Latest Interviews
Showing 316–330 of 525 transcripts.
Clear all filters- Milken Institute56 min
What's Next: Harnessing the Momentum of #MeToo and #TimesUp
Alex Witt, Ashley Judd, Kerry Kennedy, Catharine MacKinnon, Stacy Smith, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Caroline Biden
Moderated by Alex Witt, the "What's Next" panel convened leading advocates including Ashley Judd, Alyssa Milano, and Catherine McKinnon to evaluate the post-Cosby landscape of the Me Too and Time's Up movements. The discussion highlighted critical gaps in legal recourse and industry representation while detailing specific strategies such as the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund, the WOKE committee's #MuteRKelly campaign, and Stacey Smith's inclusion rider proposal to combat harassment and bias. Speakers also addressed the necessity for institutional courage and legislative reforms like the Equal Rights Amendment, citing global initiatives and successful worker-driven models as blueprints for systemic change.
- 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 Institute1h 0m
Luxury Brands: When Radical Transparency Is the Best Look
Vanessa Friedman, Francois-Henry Bennahmias, Chip Bergh, Neil Blumenthal, Meridith Valiando Rojas
Representatives from Audemars Piguet, Levi Strauss, Warby Parker, and Digifest convened to redefine corporate transparency as a non-negotiable pillar for trust among Gen Z consumers and in talent acquisition. The panel detailed specific initiatives, such as Audemars Piguet's internal storytelling shifts, Levi's early fulfillment of environmental pledges, and open apologies for operational failures, demonstrating how admitting mistakes and sharing data can convert critics into advocates. While differing on the scope of political engagement, all executives agreed that long-term brand integrity requires strategic alignment with values and a shift away from traditional mystery toward authentic, values-driven business models.
- Milken Institute59 min
Hacked and Back: Cybersecurity Lessons From the C-suite
Dmitri Alperovitch, Sanford (Sandy) Climan, Christopher Krebs, Thomas Pritzker, Tom Pritzker, Sandy Kleiman, David Batts, Jr., Jeffrey Brown, David Brooks, Eric Schmidt, Alan Seales, Tom Ginsburg, Chris Collins, John McWhorter
This event analyzes the evolution of cyber threats from state-sponsored espionage to disruptive attacks like the 2017 NotPetya incident, highlighting the strategic responses of Hyatt and the Department of Homeland Security. Hyatt integrated cybersecurity into its core governance by allocating six percent of its IT budget and empowering its CISO to share threat intelligence with federal agencies within minutes of detection. The presentation further outlines critical lessons for the entertainment industry, emphasizing the need for robust data protection, cross-sector collaboration, and a culture that treats security as a continuous strategic imperative rather than a temporary IT function.
- 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 Institute58 min
The Sustainable Investing Challenge: Meet the Winning Team and See Their Plan
Conrad Kiechel, Dave Chen, Maoying He, Teng Kai Loh, Felicia Shaw, Annie Donovan, Paul, Richard Matthew
The Milken Institute, Morgan Stanley, and Kellogg School of Management launched the Sustainable Investing Challenge eight years ago to train future professionals in creating financial instruments with measurable social and environmental impact. The 2018 competition, which engaged over 300 students from 65 business schools across 34 countries, awarded its top prize to Singapore Management University for an ASEAN Storm Resilience Fund designed to mitigate typhoon risks for smallholder farmers in Southeast Asia. This winning proposal outlines a multi-phase implementation strategy blending private investment, grants, and Development Impact Bonds to reinforce rural housing, continuing a track record of past student projects transitioning into real-world ventures like Fresh Coast Capital and Blue Forest.
- Milken Institute1h 8m
A Conversation With Senator Cory Booker
Senator Cory Booker shares his personal history of overcoming housing discrimination and his subsequent tenure as Newark's youngest city councilor to advocate for a governance model driven by data rather than partisan ideology. He critiques the nation's declining infrastructure, education, and competitiveness while detailing systemic failures in the criminal justice system that disproportionately harm trauma survivors and rely on excessive plea bargains. Urging a shift toward "collective will" and "creative kindness," Booker calls on citizens and policymakers to end political demonization and address these structural issues through bipartisan cooperation and small-dollar funding.
- Milken Institute1h 3m
Strategic Investing in the Middle East and North Africa
Becky Anderson, Yousef Al Otaiba, Mohammed Alardhi, Adam Ereli, Harold Ford Jr.
Gulf Cooperation Council nations are aggressively diversifying their hydrocarbon-dependent economies through Vision 2030 and similar initiatives, leveraging Sovereign Wealth Funds like the Public Investment Fund to pursue $1 trillion in regional spending across infrastructure, tourism, and technology. This strategic pivot, driven by a youth bulge that constitutes 60-70% of the population, aims to create jobs and retain leisure capital while hedging against geopolitical volatility by expanding partnerships with Russia and China alongside traditional U.S. ties. Despite ongoing challenges regarding bureaucratic friction and cultural stigmas around failure, the region remains a high-growth destination where U.S. investors are urged to deepen long-term human capital partnerships to capitalize on a burgeoning middle class.
