Latest Interviews
Showing 16–21 of 21 transcripts.
Clear all filters- Milken Institute57 min
Shifting Tides: How CEOs Navigate Today's Challenges
Andy Serwer, David Solomon, Barbara Humpton, Jeff Harmoning, Carmine Decibio, Bob Backus
CEOs from Goldman Sachs, Siemens, Viacom, General Mills, and EY discussed the strategic imperative of integrating diversity, sustainability, and technology into core business operations rather than treating them as peripheral issues. Leaders like David Solomon, Barbara Humpton, and Bob Backus highlighted specific initiatives ranging from carbon neutrality goals and digital transformation to talent retention and the rejection of creative mandates to align with evolving consumer values. The panel further addressed the necessity of adapting workforce development, communication strategies, and regulatory stances to navigate a shifting global landscape while maintaining organizational authenticity and growth.
- Goldman Sachs34 min
Interns Meet Our Next Chairman and CEO, David Solomon, During an 'Explore GS' Session
Following a direct succession from Lloyd Blankfein, David Solomon assumes the CEO role at Goldman Sachs at age 56, becoming the firm's first non-partner leader since its 1999 public offering. Solomon is steering the 150-year legacy from a private partnership into a public corporation by targeting a 50% gap in corporate product offerings and integrating advanced data analytics to expand commercial banking services. Simultaneously, he prioritizes cultural evolution by framing diversity as a business imperative and advising talent to pursue long-term networking and patient career development over short-term acceleration.
- Goldman Sachs41 min
Sir Richard Branson: Leading with Vision and Taking on Challenges
Sir Richard Branson, David Solomon, John F.W. Rogers, Kevin McCarthy, Tyler Perry, Danny Meyer, Sarah Kauss, Wilbur L. Ross, Sara Blakely, Michael Bloomberg, Gina Raimondo, Rick Snyder, Marco Rubio, Lloyd Blankfein, Warren Buffett
Richard Branson founded Virgin Group in the 1970s by launching Student magazine and Virgin Records despite operating within a state-dominated British economy, eventually pivoting from retail and aviation to space exploration and sustainable energy. Under his leadership, the conglomerate expanded into major ventures like Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Galactic, and Virgin Orbit while simultaneously addressing global challenges through Virgin Unite and geothermal initiatives in the Caribbean. Branson's strategy combines aggressive risk mitigation, such as lease clauses for aircraft returns, with a people-centric corporate culture that prioritizes employee well-being and entrepreneurial problem-solving.
- Milken Institute48 min
Part 2: Global Capital Markets
Mohamed El-Aryan, Thomas Fink, Scott Miner, Arunma Otec, David Solomon
Prominent financial leaders including David Solomon, Mohamed El-Erian, and Arunma Otec discuss post-election market volatility and the critical need for tax reform and deregulation to sustain reflationary growth. The panel emphasizes that while current optimism is high, success depends on reconciling strong equity performance with weak GDP data and executing complex legislative compromises on corporate tax rates and regulatory frameworks like the Volcker Rule. Furthermore, experts warn that long-term prosperity requires addressing structural challenges such as the digital divide, workforce readiness for automation, and coordinated global monetary policies to manage currency dynamics amidst geopolitical instability.
- Milken Institute53 min
The Long War Against Terrorism: A Military Perspective
Matt Driscoll, John Danu, John Gallagher, Kimberly Field, General Yu, Jennifer, David Solomon
Facilitated by Lt. Cmdr. Matt Driscoll and Travis Dredd, the Milken Institute convened seven military officers, including Brigadier General John Danu and Lieutenant Colonel John Gallagher, for a comprehensive analysis of the Global War on Terrorism's evolving ideological and territorial threats. Panelists identified a critical gap in current strategies regarding the delegitimization of extremist narratives and emphasized that lasting stability requires synchronizing military action with governance and economic development, citing specific case studies from Afghanistan and Syria. Addressing pressing budgetary constraints that consume 65 percent of military funding, the officers warned that failing to balance counterterrorism with emerging geopolitical challenges in Ukraine and the Pacific risks eroding U.S. deterrence capabilities for future generations.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
Boom or Bust: Opportunities and Risk in M&A
Stuart Cable, Ray McGuire, Steve Kruskos, Peter Schoenfeld, Leon Wagner, David Solomon
The current M&A market is experiencing a robust boom driven by $5 trillion in corporate cash reserves and strategic buyers outpacing private equity in mega-deal valuations exceeding $80 billion. Accelerated by rising activist hedge funds that have shifted boardroom defenses toward proactive capital reallocation, deal volume is surging across healthcare, TMT, and natural resources sectors while valuations approach historical peaks. Panelists predict a near-term resurgence in hostile bids and a geographic shift toward Europe, even as the mid-market continues to serve as the primary engine for total transaction count.