Latest Interviews
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Clear all filters- Milken Institute59 min
Portfolio Strategies That Mitigate Political Risk
Rick Newman, Ellen Ellison, Marina Gross, Karen McQuiston, Alyssa Rieder, David Freeman, Marina Cooperman, Daniela, Martin Mlinar, Julie Siegel, Justin, Peter Barron, Eric Noel, Ruth Bader Ginsburg Jr.
Panelists from the University of Illinois Foundation and Dignity Health argued that geopolitical risk has shifted from frontier-specific instability to a dominant source of political volatility in developed markets, challenging traditional probabilistic modeling frameworks. In response to late-cycle valuation constraints and heightened populism, institutional investors are increasingly deploying active management strategies and allocating capital to alternative asset classes like private equity and distressed debt to capture dislocation opportunities. The discussion concluded that while specific regimes like Russia remain excluded due to rule-of-law deficits, diversification and higher risk premiums serve as the primary mechanisms for mitigating the converging impacts of political and economic uncertainty.
- Milken Institute56 min
Hacks on Health Care: How to Make a Vulnerable Industry Cyber-Secure
Kim McCleary, Joshua Corman, Kevin McDonald, Suzanne Schwartz, Mark Wilson, Josh Tenenbaum, Martha Minowski
Led by Kim McCleary, a panel of industry experts and regulators detailed how the convergence of legacy medical devices, severe talent shortages, and immense costs has created a "critical condition" for healthcare cybersecurity in the United States. Highlighting the Hollywood Presbyterian ransomware attack and a BlackBerry demonstration of infusing pump vulnerabilities, the discussion established that proof of potential harm is now sufficient for FDA intervention while exposing the market's $100-per-record data value and the impossibility of total technical prevention. To address these systemic risks, stakeholders were advised to integrate security into patient safety cultures, mandate transparency in device procurement, and leverage the NIST framework to shift focus toward risk containment and continuous response rather than unattainable prevention.
- Milken Institute56 min
Big Data as Driver of Disruptive Technology Breakthroughs
Sumant Mandal, Andrew Appel, Vanessa Colella, Vikas Kapoor, David A. Steinberg, Andreas Weigend
The event analyzes the strategic evolution of big data from volume-centric metrics to "smart data" decision-making, highlighting the stark contrast between advanced consumer applications and the entrenched data silos plaguing large enterprises. It examines success cases like Kroger and Walmart that leverage integrated customer profiles for competitive advantage while addressing global regulatory divergences in Europe, the United States, and China. The discussion concludes with an investment thesis on four emerging value pools and urges corporations to prioritize data governance as a core utility to overcome the "dis-economy of scale" inherent in legacy infrastructure.
- Milken Institute58 min
White Swans, Grey Swans and Black Swans for the Global Economy
Dennis Berman, Bill Gross, Jim McCaughan, Ross Perot, Jr., Nouriel Roubini
Nouriel Roubini and panelists analyze a divergent global economy where technological expansion and stable oil prices coexist with severe structural risks, including labor displacement by AI, European financial fragility, and rising geopolitical tensions. The discussion highlights critical policy failures in monetary and fiscal spheres, warning that low interest rates and populist backlashes may precipitate a "Lehman-type" crisis or a hard landing in China. Despite these challenges, the dialogue concludes with a long-term optimistic view that historical innovation will ultimately create new employment paradigms to counteract current demographic and social divides.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
Medical Marijuana: Health and (Financial) Wellness
Tara Kelly, Lynn Honderd, Ben Kovler, Brian Reynolds, Juan Sartori
A panel of industry leaders from Green Thumb Industries, Mary's Medicinals, and International Cannabis Corporation discussed a rapidly expanding cannabis market projected to reach $45 billion in legal demand as 70% of U.S. states move toward medical legalization. Panelists highlighted significant arbitrage opportunities driven by vertical integration and global export potential, while noting that federal restrictions, specifically IRS Code 280E and banking prohibitions, currently create a temporary regulatory moat for private capital. The discussion concluded with a strategic outlook favoring branded consumer products and pharmaceutical applications over commodity flower, anticipating a transition to a regulated global agricultural sector once domestic policy alignment occurs.