- Milken Institute1h 13m
Lunch Program | Promoting Prosperity in a World in Transition
Michael Klowden, Michael Milken, Jane Harman, Jim Yong Kim, Tidjane Thiam
At the midpoint of the Milken Institute Global Conference, a high-level panel featuring former Secretary Robert Gates, Paul Ryan, and leaders including Jane Harmon, Dr. Jim Yong Kim, and Tijan Fafé analyzed the economic imperatives of global prosperity and the $4 trillion gap required to meet Sustainable Development Goals. The discussion centered on leveraging private sector innovation and demographic shifts in emerging economies to fund critical investments in human capital, health, and education, culminating in the launch of the Disruptive Technology for Development fund to support infrastructure leapfrogging in developing nations. Speakers emphasized that addressing instability in Africa and the Middle East through targeted rule of law and wealth management strategies is essential for preventing future conflict and securing long-term global security.
- 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 22m
A Conversation With Wilbur L. Ross, Jr., Secretary, U.S. Dept. of Commerce | Part 2: U.S. Overview
Wilbur L. Ross, Jr., Andy Serwer, Tom Hayes, Kenneth Hersh, John Hickenlooper, Steve Krouskos, Kevin Clouden, Wilbur Ross
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper discussed a "Goldilocks" U.S. economic expansion characterized by rising consumer confidence and accelerated reshoring alongside contentious trade negotiations. The dialogue detailed the Trump administration's strategic delays on steel tariffs with Canada, Mexico, and the EU, the justification for ZTE sanctions, and the projected $1 trillion growth of the commercial space sector. While officials defended deregulation and energy independence as drivers of prosperity, panelists also warned of potential recession triggers including rising corporate debt and a "technology Cold War" that could disrupt post-WWII institutional frameworks.
- Milken Institute59 min
Global Private Equity Outlook
Leslie Picker, Leon Black, Bruce Flatt, Robert Smith, Jonathan Sokoloff, John Sokoloff
Representing a combined $600 billion in assets under management, panelists from Apollo, Brookfield, Vista Equity, and Leonard Green & Partners discussed navigating a market characterized by rising valuations, $1.8 trillion in global dry powder, and a shift toward sponsor-to-sponsor exits. The leaders detailed distinct operational strategies ranging from Apollo's distressed debt focus and Brookfield's permanent capital model to Vista's software specialization, all while rejecting heavy consultant reliance in favor of internal value creation teams. Despite significant fundraising record-breaking activity and a growing international investor base, the group unanimously opposed increased regulation, arguing that their long-term ownership structure offers superior governance and alignment compared to public markets.
- Milken Institute59 min
Townhall | The Gun Discussion in American Culture
Frank Luntz, Stephen Benjamin, John Hickenlooper, Rick Snyder, Daniel Webster
The Milken Institute convened a unique town hall featuring Governor Rick Snyder, Governor John Hickenlooper, and various local officials to facilitate an active dialogue on gun violence statistics and policy. The panel highlighted that the U.S. gun homicide rate is 25 times higher than other wealthy democracies while debating specific legislative approaches such as universal background checks, red flag laws, and mental health interventions. Participants ultimately called for incremental, cross-partisan victories and civic mobilization to address the crisis through public health strategies rather than relying solely on partisan polarization.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
The Evolution of Hedge Fund Management
Erik Schatzker, Dmitry Balyasny, Andrew Feldstein, Dawn Fitzpatrick, Ricky Sandler
At the 2018 Milken Institute Global Conference, industry leaders including Eric Schatzker, Dawn Fitzpatrick, Ricky Sandler, Andrew Felstein, and Dimitri Baljasny analyzed the hedge fund sector's shift away from the traditional "2 and 20" fee model toward performance-based structures and institutional scale. Panelists argued that generating sustainable alpha now requires massive capital deployment for technology and data science, driving market consolidation while forcing managers to adopt hybrid fundamental-quantitative approaches or co-invest in niche specialists. Looking ahead, the group anticipated that hedge funds would outperform long-bias markets over the next three to five years as capital retreats from crowded strategies, though they warned that absolute returns may remain suppressed due to elevated asset prices in a late-stage cycle.
- Milken Institute1h 3m
Power Play: Closing the Immense Energy Gap in Sub-Saharan Africa
Todd Moss, Joseph Boateng, Justin DeAngelis, A.B.C. Orjiako, Kate Steel, Robert Stoner, Rob Stoner, Glenn Yago, Miguel Acevedo, Paul Hinks
Experts emphasize that while small-scale solutions address immediate needs, large-scale grid infrastructure is essential for Africa's long-term economic growth and industrial competitiveness, particularly given Nigeria's massive generation deficit and projected population surge. Investment strategies are shifting toward hybrid microgrid models and localized resource utilization to bridge the $835 billion funding gap, though success depends on resolving regulatory friction and aligning institutional return expectations with realistic market yields. With 600 million Africans currently lacking electricity access, the sector's future relies on holistic planning that combines government political will, subnational initiatives, and the mobilization of trillions in underutilized local pension assets.