Latest Interviews
Showing 166–180 of 275 interview transcripts.
Clear all filters- Milken Institute57 min
MIc'd Up | A Conversation With Steve Ballmer
Steve Ballmer, Michael Milken, Stephen Ballmer, Mike Milken
Former Microsoft CEO Stephen Ballmer leveraged his corporate success to purchase the Los Angeles Clippers in 2014, where he now champions a dedicated arena and implements a player development program focused on life skills and emotional maturity. Concurrently, he and his wife founded the Ballmer Group to drive economic mobility through early childhood education initiatives and the data transparency project USA Facts, which aggregates government financial records to counteract declining social prospects. Drawing on his background as a first-generation American and tech executive, Ballmer argues that investing in pre-K yields superior long-term returns compared to later educational interventions while advocating for AI's potential to lift all societal boats despite short-term displacement concerns.
- Milken Institute1h 23m
Part 1: Conversation With David Petraeus | Part 2: Conversation With Steven Mnuchin
David Petraeus, Steven Mnuchin, Maria Bartiromo, Michael Milken, Tony Blair
Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, General David Petraeus, and former Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin convened to analyze the resurgent competition between authoritarian and liberal democratic systems shaping the 21st century. The panelists addressed critical geopolitical flashpoints including the strategic rivalry with China, the destabilizing role of Russia, and the potential for an Israel-Arab alliance to secure Middle East stability. Simultaneously, they discussed domestic economic priorities, ranging from the impacts of tax reform and trade negotiations to the necessity of robust governance in Africa and the Middle East to counter extremism and promote prosperity.
- Milken Institute28 min
A Conversation With U.S. House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling
Jeb Hensarling, Eric Kaplan, David Faber
House Financial Services Chairman Jeb Hensarling criticized the enduring conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, arguing that the current system concentrates $8 trillion in risk on taxpayers while stifling market discipline. To address these failures, he outlined the "DeMarco-Bright Plan," a legislative framework designed to shift mortgage guarantees to private entities, mandate minimum 5% down payments, and restructure the capital stack to protect public funds. Although Hensarling doubts passage in the current Congress, he urges Democrats to engage in reform negotiations to prevent a potential Trump administration from unilaterally dismantling the existing housing finance model.
- Milken Institute58 min
Checking In With Stephen Cloobeck
Stephen Cloobeck, Jared Carney
In his book *Checking In*, hospitality executive Dan Klubeck outlines a management philosophy centered on extreme employee protection, reciprocal trust, and the view that dyslexia serves as an entrepreneurial asset. The narrative details his aggressive crisis management during the 2008 financial downturn, where he secured company survival through strict cash-based operations, personal salary cuts, and the strategic acquisition of distressed competitors. Beyond business operations, Klubeck leverages public stunts from his *Undercover Boss* appearances and political advocacy to demonstrate that reputation and human connection ultimately drive sustainable growth more effectively than traditional branding or technology.
- Milken Institute58 min
The Future of Higher Education
Jeffrey Selingo, Bill Achtmeyer, Rafael Bras, Mitch Daniels, Yoshimasa Hayashi, Candace Thille
Facing record tuition discount rates and a growing skills gap where 89% of employers find graduates unprepared, higher education is pivoting from a traditional four-year degree model to a "100-year lifetime" framework of recurrent, skills-based learning. Leaders at institutions like Georgia Tech and Purdue, notably Mitch Daniels, are driving this transformation through aggressive online expansion, AI integration, and financial innovations like Income Share Agreements to ensure affordability and relevance. As smaller schools face potential closure, the sector is consolidating around agile, market-driven models that treat credentials as dynamic data sets of verified competencies rather than static diplomas.
- Milken Institute55 min
A Conversation With "Crazy Rich Asians" Author Kevin Kwan
Kevin Kwan, Curtis S. Chin, Rich Green, Maria Amor, Ram, Josh Barrow, LC, Helena, JD Gladden, Amanda Bressler, Susan Lee, Jim Quick, David Sangali
Kevin Kwan, recently named to Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People list for his *Crazy Rich Asians* trilogy, discusses the creation of his first novel and its adaptation into the first Hollywood studio film in 26 years to feature an all-Asian cast. Produced with a team committed to authentic details and shot entirely in Singapore and Malaysia, the film faced casting resistance before securing a release that highlighted the economic rise of Asia and complex family dynamics across three continents. Kwan and his agents leveraged the project's commercial success to advocate for future Asian-led storytelling, aiming to dismantle Hollywood exclusion and inspire a new generation of diverse creators through upcoming television initiatives and expanded global narratives.
