Latest Interviews
Showing 16–30 of 31 transcripts.
Clear all filters- Milken Institute1h 2m
Power Shifts: The Emergence of a Multipolar World
Jean-Marie, Mehdi, Richard, Eric Schmidt, Tina Fordham
Jean-Marie Guéhenno and Mehdi Jomaa analyze a shifting global order where state capacity erodes amid non-state actors, forcing institutions like NATO and the UN to adapt to hybrid warfare and internal member skepticism. While Syria's chaos and Russia's strategic leverage in Ukraine highlight the failure of traditional diplomacy, the discourse emphasizes that economic strain and regional instability now demand proactive investment in transitions like Tunisia to prevent further refugee crises. The panel concludes that the current multipolar complexity requires redefining collective defense doctrines and abandoning regional silos to address interconnected threats effectively.
- Milken Institute1h 3m
Is Bigger Better? Global Strategies in Hospitality
Jesse Scharf, Alan Firstman, Mahmood Kimji, David Palmer, Michael Rosenfeldt, Henry Silverman, David Gergenhardt Griffin Jr., Eric Schmidt, Henry Haynes, Michael Passmore, Mark Blythefield Jr.
At the Milken Conference, five hospitality leaders including Alan Firstman of Montage Hotels and Mahmood Kimji of Highgate analyzed critical market themes such as all-time pricing peaks, capital market liquidity, and the disruptive impact of Airbnb. The panelists detailed how asset-light financing models and shifting brand strategies are driving multiple expansion while technology giants force a transition from traditional OTAs to direct distribution channels. Concluding that future value lies in niche differentiation rather than scale, the group anticipated a wave of strategic mergers designed to reduce overhead and optimize returns in a saturated global market.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: Why L.A. Is Working
Steve Drobny, Julie Gerberdinger, Kara, Walter, Scott Goldbaum Jr., Eric Schmidt, Steve Cowpert Jr., Harry
Los Angeles is rapidly transforming into a premier technology hub by capitalizing on its distinct entertainment and automotive heritage to drive superior user experience design, evidenced by a fivefold surge in startup capital to $2.5 billion. This growth is fueled by a diverse funding landscape involving over 150 local banks and family offices that support revenue-focused enterprises, while a talent influx from major tech firms bolsters the region's engineering capabilities. Although historically a feeder market for acquisitions, the ecosystem is increasingly retaining anchor companies and scaling successful ventures like TrueCar and Rubicon to secure long-term institutional dominance.
- Milken Institute1h 2m
How American Business Is Shaping the Gay-Rights Debate
Katie O'Reilly, Richard Socorides, Matthew Winkler, Nicole Dullet, Dustin Lance Black, Josh Barrow, Sumit Goel, Patricia Waldinger, Eric Schmidt, Mark Chamberlain
Since the early 1990s, major corporations across sectors like technology, finance, and entertainment have actively championed LGBT rights, evolving from isolated advocacy to a unified front that leveraged economic influence to defeat discriminatory legislation such as Indiana's 2015 Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Driven by data linking inclusive policies to higher productivity and younger consumer appeal, these business leaders have pioneered investment vehicles like the Credit Suisse LGBT Equality Index while pressuring governments to expand marriage equality and employment protections. Looking ahead, this corporate momentum is poised to address transgender rights and navigate global legal complexities, further fracturing traditional political coalitions and redefining workplace standards for the next generation.
- Milken Institute54 min
The Art of Art Collecting
Don Marin, Eric Schmidt, Philippe Rigollet, Mitch Rales, Kavita
Former MoMA president Don Marin moderates a panel featuring Philippe Rigollet, Mitch Rales, and Kavita Pande to analyze the tension between the rapid global expansion of museums and the scarcity of historically significant artists. The experts debate the risks of institutions prioritizing commercial entertainment and high-frequency visitor numbers over artistic integrity, while highlighting a dramatic surge in collector investment where art now comprises up to 50% of net worth. Participants conclude that despite booming market values for specific African and contemporary works, only a tiny fraction of creators achieve the longevity required to shape art history.
