Latest Interviews
Showing 1936–1950 of 1,990 transcripts.
Clear all filters- Milken Institute1h 2m
Plotting a Course for Post-Crisis Europe
Paul Coulson, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, Erik Nielsen, Keith Savard, Josef Stadler, Anatole Kaletsky
Europe currently serves as the primary constraint on global economic recovery, characterized by stagnation in major nations like France and Italy while the US enjoys stronger growth indicators. Political developments, particularly in Italy, alongside deep structural disparities in energy costs and banking fragmentation, have intensified pressure for a unified fiscal and monetary response within the Eurozone. While market participants anticipate eventual alignment with US and Japanese monetary strategies to stabilize the currency, the long-term viability of the bloc hinges on overcoming political resistance to debt mutualization and implementing urgent labor reforms in key economies.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
A Conversation with William Clay Ford Jr.
William Clay Ford Jr., John Casesa, John Kossess
Under the guidance of Executive Chairman Bill Ford and CEO Alan Mulally, Ford Motor Company navigated the 2008–2009 financial crisis by leveraging a unique family governance structure and securing $23 billion in liquidity to survive while competitors collapsed. The company differentiated itself through preemptive restructuring, flexible manufacturing, and a "power of choice" strategy that simultaneously advanced fuel economy and technology investment without halting traditional engine development. Looking forward, Ford continues to pivot toward a connected, shared mobility ecosystem while addressing critical infrastructure gaps and maintaining disciplined cost controls to adapt to evolving global market dynamics.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Climate Change: Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst
Nathaniel Keohane, Michael Levi, Molly Macauley, Richard Sandor, Sheldon Whitehouse, Peter Passell
A diverse panel of experts, including Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and industry leaders Richard Sanders and Molly McCauley, argues that climate adaptation has shifted from a supplementary tactic to an essential strategy necessitated by irreversible impacts like species loss and extreme weather. The discussion highlights critical challenges in financing through insurance sector vulnerabilities and updating building codes, while warning that political gridlock and fragmented data on migration obstruct effective implementation. Ultimately, the speakers emphasize that without aggressive carbon pricing and integrated global governance, reliance on reactive measures will fail to address the systemic security risks posed by a non-steady-state climate.
- Milken Institute1h 3m
New Directions in Private Equity
Leon Black, David Bonderman, Jonathan Nelson, Jonathan Sokoloff, Scott Sperling, Maria Bartiromo
Despite a 30% drop in private equity deal volume, market leaders like Apollo's Leon Black and TPG's David Bonderman are pivoting from traditional leveraged buyouts to high-growth assets, minority stakes, and distressed opportunities in Europe. While valuations remain stretched due to cheap credit and seller reluctance, firms are prioritizing capital deployment in defensive sectors like media and consumer staples while navigating macroeconomic uncertainty. Panelists anticipate a continued harvest phase over the next 18 months, with capital flows shifting toward customized structures and emerging markets that offer differentiated returns beyond standard GDP growth metrics.
- Milken Institute58 min
Common Ground Among Global Entrepreneurs
Joanna Rees, Armjad, Esteban Sosnick, Diego, Fedra Kousos, Jonathan Teo, Alfred Fuller, Adam Black, Javier Martinez
Endeavor, a global non-profit established fifteen years ago, connects high-impact entrepreneurs in emerging markets with capital and talent, exemplified by portfolio companies like Jordan's Pharmacy One and Chile's Atacama Labs that collectively generated $5.5 billion in revenue and 200,000 jobs last year. To address systemic barriers such as regulatory hurdles and capital scarcity, the organization launched Endeavor Catalyst, an impact investment fund modeled on top-quartile venture performance, while encouraging founders to adapt business models for local cultures and build domestic training infrastructure. As U.S. early-stage capital recedes, the organization predicts the next wave of global innovation will emerge from these regions, with its new fund aiming to recycle returns to accelerate further entrepreneurial ecosystem growth across expanding markets like Spain and Poland.