- Milken Institute1h 7m
De-Risking Emerging Markets Investments
Aron Betru, Jeremy Carter, Michael Eckhart, Keiko Honda, Catherine McCarthy, Jukka Pihlman, Kate McCarthy, Mike Eckhart, David Rockefeller Jr., Kate Ballard, David Freeman, Anne-Marie Slainmann, Cathy O, Jeremy Walker, Michael L, David Batts, Jeremy Standiffer, Rodney Ferguson, Aryeh Green, Ambassador Kobi Krimson
Despite a $2.5 trillion annual funding gap for the Sustainable Development Goals, global financial institutions are constrained by Basel III capital reserves and regulatory misalignments that penalize local currency lending and partial guarantees. Multilaterals like MIGA are increasingly deploying political risk insurance to catalyze private capital, yet structural inefficiencies in credit enhancement and a scarcity of bankable projects continue to hinder the flow of the $250 trillion available in global markets. Industry leaders are now pushing for streamlined credit enhancement mechanisms and regulatory reforms to convert public guarantees into effective tools that address the actual, rather than perceived, risks in emerging markets.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Mr. Speaker: A Conversation With Paul Ryan
Paul Ryan, Conrad Kiechel, Brian Sullivan
Concluding the Milken Institute Global Conference, House Speaker Paul Ryan addressed political polarization, the structural hurdles of the Senate filibuster, and the administration's "Better Way" economic agenda centered on tax reform and infrastructure. While declining to run for president again to prioritize his family, Ryan detailed legislative successes in aviation and veterans' affairs while warning that a split government following the 2018 midterms would result in dangerous gridlock. The interview further highlighted his strategies for addressing entitlement costs, labor market mismatches, and trade uncertainties, emphasizing that securing economic security is the most effective remedy for identity-based division.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
A Conversation With Jane Goodall
Jane Goodall, Brian Sheth, Melissa Stevens
Jane Goodall and Brian Sheth discuss the convergence of private equity capital and global conservation through Goodall's Jane Goodall Institute and Sheth's leadership of Global Wildlife Conservation. They detail the expansion of Goodall's Roots & Shoots program to 150,000 youth groups and the institute's use of satellite technology to protect chimpanzee populations in Gombe and the Republic of Congo. The dialogue concludes with a strategic emphasis on integrating scientific rigor into policy-making and leveraging financial markets to sustain long-term environmental resilience.
- Milken Institute1h 3m
Lord of the Rings: A Conversation With Five-Time Super Bowl Champion Tom Brady
Tom Brady reaffirmed his commitment to playing through the 2018-2019 season by prioritizing longevity through his TB12 Method, a wellness protocol focused on pliability and injury prevention that aims to extend his career into his mid-40s. During a comprehensive discussion on team dynamics and personal philosophy, he clarified that he had no input on the Super Bowl LII roster decisions while emphasizing his reliance on family for motivation and his distinct approach to leadership. The conversation also covered his skepticism of new NFL rules, his assessment of Bill Belichick's genius, and his belief that the league must balance entertainment value with player safety to sustain industry growth.
- Milken Institute38 min
A Conversation with David Miliband
David Miliband, Jayne Van Hoen, Adam Boulton
At a recent event, International Rescue Committee leader David Miliband outlined the global displacement crisis involving 65 million people while detailing the organization's $100 million initiative to treat child trauma in the Middle East. Miliband sharply critiqued the Trump administration's withdrawal from international agreements and the UK's hard Brexit as destabilizing forces that exacerbate conflict and hinder effective humanitarian aid. He concluded by urging private sector engagement to shift refugee support from emergency relief to sustainable economic integration, arguing that displacement driven by fragile states and climate change will define the 21st century.
- Milken Institute41 min
A Conversation with Steve Ballmer
Steve Ballmer, a Harvard graduate who left Stanford to join Bill Gates at Microsoft, has applied his strategic leadership and data-driven philosophy to diverse sectors including technology, philanthropy, and sports. He founded USAFacts.org to provide nonpartisan government data that holds officials accountable and aims to improve economic mobility, while simultaneously revitalizing the LA Clippers with a focus on championship performance and operational transparency. Ballmer's approach consistently emphasizes the necessity of high performance, clear vision, and measurable outcomes across all his current ventures.
- Milken Institute57 min
Pt. 1 A Conversation with Steve Ballmer Pt. 2 California's Future Economy
Steve Ballmer, Michael Milken, Kevin Klowden, Kevin Demoff, Charles Harrington, Paul Markovich, Betty Yee
Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer applies his "great ideas" and performance-driven leadership philosophy to his current ventures, including his 2014 acquisition of the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers and his nonpartisan USAFacts initiative. This event details Ballmer's strategic focus on winning championships, his "venture capital philanthropy" for early childhood education, and his data-driven approach to government accountability. The discussion culminates in a broader panel on California's economic future, where experts examine the threats of automation, healthcare inflation, and cybersecurity to sustainable workforce growth and public sector reform.
- Milken Institute35 min
A Conversation with FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb
Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb outlines a multifaceted regulatory strategy addressing the opioid epidemic, tobacco addiction, and the aftermath of Hurricane María on Puerto Rico's critical medical manufacturing sector. He emphasizes adapting regulatory frameworks for emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and digital health tools while prioritizing the prevention of medical misinformation and product shortages. The discussion highlights a shift toward reducing review cycles, de-risking early-stage development, and utilizing post-market surveillance to balance safety with innovation.
- Milken Institute34 min
A Conversation with PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi
Indra Nooyi, Michael Milken, Andrew, Mike
PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi transformed the beverage and snack giant through "Performance with Purpose," a strategy that integrated social and environmental sustainability into core operations while shifting the revenue portfolio toward healthier product lines. This cultural overhaul was driven by scientific leadership under Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Mahmood Khan and reinforced by tying executive compensation to specific nutritional and environmental goals. Nooyi further extended the company's impact by forging partnerships with healthcare institutions to improve access for underserved veterans and advocating for systemic policy changes to address chronic disease and nutritional equity.