- Milken Institute56 min
Institutional Investors: Patient Capital in an Impatient World
Jay Hooley, Jagdeep Bachar, Janet Carroll, Britt Harris, Hiro Mizuno, Ron Mock, Jack Deeb, Eric Schmidt
Moderated by Jay Hooley, six pension executives representing $1.5 trillion in combined assets discussed strategic shifts from traditional asset classes to risk-factor allocation and alternatives amidst rising valuation pressures. The panel highlighted evolving governance models, such as North Carolina's potential move toward a professional board and Japan's unique sustainability guarantees, while addressing talent retention challenges in the US compared to Canada's competitive business-like structures. With equity allocations doubling in markets like Japan and risk management increasingly viewed as a cultural fiduciary duty, these leaders emphasized the role of pension funds as patient capital capable of weathering liquidity crunches through strong hands and long-term horizons.
- Milken Institute59 min
Innovative Cities: Transforming the Urban Ecosystem
Ross Duvall, Andy Cohen, Claire Cockerton, Shirley Franklin, Ned Couric, Perry Wong, Rasmus Silkaitisenkovskiy, Eric Schmidt, David Plylar
This analysis examines how rising global urbanization rates are driving innovations in vertical architecture, sustainable transportation, and inclusive community models like Purpose Built Communities. Key developments include Gensler's mixed-use "Dragon's Tale" skyscraper in Shanghai, Toyota's infrastructure expansion for hydrogen vehicles, and public-private partnerships transforming distressed areas in the US and Hong Kong. While these advancements offer pathways for economic vibrancy and environmental resilience, experts warn that without equitable policy implementation, such rapid growth risks exacerbating social segregation and affordability crises.
- Milken Institute55 min
The Business of Healthy
Jane Wells, Anu Chatterjee, Dr. Bill Dietz, Michael Johnson, Ryan Shadrick-Wilson, Tara Palmeri, Kathryn Hartmann, Kathy Hartmuth, Rachel Alters, Jeff Dunn, Dr. David Heber, Anu Srivastava, Anu Vatsalavanda, Eric Schmidt, David Levinson, Bill Alford Jr.
Major food corporations are pivoting toward fresh and healthy platforms through billion-dollar acquisitions and reformulation strategies, responding to consumer demand for organic and plant-based options while leveraging data showing significant sales growth in low-calorie segments. Public health projections warn that obesity rates will continue to rise without intervention, prompting government initiatives like school nutrition acts and corporate policy changes such as antibiotic bans to mitigate a crisis expected to surpass tobacco-related healthcare costs. Ultimately, the industry faces the dual challenge of overcoming affordability barriers in food deserts and adapting marketing tactics to normalize healthy choices among younger demographics.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Technology, Creativity, Values: What Drives the New Disruptors?
Andy Serwer, Brandon Beck, Brad Delson, Dave Gilboa, Payal Kadakia, Mike Shinoda, Eric Schmidt, Bradley Horowitz, Brad Lee O'
Four industry leaders from Riot Games, Linkin Park, ClassPass, and Warby Parker present a "New Disruptor" business model that replaces quarterly profit maximization with long-term stakeholder unity. By integrating employees, fans, and customers into a single ecosystem, these organizations leverage deep empathy and real-time feedback to achieve Net Promoter Scores in the high 80s and 90s. This strategy reframes relationships as the primary asset, enabling rapid organizational scaling while maintaining social missions that directly drive sustainable profitability.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: Why L.A. Is Working
Steve Drobny, Julie Gerberdinger, Kara, Walter, Scott, Eric Schmidt, Steve Groveyard
The Silicon Beach panel highlights Los Angeles' rapid evolution into the third-largest global tech ecosystem, driven by a surge in venture capital from $500 million to $2.5 billion and a unique blend of engineering talent, design-focused "experience economy" companies, and diverse capital sources. Key figures from Upfront Ventures, TrueCar, and Strobe outlined how the region leverages lower hiring competition and quality of life to counteract high real estate costs, though the city still faces challenges in securing institutional-grade exit valuations compared to Silicon Valley. Despite hurdles like traffic and regulation, the consensus indicates that LA's distinct microcultures and aggressive expansion in sectors like autonomous vehicles and the experience economy are normalizing term sheets and fostering a resilient entrepreneurial environment.
