Latest Interviews
Showing 766–780 of 1,198 interview transcripts.
Clear all filters- Goldman Sachs13 min
The Global R&D Landscape
While the United States maintains its global lead in absolute scientific research spending, it has slipped to eighth place in R&D intensity as nations like China, South Korea, and Israel accelerate their investment rates and educational pipelines. The U.S. research ecosystem increasingly relies on foreign-born talent for innovation, yet domestic funding remains narrowly concentrated in IT and pharmaceuticals compared to the manufacturing-focused strategies of European and Asian competitors. This shifting landscape underscores a growing reliance on international collaboration and public funding mechanisms to sustain the translational bridge between basic discovery and commercial application.
- Goldman Sachs29 min
Dominique Ansel, Author of "Everyone Can Bake"
Chef Dominique Ansel leveraged his Michelin-starred experience and mentorship-focused kitchen culture to pivot his business toward delivery and digital engagement during the pandemic, ultimately publishing *Everyone Can Bake* to teach foundational techniques through a "choose your own adventure" methodology. The event details his strategic evolution from the viral success of the one-flavor-per-month Cronut to recent adaptations like global recipe replication and specialized home-baking tutorials. Ansel emphasizes creating emotional connections through portable, multi-sensory desserts while demystifying the scientific precision required for baking.
- Goldman Sachs9 min
The Beauty Industry’s Next Steps
The beauty sector has rapidly accelerated its shift toward e-commerce and sustainable product lines as consumers adapted to home-bound lifestyles, fundamentally altering distribution patterns away from traditional travel retail. Despite these disruptions, M&A activity remains vigorous with major strategic buyers and private equity firms aggressively pursuing deals to modernize portfolios, ranging from high-revenue consolidations to sub-$100 million growth investments. Future industry success will depend on mastering omni-channel strategies that leverage digital dominance while capitalizing on emerging growth engines in Asian markets and expanded value chain opportunities.
- Goldman Sachs8 min
The Future of Robotic Surgery
Following a mid-year pandemic dip, robotic surgery volumes have recovered to 90% of normal levels, driven primarily by expansions into general surgery and hard tissue applications like knee replacements. Technological advancements in flexible instrumentation, augmented reality imaging, and 5G-enabled remote capabilities are accelerating the shift toward soft tissue procedures and reducing the need for in-person operating room personnel. Market projections indicate robust growth, with U.S. procedures expected to triple to 7 million by 2030, while the global sector is forecast to reach $24 billion through increased automation and partial robotic execution of surgical tasks.
- Goldman Sachs9 min
India Internet at an Inflection Point
Driven by a 90% decline in data prices and a projected tripling of market size to $180 billion, India's digital economy is poised for 24% annual growth despite current constraints like low online transaction rates and a cash-dominant culture. Global technology firms and local players are actively investing to bridge the gap between 450 million internet users and the smaller high-income cohort, with social platforms and non-grocery verticals expected to lead monetization efforts. This expansion creates a fragmented yet competitive landscape where multiple business models will likely coexist, fueled by structural shifts in consumer behavior accelerated by the pandemic.
- Goldman Sachs8 min
The Momentum Driving Equity Issuance
In May and June 2020, global capital markets experienced record-breaking equity issuance volumes driven initially by pandemic-stricken firms seeking operational liquidity and subsequently by companies pursuing strategic growth and IPOs. While the traditional IPO market rebounded with 80% of new listings trading above offer prices, alternative structures like direct listings and SPACs gained significant traction due to improved economics, high-profile sponsor quality, and demand for pricing certainty. Looking ahead, market participants anticipate a normalization of capital raising alongside a resurgence in M&A activity and a re-equitization trend as businesses pay down crisis-era debt.
- Goldman Sachs25 min
Rodney McMullen, Chairman and CEO of The Kroger Company
Kroger's leadership navigated the pandemic by implementing immediate safety protocols and a "Restock" digital strategy that drove online sales growth from 30-50% to over 100%, ultimately securing a 92% quarterly increase. The retailer leveraged its in-house manufacturing and temporary hiring of 40,000 associates to manage supply volatility while simultaneously accelerating diversity initiatives through $3.4 billion in minority-owned business procurement. Looking forward, the company is restructuring its inventory targets and capacity to permanently support enduring shifts toward home cooking and plant-based consumption.
- Goldman Sachs10 min
The Ascent of Asia’s Digital Economy
This analysis highlights how China's digital economy has reshaped regional market composition, driving internet sector representation to 22% and creating a high-performing "digital dozen" that outpaced the broader index by 25% year-to-date. Analysts contrast this current profitability-driven dominance with the 1990s tech bubble, noting that while valuation concerns exist, the sector trades at a reasonable PEG ratio of 1.2x supported by strong fundamentals. Looking ahead, the firm anticipates a "fat and flat" market environment with potential mid-year corrections, yet maintains a pro-cyclical stance favoring technology over financials due to enduring secular growth trends.