- Milken Institute1h 20m
Galvanizing Global Growth: Lessons from Milken Institute Financial Innovations Labs
Caitlin McLean, Carrie Stever, Craig Courtney, Alice Albright, David Ferreira, Larry Coben
A panel of leaders from the Milken Institute, ARIS, GAIN, the US Export-Import Bank, and Gavi outlined innovative financial structures designed to de-risk early-stage investments in global sectors ranging from tuberculosis vaccines and agricultural supply chains to education and cultural heritage preservation. By blending catalytic public capital, patient private equity, and results-based financing mechanisms, these organizations aim to bridge market failures and unlock trillions of dollars in investment for emerging economies. The discussion concluded that sustainable development requires shifting from traditional aid models to scalable, investment-oriented frameworks that align social outcomes with long-term financial returns.
- Milken Institute1h 12m
U.S. Overview: First Recovery, Then Takeoff?
Abby Joseph Cohen, Gary Loveman, Raymond McGuire, Jim Moffatt, Maggie Wilderotter, Ross DeVol, Ross Duvall, Abby Cohen
A March 2013 panel of Milken Institute analysts evaluated the U.S. economic recovery, noting a 2.5% Q1 growth rate that masks a sluggish labor market and a divergence where corporations hoard cash for buybacks rather than investing in small businesses or R&D. The discussion highlighted how European recession, regulatory uncertainty, and a global tax code incentivizing overseas profits have suppressed domestic expansion despite strong corporate profits and a housing market turning point. Experts concluded that achieving 4% growth requires resolving political gridlock, reforming the corporate tax system, and implementing structural investments in innovation and broadband to convert current financial slack into sustained job creation.
- Milken Institute1h 12m
Alternative Investments
Andrew Whitaker, Josh Harris, Vinay Choudhary, Julia Lawler, Andrew Serwer, Eric Schmidt, Brevin Howard, Arvind
Leading alternative investment managers Josh Harris, Wilbur Ross, and Vinay Choudhary detail a strategic market pivot driven by the unattractiveness of traditional fixed income and the need to escape equity volatility, with private equity demonstrating a historical 26% net return against the S&P 500's 9%. Panelists identify specific high-yield opportunities in energy, distressed European banking, and marine transport while warning of an impending credit cycle caused by a massive debt bubble and a $500 billion annual refinancing wall between 2018 and 2020. This consensus positions institutional capital toward direct co-investments and value creation in distressed assets as the Federal Reserve prepares to normalize rates and end quantitative easing.
- Milken Institute1h 16m
The Future of Higher Education in America
William Bennett, Steven Knapp, Daphne Koller, Patricia McWade, Anthony Miller, John Nelson, Bill Bennett, Tony Miller, Megan Smith, John Graff
Amidst eroding public confidence and a trillion-dollar student debt crisis, the U.S. higher education sector faces significant pressure to modernize through legislative mandates for outcome transparency and disruptive online learning models. Prominent institutions and experts like George Washington University, Georgetown University, and Udacity are testing alternative strategies ranging from fixed-tuition policies and global competency credentials to robust need-based aid programs. These responses aim to address the widening gap between academic credentials and economic reality while preparing for a future where regulations tie financial aid to institutional performance and survival.
- Milken Institute1h 5m
Emerging Markets: New Affluence and Influence
Francesco Guerrero, John Coombe, Thomas Flohr, Chris Hung, Sarah Service, Jay Pieloski
Emerging markets panelists forecast a structural shift toward domestic demand and regional trade blocs, highlighting cyclical divergences among BRIC nations and rising opportunities in Africa's frontier markets. The discussion details specific investment vehicles like local currency debt and Dim Sum bonds while warning of stagflation risks, credit bubbles, and currency volatility amidst global quantitative easing. Final outlooks project a four-polar world by 2025, with optimism focused on Chinese equities and consumer sectors balanced against skepticism regarding European stability and Middle Eastern geopolitics.
