Latest Interviews
Showing 1876–1890 of 1,935 transcripts.
Clear all filters- Milken Institute57 min
A Conversation with Najib Ghadbian: Syria's Choices
Established in Doha in 2013, the Syrian Opposition Coalition functions as a unified political body recognized by 114 nations to coordinate the removal of Bashar al-Assad and govern liberated areas while the conflict has claimed over 70,000 lives. Under the command of General Salim Idris's Supreme Military Council, the group seeks urgent international support for strategic weaponry to counter regime forces and prevent the emergence of radical factions. Additionally, the coalition is developing a post-conflict framework requiring $60 billion to ensure state continuity, territorial integrity, and transitional justice while rejecting any political settlement that includes the current leadership.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Creating Smarter Cities
Peter Scheer, Meredith Whitney, Mayor Smith, Mayor Richard Daley, Rick Caruso, Dan Bitterman, John Graff, Esther Dyson
JPMorgan Chase and the Brookings Institution launched a five-year Global Cities Initiative to address the fiscal and infrastructural challenges posed by rapid urbanization and the shift toward a mobile, internet-driven economy. Experts including Meredith Whitney, Rick Caruso, and Mayor Richard Daley advocated for private-public partnerships and the privatization of public assets to fund infrastructure and solve unsustainable pension systems. The panelists concluded that municipalities must adopt hybrid financing models and consolidate pension funds to remain globally competitive while avoiding the negative feedback loops of tax hikes and business exodus.
- Milken Institute58 min
Fueling American Entrepreneurship
Steve Case, Patrick McHenry, Laura Roden, Peggy Wallace, Peter Williams, Sean Greene
The JOBS Act, passed with strong bipartisan support, modernizes 80-year-old securities laws to democratize capital access through crowdfunding and IPO on-ramps for startups outside traditional coastal hubs. While venture capital funding remains constrained by post-2008 market dynamics, the legislation aims to stimulate growth in underrepresented regions like Denver and Baltimore while addressing critical barriers such as immigration reform and IP protection. Industry experts predict this regulatory shift will catalyze a "second internet revolution" by connecting over 8 million accredited investors with high-potential companies in sectors ranging from software to life sciences.
- Milken Institute1h 12m
Big Goals, New Strategies and the Future of High-Level Philanthropy
David Rubenstein, Yuri Milner, Gene Case, Shmuel Mehtar
Leading philanthropists like David Rubenstein and Yuri Milner advocate for integrating charitable labor and technology into core business operations to move beyond traditional capital-focused models. Recent initiatives include the launch of the Breakthrough Prize to recognize fundamental scientists and the "Billion Plus Change" campaign, which has secured over $2 billion in pro bono talent commitments from 350 companies. Despite these strategic shifts, the sector faces persistent challenges regarding gender disparity, tax policies that favor financial gifts over volunteerism, and the sustainability of a rapidly growing number of under-resourced nonprofits.
- Milken Institute1h 3m
Global Financial Regulation
Jared Seberg, James Barth, Bob Corker, Gary Lathrop, Kevin Lynch, Tom Pirelli, Bruce Brown, Chris Cole, Michael D.
A panel of senators and banking executives concluded that financial instability stems primarily from excessive risk and regulatory failure rather than sheer institutional size, with Senator Bob Corker and experts like James Barth advocating for targeted GAO studies over mandatory bank breakups. The discussion emphasized the risks of fragmented global regulations and overly stringent capital requirements, which threaten to shift lending activity to the unregulated shadow banking sector while stifling economic growth. Furthermore, the group uniformly rejected a financial transaction tax, called for regulating specific activities instead of institutions, and supported opening the banking sector to non-financial firms to foster innovation and accountability.
- Milken Institute1h 2m
Plotting a Course for Post-Crisis Europe
Paul Coulson, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, Erik Nielsen, Keith Savard, Josef Stadler, Anatole Kaletsky
Europe currently serves as the primary constraint on global economic recovery, characterized by stagnation in major nations like France and Italy while the US enjoys stronger growth indicators. Political developments, particularly in Italy, alongside deep structural disparities in energy costs and banking fragmentation, have intensified pressure for a unified fiscal and monetary response within the Eurozone. While market participants anticipate eventual alignment with US and Japanese monetary strategies to stabilize the currency, the long-term viability of the bloc hinges on overcoming political resistance to debt mutualization and implementing urgent labor reforms in key economies.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
A Conversation with William Clay Ford Jr.
William Clay Ford Jr., John Casesa, John Kossess
Under the guidance of Executive Chairman Bill Ford and CEO Alan Mulally, Ford Motor Company navigated the 2008–2009 financial crisis by leveraging a unique family governance structure and securing $23 billion in liquidity to survive while competitors collapsed. The company differentiated itself through preemptive restructuring, flexible manufacturing, and a "power of choice" strategy that simultaneously advanced fuel economy and technology investment without halting traditional engine development. Looking forward, Ford continues to pivot toward a connected, shared mobility ecosystem while addressing critical infrastructure gaps and maintaining disciplined cost controls to adapt to evolving global market dynamics.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Climate Change: Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst
Nathaniel Keohane, Michael Levi, Molly Macauley, Richard Sandor, Sheldon Whitehouse, Peter Passell
A diverse panel of experts, including Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and industry leaders Richard Sanders and Molly McCauley, argues that climate adaptation has shifted from a supplementary tactic to an essential strategy necessitated by irreversible impacts like species loss and extreme weather. The discussion highlights critical challenges in financing through insurance sector vulnerabilities and updating building codes, while warning that political gridlock and fragmented data on migration obstruct effective implementation. Ultimately, the speakers emphasize that without aggressive carbon pricing and integrated global governance, reliance on reactive measures will fail to address the systemic security risks posed by a non-steady-state climate.