- Milken Institute1h 5m
Look, Ma, No Hands! The Future of Cars
John Cassessa, Chris Gerdes, Raj Nair, Chris Urmson, Kevin Vincent, Eric Schmidt, Eric Schwartzmann, Eric Schuartzmond, Carl Harris, Joe Greener
Led by John Cassessa, a panel of industry and government leaders including executives from Ford, Google, and Stanford, along with NHTSA officials, confirmed that the automotive sector has reached a critical inflection point for autonomous vehicle adoption. The group outlined a roadmap where rapid technological progress in sensor integration and Vehicle-to-Vehicle communication will soon drive significant safety gains, fuel efficiency through platooning, and reduced traffic congestion. While timelines for widespread consumer availability vary between Google's near-term deployment and Ford's two-decade horizon, the panel emphasized that successful implementation depends on resolving regulatory mandates, ethical programming dilemmas, and shifting consumer trust levels.
- Milken Institute59 min
What's Silicon Valley Got to Do With It?
Alec Ellison, Andrew Auerbach, Eric Drummond, Kate Mitchell, John Ruffalo, Eric Schmidt, Andrew Lovett
A panel consensus establishes that while Silicon Valley remains the global leader in technology clustering and venture capital, its unique managerial ecosystem is difficult to replicate, forcing other regions to leverage distinct local assets rather than attempting direct imitation. Success outside the Valley depends on aligning specific industry strengths—such as clean tech in Colorado, agtech in St. Louis, or software in Provo, Utah—with appropriate capital types and a culture that tolerates risk and embraces immigration. Looking ahead, the innovation center of gravity is shifting toward life sciences and regional verticals, with emerging hubs in the Rocky Mountains, New England, and Israel positioned to capitalize on these specialized sectors and evolving government tax policies.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
Health Care Delivery in the 21st Century
Sue Siegel, Annie Lamine, Larry Jamison, Jared Bernstein, Peter Bach, Carolyn Gallagher, Rachel Brathen, Eric Schmidt, David Levinson, David Freeman, Jr., Jared Dillian, Jr., John Keegan, David Kelley, Sue Killey, John McCurry, Jr., John McWhorter
A 2013 industry panel analyzed the intersection of $2 billion in digital health investment, escalating pharmaceutical pricing, and systemic inefficiencies driving healthcare to consume 18% of the U.S. GDP. Key stakeholders discussed how venture capital prioritizes waste reduction over profit while hospital systems increasingly acquire physicians to manage EHR costs and leverage drug discount programs. The discussion concluded by highlighting pilot initiatives like Cincinnati's Healthy Cities, which achieved $200 million in annual savings through care coordination, while projecting a future shift toward outcome-based value models.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Brand Battlefield: Mobile and Social Networks
Sean Amos, Josh Mandel, Bonin Bow, Jamie Goodfriend, David Rockefeller Jr., John McWhorter, Eric Schmidt, Josh Tenenbaum, Jimmy O., Kathleen King, Mike McDonald, Serena Rosso, Ron, Nick Smoot, Carolina Tolberti
The discussion highlights a decisive market shift where social media usage now surpasses television, driving 84% of purchasing decisions through peer influence while Millennials command $400 billion in projected spending. Brands like Mondelēz International are responding by realigning strategies toward mobile-first approaches and real-time engagement, exemplified by the Honey Maid campaign's rapid crisis-to-opportunity turnaround. This transformation is further fueled by organizational changes where executive sponsorship and machine learning empower sales teams to replace compliance silos with authentic relationship building.
- Milken Institute1h 3m
Longevity Is Opportunity: Riding the Demographic Wave
Pinchas Cohen, Michael Hodin, Dan Houston, Paul Irving, Jody Holtzman, Eric Schmidt
Driven by a historic demographic inversion where the over-60 population now exceeds the under-14 group, the traditional retirement model has collapsed due to extended lifespans outpacing savings and healthcare innovations. This shift has catalyzed a $3.5 trillion market dominated by the over-50 demographic, prompting corporate leaders and investors to pivot from acute care toward prevention, wellness, and extended career engagement strategies. Organizations like BMW and emerging startups such as Neuropath are now adapting workplace structures and diagnostic technologies to address the financial, biological, and social challenges of an aging global workforce.