- Milken Institute58 min
In Tech We Trust? A Debate with Peter Thiel and Marc Andreessen
Peter Thiel argues that technological innovation has significantly decelerated since 1970, pointing to stagnant wages, declining biotechnology patents, and a "rust belt" of legacy hardware firms as evidence of cultural risk aversion and over-regulation. In contrast, Mark Andreessen contends that innovation is accelerating by citing surging global engineering talent, new transportation and communication platforms like Twitter and Tesla, and argues that clean energy stalls are due to fossil fuel subsidies rather than technical failure. While both speakers agree that deregulation is essential for future growth, they fundamentally disagree on whether current economic stagnation reflects a structural breakdown in the physical world or a historical lag in recognizing transformative digital tools.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Immigration Strategy for the Borderless Economy
Ron Brownstein, Antonio Villaraigosa, Laureen Powell Jobs, Michael Bennett, Carlos Gutierrez, Rupert Murdoch, Vivek Wadhwa
Driven by profound demographic shifts and urgent labor shortages, a bipartisan Senate effort led by the "Gang of Eight" proposes a 13-year pathway to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants, a move supported by business leaders like Secretary Carlos Gutierrez and tech innovator Vivek Wadhwa for its potential to boost GDP and innovation. While the legislation includes increased H-1B caps and agricultural visas, it faces significant hurdles in the House due to the Hastert Rule and fears of primary challenges, even as polling indicates 70% of the public favors a citizenship track. Key figures warn that without this comprehensive reform or a viable "Plan B" focused on the DREAM Act and startup visas, the U.S. risks economic stagnation, social division, and the Republican Party's long-term political alienation from growing Hispanic and Asian American voter bases.
- Milken Institute1h 2m
Investing in Our Future: Best Cities for Successful Aging
Joe Coughlin, Mark Friedman, Nancy Lamond, Henry Cisneros, Laura Karstensen
Projected to transform the U.S. population into a 410-million-strong demographic by 2050, the aging baby boomer generation is dismantling the traditional three-stage life model while creating a critical mismatch with urban infrastructure designed for younger cohorts. In response, experts advocate for a paradigm shift toward the "Longevity Economy," leveraging $2.5 billion economic potential from late-career entrepreneurship and retrofitting existing homes to support the 89% of seniors who prefer aging in place. Without accelerating institutional readiness to meet these urgent needs, society faces a widening gap between current infrastructure and the 2.8 million annual retirees demanding continuous engagement and intergenerational connectivity.
- Milken Institute1h 3m
Energy Infrastructure: Getting New Supply to Market Faster
Mark Florian, Rick Grafton, Charlotte Phillips, Gerd Vandevoe, Conrad, Gary, Jordan Sherry, Ambassador, Mark Kahn
Mark Florian, Rick Grafton, Charlotte Phillips, and Gerd Vandevoe convened to analyze the $37 trillion global energy investment gap projected through 2035, emphasizing the critical intersection of rapid renewable deployment, infrastructure bottlenecks, and demographic demand shifts. The panel highlighted how regulatory fragmentation in North America and geopolitical friction in Eurasia currently constrain midstream development, forcing reliance on rail transport and LNG while utilities face margin erosion from distributed generation. Experts concluded that achieving long-term energy security by 2050 requires a hybrid strategy where hydrocarbons and renewables coexist, though high break-even costs for unconventional oil and unstable subsidy regimes remain significant barriers to immediate scaling.
- Milken Institute55 min
The Awesome Responsibility of Leadership: A Conversation with Harry Reid and Eric Cantor
Harry Reid, Eric Cantor, Michael Milken
Senators Harry Reid and Eric Cantor discussed urgent challenges to federal biomedical funding, public health, and education while outlining a bipartisan strategy for comprehensive immigration reform ahead of the July 4th recess. Reid emphasized the severe impact of sequestration on research institutions and nutrition programs, whereas Cantor advocated for technology-driven wellness initiatives and proposed an "ag worker" immigration measure alongside STEM visa retention. The leaders concluded by pledging continued collaboration through a joint trip to the NIH, future joint fundraising in their home states, and the pursuit of an immigration bill that offers a pathway to citizenship while maintaining the rule of law.