Latest Interviews
Showing 1936–1950 of 2,590 transcripts.
Clear all filters- 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
Institutional Investors: Stewarding Long-Term Assets
Steffen Meister, Alain Carrier, Sophia Cheng, Neil Cunningham, Blake Hutcheson
Representatives from the CPP Investment Board, OMERS, PSP, and Cathay Financial Holdings outlined aggressive strategies to expand private market allocations while targeting assets in Asia and emerging markets to capitalize on long-term growth. These institutional investors emphasized active governance and in-house talent acquisition to distinguish high-quality investments amidst valuation compression and geopolitical noise. The panelists concluded that despite fierce competition and macroeconomic headwinds, the shift of capital toward private assets remains essential for delivering sustainable returns as the public market landscape shrinks.
- The Economist8 min
South Africa: rugby's race problem
Chester Williams, Peter de Villiers
Twenty-five years after South Africa's unifying 1995 Rugby World Cup victory, the Springboks remain a flashpoint for racial division as the government mandates quotas to increase black player representation despite 82% of black respondents favoring strict merit-based selection. Key figures like Chester Williams defend these quotas as essential for dismantling systemic barriers, whereas former coach Peter de Villiers argues they damage player reputations without addressing root causes, though both agree that long-term transformation depends on nurturing youth talent rather than national-level mandates. While the 2019 target required 50% of players to be black, the ongoing debate highlights the broader disconnect between political freedom and economic inclusion, with experts projecting that true selection neutrality based on nationality may still be a decade away.
- Milken Institute54 min
Truce or Dare: Navigating US-China Relations
Curtis Chin, Steven Ciobo, Ng Kok Song, Weijian Shan, Lord Mandelson
Moderated by former Australian Trade Minister Steve, a panel including Kok Song of Avanda, PAG CEO Weijin Shan, and former European Trade Commissioner Lord Peter Mendelsohn analyzed the deteriorating US-China economic relationship and the declining probability of a bilateral trade deal before the 2020 election. Participants highlighted how tariffs have widened the US trade deficit while China's shifting focus toward domestic consumption and supply chain stickiness have left American consumers bearing an estimated $80 billion in costs. The experts forecast a prolonged period of geopolitical friction and potential global system bifurcation, predicting that political posturing will likely prevent meaningful resolution despite severe economic inefficiencies.
- a16z27 min
CRISPR 2.0 and the Future of Gene Therapies
The gene therapy sector is undergoing a paradigm shift from simple transgene addition to precise CRISPR-based editing, driven by recent FDA approvals and a pipeline projecting dozens of Phase 3 trials this year. Despite significant progress in developing base editors and expanding delivery vectors, the industry faces critical bottlenecks in manufacturing scalability and achieving organ-specific targeting without immunogenicity. Successful organizations are distinguishing themselves by combining rigorous engineering mindsets with interdisciplinary teams to optimize modalities and automate production for a future of millions of patients.
- Y Combinator8 min
How To Cold Email Investors - Michael Seibel
Founders are advised to craft concise, six-second cold emails that explicitly detail the problem, solution, traction, and unique market insight without requesting immediate meetings or using storytelling. By sending from verified company domains and attaching standard Silicon Valley pitch decks only if necessary, entrepreneurs can increase the likelihood of initiating a dialogue rather than securing instant funding. Success is determined by measuring open rates through tracking tools and ensuring the message provides raw facts to generate investor interest, avoiding the pitfalls of withholding information or sending excessive follow-ups.
- a16z1h 25m
Making Culture, Making Influence -- Dapper Dan in Silicon Valley
Dapper Dan, Daniel Day, Ben Horowitz
Harlem native Dapper Dan, a self-made entrepreneur who transitioned from 1960s drug trafficking to pioneering "logomania," built a custom luxury fashion empire by adapting high-end brand symbols for the community's elite before facing 1990s legal raids and a near-fatal shooting that devastated his business. Decades of litigation and cultural marginalization were resolved through a 2017 strategic partnership with Gucci, which established the Dapper Dan Atelier to formally acknowledge his design innovations and rectify historical appropriation of his intellectual property. Drawing parallels to African independence movements, Dan now advocates for Black entrepreneurs to integrate into multinational corporate structures rather than operating on the margins, leveraging his unique position to influence global fashion and economic empowerment strategies.
- Milken Institute58 min
The Known Unknowns of Election 2020
Sarah Sandler, Willow Bay, Jim Messina, Mark Penn, Karl Rove, Neera Tanden
A panel of political experts analyzes global anti-establishment trends and U.S. demographic shifts to outline the critical strategies required for the 2020 election. The discussion highlights that both Donald Trump and Democratic contenders must balance voter persuasion with base mobilization to overcome Trump's low personal likability and the primary's intense focus on electability. Key insights reveal that winning will depend on addressing economic anxieties and cultural divisions while navigating a fractured electorate where trust in institutions has severely declined.
