Latest Interviews
Showing 1861–1875 of 1,990 transcripts.
Clear all filters- Milken Institute1h 18m
MI Forum: Silicon Rally: L.A.'s Thriving Tech Scene (SD)
Walter Driver, Susan Feldman, Michael Jones, Dana Settle, Mike Jones
The Los Angeles tech ecosystem, known as Silicon Beach, sustains approximately $1 billion in annual venture capital while differentiating itself from coastal hubs through an emphasis on immediate revenue generation over delayed monetization. Despite producing major exits like SpaceX and Riot Games, the region faces significant headwinds including a scarcity of local late-stage funding, a shortage of experienced angel investors, and reliance on external Series B capital. To mature into a sustainable platform for multibillion-dollar valuations, the panel advocates for entrepreneurs to leverage personal expertise and tap into underutilized capital pools within diverse community family offices.
- Milken Institute1h 26m
MI Forum: Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose
Former Link Exchange co-founder Tony Hsieh scaled Zappos into a billion-dollar enterprise by prioritizing "delivering happiness" over traditional retail metrics, a strategy that secured a 2009 Amazon acquisition while preserving operational independence. The company distinguishes itself through radical customer service tactics, such as a 365-day return window and unscripted phone support, which drive a 75% repeat customer rate by treating the business as a service provider rather than a merchandise vendor. Furthermore, Hsieh enforces a culture-first management model where core values dictate hiring and firing, using financial incentives like the "offer to quit" to filter employees who align with the organization's mission to generate long-term value through emotional connection.
- 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 8m
MI Forum: Sustainable Excellence: The Future of Business in a Fast-Changing World
Authors argue that "Sustainable Excellence" has evolved from a moral preference into a critical business imperative, compelling corporations to integrate environmental and social factors into core strategies to survive resource constraints. Major companies like Nike, Ford, and Unilever demonstrate this shift by reimagining products and forming strategic alliances with NGOs, moving sustainability from peripheral reporting to central boardroom decisions. Despite persistent challenges such as consumer behavior gaps and geopolitical risks, the convergence of regulatory mandates and market efficiency suggests that sustainable practices are becoming synonymous with fundamental business excellence.
- Milken Institute1h 15m
MI Forum: The Grace of Silence
Journalist Michele Norris presented her book *The Grace of Silence* at a KCRW forum, recounting how her family's unspoken trauma regarding her grandmother's "Aunt Jemima" performances and her father's 1946 police shooting in Birmingham revealed the protective function of silence in Black American history. Norris contrasted these personal narratives with systemic racial disparities and the "post-racial" myth, arguing that unaddressed historical trauma continues to shape contemporary inequities in employment and education. The event concluded with Norris advocating for a "National Day of Listening" to preserve such family oral histories, emphasizing that acknowledging these specific stories is essential for understanding national strength rather than dwelling in pain.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
MI Forum: Creating a World Without Poverty
Muhammad Yunus, Mike Milken, James McGowan, Betsy Zyman, Ross Duvall, Steve Barth
Founded by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to democratize access to capital, the Grameen Bank operates a unique microfinance model where 7.3 million borrowers, 97% of whom are women, own the institution itself. This structure inverts traditional banking by eliminating collateral and legal enforcement while utilizing social pressure to maintain repayment rates exceeding 98%, thereby extending credit to the world's poorest populations. Building on this foundation, Yunus has expanded into social business ventures like Grameen Danone and Grameen Shakti, which deliver essential services ranging from nutrition to solar energy without relying on external dividends.
- Milken Institute1h 51m
The Hot Zone Approach to Battling Gang Violence
Connie Rice, Rev. Jeff Carr, Malcolm Klein, Charlie Beck, Ray Bercini, Father Gregory Boyle, Brian Center, Mike Clouden, Richard Sandler, Father Greg Boyle, Deputy Chief Charles Beck, Detective Ray Bersini, Deputy Mayor Jeff Carr
Panelists led by Dr. Malcolm Klein and Los Angeles officials analyze the city's gang crisis, redefining the problem through five distinct gang types while critiquing the current over-reliance on individual-focused interventions. The discussion highlights a strategic shift toward evidence-based policies, such as the "Summer Night Lights" program and collaboration with organizations like Homeboy Industries, which emphasize community hope and structural economic reform over pure suppression. Despite reporting a drop in homicides from 350 to 167, experts warn that sustained political will and a $40 million investment are essential to address the underground economy and prevent a resurgence of violence.
- Milken Institute1h 24m
Where Is the Economy Headed? A View From the Presidential Campaigns
Michael J. Boskin, Leo Hindery, Jr., John McCain, Barack Obama, Mike Clouden, Peter Purcell
Economic advisors Leo Hendry for the Obama campaign and Michael Boskin for the McCain campaign engaged in a moderated policy dialogue at a Milken Institute event, debating critical issues including income inequality, the causes of the financial crisis, and the efficacy of global trade agreements. The participants presented divergent views on taxation, where Hendry advocated for repealing tax cuts for high earners to reduce deficits, while Boskin argued that such measures would harm the U.S. standard of living and cited technology rather than policy as the primary driver of inequality. Through structured opening statements and rebuttals, the forum highlighted deep disagreements on regulatory approaches to the mortgage crisis and the role of government intervention in stimulating the economy.