- Goldman Sachs12 min
E-Commerce’s Steepening Curve
Goldman Sachs Research projects a 24% annual e-commerce growth rate through 2023 as global consumer habits shifted permanently following pandemic-driven supply chain expansions and operational pivots by major retailers like Amazon and Walmart. This accelerated transformation forces brick-and-mortar establishments to compress a decade of evolution into two years by adopting contactless technologies, repurposing real estate, and integrating robotics to manage density constraints. Consequently, the retail sector is undergoing a structural adjustment that prioritizes flexible fulfillment models and digital integration over traditional physical store operations.
- Goldman Sachs23 min
Doreen Lawrence, Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon, OBE
Doreen Lawrence, Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon, Doreen Lawrence, Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon, Kyle Williams
At Goldman Sachs' "Talks at GS" event, Kyle Williams hosted Baroness Doreen Lawrence to discuss the disproportionate impact of the Coronavirus on BAME communities and the ongoing legacy of the Macpherson Inquiry. Lawrence detailed how historical institutional racism necessitated legislative reforms like the Double Jeopardy clause, yet highlighted that current police recruitment standards and a lack of colonial history education continue to fuel racial profiling and discrimination. She concluded by advocating for comprehensive educational reform and promoting the Stephen Lawrence Scholarship to ensure future generations grow up free from systemic bias.
- Goldman Sachs8 min
What’s Next for the Tech IPO Market
Following a brief post-shutdown pause, global markets have surged to multi-year highs driven by pandemic-accelerated digitalization, prompting technology and healthcare companies to accelerate their 2022 IPO plans into the immediate future. Investment banks have radically condensed traditional roadshows from nine days of in-person travel to five days of remote meetings, while simultaneously customizing deal structures and exploring direct listings to offer greater transparency and efficiency. These operational shifts, supported by record investment banking volumes and valuation levels exceeding pre-pandemic peaks, have fundamentally altered the landscape for capital raising and market entry.
- Goldman Sachs33 min
Dr. Khalil Gibran Muhammad, Professor of History, Race and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School
Dr. Khalil Gibran Muhammad, Dan Hibbert
Harvard historian Khalil Gibran Muhammad joined Goldman Sachs to dissect the historical roots of systemic racism, tracing modern policing to slave patrols and explaining how racial capitalism sustains a ten-to-one wealth gap between Black and white families. Muhammad distinguished current protests from the Civil Rights era by their unprecedented white participation and argued that lasting change requires the private sector to move beyond reputational philanthropy toward dismantling the political power structures that protect inequality. He concluded that bridging this divide demands a national confrontation with American history, urging universal bias education and the transfer of power from police institutions to local communities to address the true causes of social stratification.
- Goldman Sachs8 min
Commodities Update: Silver Steps Out of Gold’s Shadow
A panel of market experts analyzes the recent volatility in commodity markets, contrasting the oil sector's rebound from a historic price crash with the strong, inflation-hedged rally in gold and the industrial-driven surge in silver. The discussion highlights diverging investor sentiments regarding OPEC+ production strategies and U.S. shale recovery against bullish drivers such as infrastructure demand and clean energy subsidies. Key outcomes include updated price targets for precious metals and a framework for assessing supply constraints versus capital rotation between asset classes.
- Goldman Sachs11 min
Shareholder Activism in Uncertain Times
Following a 60% decline in activist campaigns during early 2020 driven by pandemic volatility and shifting investor priorities, activity has since recovered to previous levels through private dialogue and targeted engagement. Activists now focus on underperforming companies with governance weaknesses or inefficient capital allocation, while companies have increasingly adopted defensive measures like poison pills and proactive ESG integration to mitigate risk. As the market stabilizes, the landscape is shifting toward demands for M&A, board representation, and the use of ESG gaps as strategic leverage to force operational changes.
- Goldman Sachs21 min
Cori “Coco” Gauff, Professional Tennis Player
Tennis champion Coco Gauff, drawing inspiration from the Williams Sisters and her family's encounter with police brutality, integrates racial justice advocacy into her professional life by urging allies to use their platforms for change. Following a record-breaking Wimbledon debut against Venus Williams, Gauff manages high-pressure expectations by treating her career as a long-term marathon while maintaining that off-court activism fuels her on-court performance. She plans to resume international travel and daily practice despite pandemic restrictions, balancing competitive demands with lessons on mental health and the power of representation.