Latest Interviews
Showing 5521–5535 of 5,623 transcripts.
Clear all filters- Milken Institute1h 1m
In the 21st Century, Data Is King
Paul Kudrowski, Kevin Slavin, DJ, Jim Messina, Frank Cooper, Michael Chewy, Michael D
Experts from sectors ranging from PepsiCo and the 2012 Obama campaign to venture capital firms analyzed how the convergence of cloud infrastructure and advanced analytics is replacing intuition-based decision-making with rigorous data experimentation. These case studies illustrate a global shift where organizations leverage massive datasets for real-time optimization, though this transition introduces significant risks regarding privacy, algorithmic bias, and the potential displacement of human creativity. To succeed in this environment, leaders must bridge technical data with strategic intuition while navigating ethical challenges to avoid the pitfalls of signal noise and regulatory constraints.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Gaining a Foothold in Russia
Sean Glodek, Steven Hellman, Paul Heth, Mark Stiles, Alexander Kovaler, Alex Covalar
Moderated by Alex Covalar, a panel of four expatriate experts with over a century of combined Russian experience analyzes the nation's transformation from a resource-dependent economy into a consumer-services powerhouse. The discussion highlights specific success stories in cinema and real estate while detailing the Russian Direct Investment Fund's strategy to co-invest with sovereign wealth entities and mitigate geopolitical risks through transparency. Participants project Russia to become Europe's largest economy by 2020, driven by a growing middle class, structural reforms, and strategic shifts toward technology, healthcare, and light manufacturing.
- Milken Institute51 min
Dinner Program - To Infinity and Beyond: Jeff Skoll Talks with Elon and Kimbal Musk
Jeff Skoll, Kimbal Musk, Elon Musk
Following the 1999 sale of their pioneering internet company Zip2 for over $300 million, brothers Elon and Kimball Musk launched distinct ventures that have reshaped global industries. Elon Musk directed his capital into transformative technology firms including PayPal, SpaceX, and Tesla, aiming to revolutionize transportation and enable human colonization of Mars, while Kimball Musk established The Kitchen restaurant and a nonprofit Learning Garden program that significantly improves student nutrition and science test scores. Their divergent paths in high-tech engineering and community-focused agriculture are united by a shared philosophy of personal risk-taking and a commitment to pushing humanity forward.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Will Natural Gas Fuel the Future?
Ralph Eads III, Rick Grafton, Yossie Hollander, Shaia Hosseinzadeh, Nathaniel Keohane, Brian Sullivan
Experts analyze the U.S. natural gas sector's pivotal shift from resource scarcity to infrastructure bottlenecks, driven by a $500 billion annual investment need and intense regulatory debates over methane leakage controls. Industry leaders face a management crisis with frequent executive turnover as capital flows toward high-return liquid plays despite a structural requirement to maintain declining well production. Simultaneously, the potential for natural gas to decarbonize heavy transportation through methanol and LNG remains constrained by legal barriers and capital intensity, even as international precedents suggest significant long-term fuel substitution opportunities.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Indonesia: The Emerging Secret
Robert Gelbard, Luhut Panjaitan, Patrick Buluyo, Dino Jalal, Ahmad Korniati
Former Ambassador Robert Gelbard moderated a panel confirming Indonesia's successful transition into a stable, third-largest democracy with a 6.5% annual economic growth rate driven by a domestic consumption-based model and a booming middle class. While the upcoming 2014 elections and structural hurdles like corruption and human capital gaps present risks, the government's aggressive pursuit of downstream industries and streamlined investment processes signal a maturing market ready for foreign capital. Experts advise investors to navigate complex local regulations through trusted partners while anticipating a shift from export-focused nationalism to a more open, pluralistic economic framework.
- Milken Institute1h 4m
A Matter of Degrees: How Education Enriches Us All
Ernest Wilson, Ross Duvall, Greg, Governor, Farah Doon, Udita Srimushnam, Brooke Allen, Noah
The panel "A Matter of Degrees" convened experts including Dean Ernest Wilson, economist Ross Duvall, and former Governor Gray Davis to address the widening skills gap and financial risks threatening the U.S. higher education system. Participants analyzed data showing declining U.S. educational competitiveness among younger generations and debated transformative solutions such as competency-based credentials, co-op work models, and private-public research partnerships to align academic output with market demands. The discussion concluded with a consensus that without structural reforms prioritizing transparency and employer-defined skills, the sector will fail to mitigate inequality or sustain long-term economic growth.
- Milken Institute1h 7m
Full Circle: Manufacturing Migrates Around the Globe
John Paul MacDonald, Damien Chan, Zachary Caravelle, Ron Kirk, John Manley, Eyal Afair
Panelists including Ron Kirk, Damien Chan, and John Manley dissect the paradox of modern manufacturing, noting that while U.S. output rises through automation, employment share has dropped to 8% and global trade statistics often misrepresent true value creation. The discussion highlights critical challenges such as a severe skills gap in developed nations, the rapid urbanization of China's middle class, and the efficiency threats posed by rising protectionist measures like "Buy America" clauses. Ultimately, the experts agree that future economic resilience depends on shifting national focus from volume-based production to investing in education, intellectual property protection, and high-value R&D ecosystems.
- Milken Institute59 min
The Enterprise Strikes Back!
Paul Barber, Paul Maeder, Brett Rochkind, Robert Smith, Alec Ellison, Scott Sandell
Venture capital firms including NEA, Highland Capital Partners, and Vista Equity Partners are pivoting investment strategies toward enterprise software and global infrastructure to capitalize on predictable B2B returns rather than volatile consumer trends. The discussion highlights critical shifts in business models such as SaaS and freemium adoption alongside emerging opportunities in cloud computing, cybersecurity, and emerging markets like China and Latin America. Furthermore, panelists note that despite high private valuations, strategic acquisitions remain the preferred exit path for mid-sized software companies due to limited public market depth.