- Milken Institute58 min
A New Breed: FinTech's Fusion with Alternative Investing
Rob Copeland, Jeff Assaf, Peter Early, Brendan Ross, Richard Sandor
This panel featured industry leaders Brendan, Peter, Richard, and investors Jeff and Eric Schmidt debating FinTech business models that range from regulatory premium lending to tech-enabled consumer banking. While proponents highlighted proprietary deal flow and superior credit metrics in segments like student loans, skeptics warned that traditional banks would eventually reclaim market share, compressing yields during economic downturns. The discussion concluded that long-term viability depends on proving underwriting resilience across full credit cycles and navigating the transition from niche platforms to cleared, standardized capital markets.
- Milken Institute1h 3m
Act Now! Making Culture a Force for Change
Ralph Simon, Haifaa al-Mansour, Laura Dawn, Moby, Gina Otto, Tina Wells
At the Milken Global Conference, a panel of cultural leaders including Laura Dorn, Moby, and Haifa Al-Mansour discussed leveraging creative industries as a form of soft power to drive social change without direct confrontation. Participants defined the "factivist" approach as merging data-driven insights with cultural narratives to mobilize audiences on critical issues such as climate action, animal rights, and gender equality. The session concluded with strategic consensus that sustainable progress in both conservative and progressive markets requires engaging children early, utilizing influencer networks, and integrating female leadership to solve global crises.
- Milken Institute52 min
The Business of Sports
Liz Habib, Dan Beckerman, Ed Glazer, Stephanie McMahon, David Nathanson, Andrew Wilson
Leading figures from WWE, EA Sports, AEG, and Fox Sports convened to analyze how digital expansion and gaming have fundamentally reshaped global sports engagement and monetization strategies. The panel emphasized that while platforms like YouTube and FIFA drive massive audience reach, the live in-stadium experience remains the critical "secret sauce" that brands must augment rather than replace. Participants highlighted a collaborative future where data-driven storytelling, diversified distribution, and the inherent business value of on-field winning will define the next era of the sports ecosystem.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
Mission Driven: How NextGen Leaders Use Business Tools to Create Social Change
Sonal Shah, Simone Friedman, Alexis Ohanian, Arif Rachmat, Cindy Whitehead, Eva Yazari, Aubrey Ruby, Sandra Kwok, Diane Murphy, Nadia Bachter, Jay Lipman
The "Mission Driven Next-Gen Leaders" panel convened philanthropist Simone Friedman, investor Alexis Ohanian, Indonesian entrepreneur Arif Rahmat, and venture capitalist Cindy Whitehead to advocate for merging social impact directly into core business models rather than treating philanthropy as a separate activity. Panelists detailed specific strategies for systemic change, including Friedman's impact investments in sustainable food systems, Ohanian's platform governance reforms at Reddit, Rahmat's agricultural stewardship in Indonesia, and Whitehead's focus on closing the gender funding gap in health tech. The discussion concluded by highlighting that while traditional grants remain limited, integrating impact into profit generation and addressing regulatory barriers are essential for scaling solutions across emerging markets and diverse sectors.
- Milken Institute58 min
Things That Will Blow Your Mind
Richard Sandler, Ed Boyden, Mary Lou Jepsen, Bryan Johnson, Neal Kassell
A panel of neuroscientists and entrepreneurs led by Dr. Ed Boyden, Dr. Mary Lou Jepson, Dr. Neil Cassell, and Brian Johnson discusses the convergence of neuroscience and engineering to treat disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The group details breakthroughs in non-invasive therapies, including Boyden's expansion microscopy for nanoscale mapping, Jepson's wearable holographic imaging for deep brain monitoring, and Cassell's focused ultrasound for precise tumor and tremor treatment. Beyond immediate clinical applications, the experts warn that failing to augment human cognitive capacity risks a widening gap between biological intelligence and artificial systems, urging rapid investment to manage future geopolitical and societal complexity.