- Milken Institute1h 3m
New Directions in Private Equity
Leon Black, David Bonderman, Jonathan Nelson, Jonathan Sokoloff, Scott Sperling, Maria Bartiromo
Despite a 30% drop in private equity deal volume, market leaders like Apollo's Leon Black and TPG's David Bonderman are pivoting from traditional leveraged buyouts to high-growth assets, minority stakes, and distressed opportunities in Europe. While valuations remain stretched due to cheap credit and seller reluctance, firms are prioritizing capital deployment in defensive sectors like media and consumer staples while navigating macroeconomic uncertainty. Panelists anticipate a continued harvest phase over the next 18 months, with capital flows shifting toward customized structures and emerging markets that offer differentiated returns beyond standard GDP growth metrics.
- Milken Institute58 min
Common Ground Among Global Entrepreneurs
Joanna Rees, Armjad, Esteban Sosnick, Diego, Fedra Kousos, Jonathan Teo, Alfred Fuller, Adam Black, Javier Martinez
Endeavor, a global non-profit established fifteen years ago, connects high-impact entrepreneurs in emerging markets with capital and talent, exemplified by portfolio companies like Jordan's Pharmacy One and Chile's Atacama Labs that collectively generated $5.5 billion in revenue and 200,000 jobs last year. To address systemic barriers such as regulatory hurdles and capital scarcity, the organization launched Endeavor Catalyst, an impact investment fund modeled on top-quartile venture performance, while encouraging founders to adapt business models for local cultures and build domestic training infrastructure. As U.S. early-stage capital recedes, the organization predicts the next wave of global innovation will emerge from these regions, with its new fund aiming to recycle returns to accelerate further entrepreneurial ecosystem growth across expanding markets like Spain and Poland.
- Milken Institute1h 20m
Galvanizing Global Growth: Lessons from Milken Institute Financial Innovations Labs
Caitlin McLean, Carrie Stever, Craig Courtney, Alice Albright, David Ferreira, Larry Coben
A panel of leaders from the Milken Institute, ARIS, GAIN, the US Export-Import Bank, and Gavi outlined innovative financial structures designed to de-risk early-stage investments in global sectors ranging from tuberculosis vaccines and agricultural supply chains to education and cultural heritage preservation. By blending catalytic public capital, patient private equity, and results-based financing mechanisms, these organizations aim to bridge market failures and unlock trillions of dollars in investment for emerging economies. The discussion concluded that sustainable development requires shifting from traditional aid models to scalable, investment-oriented frameworks that align social outcomes with long-term financial returns.
- Milken Institute1h 12m
U.S. Overview: First Recovery, Then Takeoff?
Abby Joseph Cohen, Gary Loveman, Raymond McGuire, Jim Moffatt, Maggie Wilderotter, Ross DeVol, Ross Duvall, Abby Cohen
A March 2013 panel of Milken Institute analysts evaluated the U.S. economic recovery, noting a 2.5% Q1 growth rate that masks a sluggish labor market and a divergence where corporations hoard cash for buybacks rather than investing in small businesses or R&D. The discussion highlighted how European recession, regulatory uncertainty, and a global tax code incentivizing overseas profits have suppressed domestic expansion despite strong corporate profits and a housing market turning point. Experts concluded that achieving 4% growth requires resolving political gridlock, reforming the corporate tax system, and implementing structural investments in innovation and broadband to convert current financial slack into sustained job creation.
- Milken Institute1h 12m
Alternative Investments
Andrew Whitaker, Josh Harris, Vinay Choudhary, Julia Lawler, Andrew Serwer, Eric Schmidt, Brevin Howard, Arvind
Leading alternative investment managers Josh Harris, Wilbur Ross, and Vinay Choudhary detail a strategic market pivot driven by the unattractiveness of traditional fixed income and the need to escape equity volatility, with private equity demonstrating a historical 26% net return against the S&P 500's 9%. Panelists identify specific high-yield opportunities in energy, distressed European banking, and marine transport while warning of an impending credit cycle caused by a massive debt bubble and a $500 billion annual refinancing wall between 2018 and 2020. This consensus positions institutional capital toward direct co-investments and value creation in distressed assets as the Federal Reserve prepares to normalize rates and end quantitative easing.
- Milken Institute1h 16m
The Future of Higher Education in America
William Bennett, Steven Knapp, Daphne Koller, Patricia McWade, Anthony Miller, John Nelson, Bill Bennett, Tony Miller, Megan Smith, John Graff
Amidst eroding public confidence and a trillion-dollar student debt crisis, the U.S. higher education sector faces significant pressure to modernize through legislative mandates for outcome transparency and disruptive online learning models. Prominent institutions and experts like George Washington University, Georgetown University, and Udacity are testing alternative strategies ranging from fixed-tuition policies and global competency credentials to robust need-based aid programs. These responses aim to address the widening gap between academic credentials and economic reality while preparing for a future where regulations tie financial aid to institutional performance and survival.
- Milken Institute1h 5m
Emerging Markets: New Affluence and Influence
Francesco Guerrero, John Coombe, Thomas Flohr, Chris Hung, Sarah Service, Jay Pieloski
Emerging markets panelists forecast a structural shift toward domestic demand and regional trade blocs, highlighting cyclical divergences among BRIC nations and rising opportunities in Africa's frontier markets. The discussion details specific investment vehicles like local currency debt and Dim Sum bonds while warning of stagflation risks, credit bubbles, and currency volatility amidst global quantitative easing. Final outlooks project a four-polar world by 2025, with optimism focused on Chinese equities and consumer sectors balanced against skepticism regarding European stability and Middle Eastern geopolitics.