- Milken Institute1h 13m
Demystifying the Mortgage Meltdown: What It Means for Main Street, and the U.S. Financial System
This presentation dissects the 2008 mortgage meltdown by attributing the crisis to unsustainable debt levels, rampant securitization, and a fragmented regulatory environment that failed to manage systemic risks. Speakers detail how high leverage at institutions like Lehman Brothers and AIG, combined with rating agency failures, precipitated a severe liquidity freeze and a housing market correction that wiped out trillions in equity. The analysis concludes that current policy interventions, including TARP, offer only temporary relief and that lasting stability requires comprehensive regulatory reform to increase capital reserves and eliminate opacity in complex financial products.
- Milken Institute1h 13m
Revolution of Hope: The Life, Faith and Dreams of a Mexican President
Vicente Fox, Mike Milken, Governor Davis
Former Mexican President Vicente Fox joined Milken Institute Chairman Mike Milken for an exclusive dialogue on U.S.-Mexico strategic partnerships, highlighting Mexico's demographic surge, trade achievements under NAFTA, and the economic impact of the region's growing workforce. Fox detailed his administration's record of stabilizing inflation and boosting the stock market while advocating for comprehensive immigration reform and contrasting his cooperative leadership style with isolationist or force-based policies. Looking toward the future, the discussion projected Mexico's rise to become a top-five global economy by 2040 and urged deeper binational integration to counterbalance emerging Asian powers while addressing ongoing security challenges.
- Milken Institute1h 28m
Sam Wyly: 1,000 Dollars & an Idea
Sam Wyly, Milken, Mike Clouden
The Milken Institute hosts a December series of private breakfasts featuring former White House Chief of Staff Mac McLarty and new Los Angeles Times editor Russ Stanton, while scheduling a January forum on stem cell research with Allen Tronson. Concurrently, the organization promotes its 2009 Global Conference for April 27–29, noting that capped attendance is expected to sell out. These upcoming events follow a broader narrative highlighted by Sam Wiley's extensive business history, ranging from his tenure at IBM and the founding of Sterling Software to his recent leadership of Green Mountain Energy.
- Milken Institute1h 22m
The Future of Biofuels: Can This Green Energy Pay Off - and Save the Planet?
Roger Conway, Daniel Gardenswartz, Richard Hamilton, Glenn Yago, Joel
The Milken Institute's Capital Studies program convened experts from the USDA and private sector to analyze the technical and economic realities of three biofuel generations, emphasizing advanced cellulosic and algal technologies. Panelists highlighted that while government programs like the Biomass Crop Assistance Program are addressing the critical funding gap between research and commercialization, economic parity with fossil fuels is projected within two to three years as yields improve and costs decline. The discussion concluded that a diversified energy portfolio is essential, countering concerns about food security by demonstrating how genetically enhanced crops can sequester carbon and utilize marginal land without displacing food production.
- Milken Institute1h 21m
MI Forum: Safe At Home With Joe Torre
Joe Torre, Jocelyn Toner, Jeff Klewer, Judith Lynn
The Milken Institute hosted an invitation-only forum where legendary baseball manager Joe Torre and his wife Allie announced the expansion of their Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation to address domestic violence through new school-based "Margaret's Place" safe rooms in Los Angeles. Leveraging a golf tournament fundraiser and an upcoming honorary event for Torre and Sandy Koufax, the initiative aims to scale its peer-support model nationally following a decade of work in New York. The session also featured Torre's reflection on the cultural shift toward media scrutiny in modern sports and his advocacy for accountability regarding the steroid era as he transitions his legacy from four World Series championships to social advocacy.
- Milken Institute59 min
Mid-Market Private Equity (updated)
Lauren Leichtman, Brian Reynolds, Ted Virtue, Barry Volpert, Kneeland Youngblood, Adam Sokoloff
Industry leaders including Lauren Leichman, Ted Virtue, and Barry Volpert convened to analyze the current middle-market landscape, highlighting a surge in refinancing activity and secondary buyouts driven by abundant capital and favorable credit conditions. While mega-funds compete on lower IRR mandates, mid-market firms leverage operational expertise and lower leverage to target distinct valuation gaps, particularly in the $200 million to $1 billion enterprise value range. The panel concluded that despite LP demands for concentration and compliance, the sector is poised for sustained growth through strategic carve-outs, cross-border expansion, and a predicted "harvesting wave" of exits over the next five years.
- Milken Institute11 min
Obama Campaign Manager Jim Messina Talks Big Data at the Milken Institute's 2013 Global Conference
The Obama 2008-2012 presidential campaigns established a data-driven paradigm by deploying over 160 analysts to build behavioral models that accurately predicted election outcomes across all 50 states within a 0.5% margin. Executing this strategy required massive nightly polling and A/B testing to allocate a billion-dollar budget efficiently, securing unprecedented support from undecided voters through personalized digital outreach and targeted social media simulations. While Republican opponents acknowledged a significant technical lag in these early years, the campaign's successors now focus on reinventing these tactics for the 2016 cycle to prevent stagnation in an increasingly competitive digital landscape.