Amgen and catalyzing a sector now comprising roughly 300 companies. Beldergren defines the organization's legacy by its tangible impact on patient survival across lymphoma, bladder cancer, and prostate cancer, positioning clinical improvement as the primary metric for the field's value.
- Goldman Sachs15 min
Talks at GS – Robert Smith: The Fourth Industrial Revolution
Vista Equity Partners Chairman and CEO Robert Smith leveraged his early Bell Labs experience and Goldman Sachs tenure to launch a private equity firm that redefines enterprise software investment by shifting focus from single products to long-term ecosystem control. Operating within the framework of the fourth industrial revolution, Smith's strategy prioritizes building platform moats over decades to dominate specific geographic or sectoral markets rather than competing for short-term product advantages. His approach combines a rigorous evaluation of industry equilibrium with a cultural emphasis on innovation, aiming to transform capital deployment from asset aggregation into deep, value-creating partnerships with software leaders.