- Y Combinator29 min
Kirsty Nathoo - Managing Startup Finances
Founders are advised to track core financial metrics like burn rate and runway weekly to maintain a "default alive" trajectory toward profitability, using tools like Trevor Blackwell's calculator to model realistic scenarios. The presentation warns against underestimating expenses, misclassifying labor costs, or hiring prematurely, emphasizing that scaling before product-market fit significantly increases failure risk. To secure optimal fundraising leverage, founders should aim for sustained revenue growth on existing capital while reserving Series A financing for when detailed forecasts and proven traction are available.
- Milken Institute56 min
A Conversation with Wilbur L. Ross, Jr., Secretary, U.S. Dept. of Commerce | The American Workforce
Wilbur L. Ross, Jr., Gerard Baker, Bernard Harris, Jr., Barbara Humpton, Jonathan Sokoloff, John, Wilbur Ross
The American Workforce Advisory Board, led by Secretary Ross, has secured commitments for 7.5 million apprenticeships to address critical labor gaps caused by a "barbell" demographic and a vocational training deficit. Industry leaders and policymakers are collaborating to shift from a traditional degree-centric model toward merit-based hiring, lifelong retraining, and expanded STEM education to prepare for technological displacement and emerging sectors like space travel. This strategic pivot aims to align the workforce with evolving economic realities by prioritizing digital readiness, soft skills, and streamlined credentialing over obsolete vocational labels.
- Goldman Sachs16 min
Darren Walker – President of the Ford Foundation
Darren Walker, President of the Ford Foundation, leverages his decade of private sector experience in capital markets and law to critique structural inequalities he argues threaten American democracy. Drawing on historical data regarding the "War on Drugs" and post-1982 corporate financial shifts, Walker asserts that systemic designs deliberately suppress upward mobility and erode trust in institutions. He concludes by urging professionals to integrate empathy and specific skill sets into for-profit sectors and local community engagement rather than assuming a full career pivot is necessary for social impact.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Taking Travel, Leisure, and Transportation to the Next Level
Carol Massar, Michael Flaskey, Glenn Fogel, Josh Giegel, Caryn Seidman-Becker, Rob Wiesenthal
Representatives from Booking Holdings, Clear, Blade, Virgin Hyperloop, and Diamond Resorts detailed industry shifts toward unified digital ecosystems that leverage AI and biometrics to eliminate friction in travel, while simultaneously addressing legacy regulatory hurdles and data sovereignty concerns. The panelists highlighted strategic pivots aimed at younger demographics and mass markets, such as flexible vacation contracts, democratized helicopter transport, and high-capacity hyperloop transit, alongside aggressive plans to deploy infrastructure for future autonomous mobility. Ultimately, the discussion underscored how emerging technologies and adaptive business models aim to transform fragmented travel experiences into seamless, secure, and accessible end-to-end journeys.
- Milken Institute1h 2m
First Step, and Not the Last: Criminal Justice Reform
Nicholas Kristof, Phil Bryant, Susan Burton, Mark Holden, Valerie Jarrett, Nicholas Turner, Clara Wu Tsai, Nick Turner
A bipartisan panel of political leaders, activists, and business executives collectively identifies mass incarceration as a systemic failure, highlighting the specific legislative failures of the 1994 Crime Bill and the limitations of the 2018 First Step Act. Drawing on data from Mississippi's "Fresh Start Act" and private sector initiatives, the discussion details how reforms ranging from expungement laws and Pell Grant restoration to vocational coding programs have successfully reduced prison populations, saved millions in state costs, and slashed recidivism rates. Ultimately, the consensus underscores a strategic shift toward preventative investments in education and early childhood programs to dismantle the racial and economic disparities perpetuated by current punitive policies.
- Milken Institute31 min
A Conversation with Mark Bradford and Michael Govan
Art critic and curator Bradford discusses his evolution from abstract expressionism to politically charged installations that challenge institutional norms and address social inequities. The conversation highlights his co-founding of Art + Practice, a non-profit transforming a former beauty parlor into a hybrid gallery and foster youth center in Leimert Park to serve marginalized communities. Through strategic partnerships with LACMA and a rejection of the "colonizing model," Bradford advocates for an integrated approach where artistic practice drives systemic change and resource redistribution.
- Y Combinator2 min
Ooshma Garg: What is your advice for those starting out as a single founder?
Gobble's founder launched the venture alone after failing to recruit a permanent co-founder, eventually assembling a five-person super team that operates as a cohesive hive mind. To manage the isolation of solo founding, the leader replaced a single anchor with a dynamic support network of three to six trusted individuals who rotate providing strategic and emotional guidance. This strategy of crowdsourcing a co-founder role through regular informal meetings with other single founders allowed the team to sustain momentum despite lacking a permanent executive partner.