- Milken Institute1h 5m
Shaping Skylines and the World: Steve Wynn and Steven Roth
Steven Wynn, a major casino owner and conference benefactor, delivered a broad-ranging discourse at a high-cost event to discuss the urgent need for government efficiency and private-sector-driven solutions to looming mass unemployment. Addressing a diverse array of topics including healthcare reform, education policy, and labor market trends, Wynn advocated for regulatory deregulation, tax incentives for job creation, and a cultural shift in the workplace that prioritizes employee self-esteem over traditional management hierarchies. The session concluded with Wynn expressing optimism about the current administration's capacity for compromise while detailing his personal business philosophy that links corporate profitability directly to the psychological well-being and retention of frontline staff.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
Leverage: How Philanthropies Use New Tools to Create Change
Melissa Stevens, Marlo Gottfurcht Longstreet, Thomas Meredith, Brian Sheth, Todd Wagner
A panel of experts from Vista Equity Partners, Charity Network, and The Nature Conservancy convened to argue that traditional philanthropic models are insufficient for addressing systemic global crises, calling for a shift toward disruptive, data-driven strategies. The group advocated for consolidating redundant organizations, adopting market-competitive executive compensation, and leveraging digital technologies to replace inefficient fundraising with measurable outcomes. By prioritizing high-impact scientific research, genetic accessibility, and corporate integration of social purpose, the sector aims to solve "wicked problems" through collaboration between governments, private companies, and evolved investors.
- Milken Institute59 min
Feng Shui Your Life: A Formula for Prosperity
Curtis S. Chin, Naomi Campbell, Sherry Chris, Pun-Yin
Master Ponyin Poon and industry leaders like Sherry Chris convened to define Feng Shui as a universal energy framework that drives high-value real estate transactions, particularly among Asian buyers who now comprise over 30% of international US purchasers. The session detailed practical applications for travelers and business executives, ranging from specific room-clearing rituals to creating "energy zones" that align with current astrological cycles to mitigate stress and enhance decision-making. By shifting the focus from material accumulation to legacy and community healing, the panel advocates for integrating these ancient principles into modern urban development and personal conduct to foster global harmony.
- Milken Institute1h 4m
Addressing Global Challenges with Investment Dollars
Jessica Matthews, Reyaz Ahmad, Thomas Hyland, Hardeep Walia
Moderated by Jessica Matthews of Cambridge Associates, a panel featuring leaders from Motif, Espada Investment Advisors, and IFC Asset Management discussed the feasibility and strategies of market-rate mission-related investing across retail, emerging market infrastructure, and climate sectors. The discussion highlighted recent performance data confirming that impact funds in private equity and real assets can achieve competitive financial returns while addressing specific social goals, driven by strong generational demand and significant institutional allocations like the Ford Foundation's $1 billion initiative. Despite identifying persistent challenges such as deal flow quality and data fragmentation, the experts concluded that hybrid structures and permanent capital vehicles are successfully bridging the gap between philanthropic intent and commercial viability for the remaining 95% of endowment capital.
- Milken Institute54 min
When Ordinary Becomes Extraordinary: Olympic and Paralympic Heroes
Gene Sykes, Janet Evans, Allyson Felix, Apolo Ohno, Sarah Reinertsen
Four elite athletes and LA 2024 Bid Committee CEO Gene Sykes explored the psychological resilience, evolving training methodologies, and unique pressures that define Olympic competition. The panelists detailed how modern data-driven recovery techniques and mental conditioning allow mature athletes to overcome doubt and extend their careers, while contrasting these approaches with the raw ambition that fueled their youth. Sykes further outlined Los Angeles's strategy for the 2024 Games, emphasizing a low-cost, transit-centric infrastructure model that leverages existing facilities to create a compact, legacy-rich event.