- Milken Institute59 min
Disruptors, Innovators and Entrepreneurs
Bonin Bough, Gotham Chopra, Ryan Holmes, Kenneth Lerer, Lisa Ling
Executives from Mondelez, Hootsuite, and Graphic India discussed strategies to overcome legacy barriers by adopting mobile-first intrapreneurship, real-time marketing capabilities, and agile organizational cultures. The panel highlighted specific initiatives such as Mondelez's 90-day startup pilots, Hootsuite's internal innovation teams, and Graphic India's goal to globalize Hindu mythology. These efforts aim to transform traditional business models into digital-native operations that prioritize speed, social integration, and the development of indigenous talent.
- Milken Institute1h 6m
Pushing the Frontier: How the Space Industry Is Changing the Way We See the World
Gwen Shotwell, Ellen Polakowski, May Jemison, Esther Dyson
The global space sector is undergoing a transformative shift from government dominance to a competitive commercial model driven by private firms like SpaceX and Bigelow Aerospace, which are deploying reusable rocket technology and inflatable orbital habitats to reduce costs and expand capabilities. While the industry navigates growing international competition and contested orbital environments, it simultaneously addresses critical challenges such as asteroid defense and interstellar travel through initiatives like the 100-Year Starship project and NASA's evolving public-private partnerships. This transition is fostering a new economic multiplier effect where commercial innovation in satellite services, synthetic biology, and deep-space exploration generates substantial returns for both national security and global environmental monitoring.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
Mid-Market Private Equity
Lauren Leichtman, Brian Reynolds, Ted Virtue, Barry Volpert, Kneeland Youngblood, Adam Sokoloff, Nealon Youngblood
Representatives from major private equity firms including Levine Leichman, Chatham Capital, MidOcean Partners, Crestview Partners, and Ferros Capital convened to analyze the evolving middle-market landscape, defining target valuations between $25M and $2.4B enterprise value while highlighting a surge in refinancing activity driven by robust capital markets. The panelists identified significant competitive pressures from mega-funds capable of paying higher multiples, prompting mid-market strategies that leverage operational expertise, extended hold periods, and strategic co-investments to secure net IRRs of 18% to 20%. Despite a market shakeout driven by Limited Partner demands for higher returns and larger commitments, the industry outlook remains positive as firms anticipate continued consolidation and sustained demand for lower-multiple, value-creating acquisitions.
- Milken Institute57 min
A Conversation With Gary Becker, David Rubenstein and Robert Rubin
Gary Becker, David Rubenstein, Robert Rubin, Bob Rubin
Panelists Gary Becker and Bob Rubin argue that the U.S. economy can return to a sustainable 3% growth trajectory by leveraging its energy revolution, real estate recovery, and manufacturing expansion while addressing a structural $10 trillion debt burden through entitlement reform and tax loophole elimination. They attribute current stagnation primarily to political gridlock, advocating for open primaries, nonpartisan civic education, and a market-based immigration system to foster compromise. Despite risks from Federal Reserve quantitative easing and inflation, the experts maintain that the American dollar remains the superior long-term investment vehicle provided the political system functions effectively.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Bridging Gaps in Development Finance: New Platforms for Frontier Markets
Anne Heyman, Netanel Oded, Eytan Stibbe, Tally Zingher, Steve Zecher, Tali Zinger, Andrew Taylor
The Milken Institute Israel Center convened experts to address capital gaps in emerging markets by leveraging Israel's innovation ecosystem as a model for economic development in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Key speakers detailed strategies involving private equity for infrastructure, such as Vital Capital's land-ownership models in Angola, and social innovation frameworks like Anne Heyman's Agahoso Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda. These initiatives collectively advocate for a hybrid approach that combines government R&D subsidies, catalytic philanthropy, and patient private capital to de-risk investments and scale sustainable growth.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Financing the Future of Bioscience and Pharma
Melissa Stevens, Lou DiGennaro, Rajiv Kahl, Jody Black, Matthew Perry, Greg Simon
Facing a critical funding gap where traditional venture capital and pharmaceutical giants avoid high-risk early-stage assets, diverse entities including the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the NIH, and crowdfunding platforms like Poliwag are deploying non-dilutive capital and democratized investment models to accelerate therapeutic development. These initiatives have successfully leveraged millions to generate billions in downstream deal flow, while regulatory shifts and public market mechanisms enable smaller biotechs to bridge the "valley of death" and reach patients faster. Ultimately, the event highlights a structural shift toward a continuum of care where government research, patient advocacy, and public markets converge to transform scientific discovery into viable treatments for life-threatening diseases.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
Global Models for Financing America's Infrastructure
Dale, Stephen Goldsmith, Sam Barron, William Reed, Sarah Clark, Sean Glodek, Mike, Lawrence Gottlieb
A global infrastructure summit highlights a critical $3 trillion U.S. investment gap and the urgent need to shift from public financing to private capital models like Public-Private Partnerships to meet rising demand. Experts contrast the U.S. lag in social infrastructure financing against international success stories from Canada and Russia, emphasizing how structural tax barriers currently prevent institutional investors from accessing stable, long-term yield opportunities. With 41 new projects in the pipeline and emerging legislative pushes to expand tax-exempt tools, the panel anticipates a surge in availability-payment deals that transfer construction risk to the private sector while addressing a significant mismatch between public financing costs and investor return expectations.