Latest Interviews
Showing 3646–3660 of 4,778 transcripts.
Clear all filters- Milken Institute1h 3m
eSports: The Bumpy Ride to ROI
Ben White, Sam Englebardt, Peter Levin, Kristen Salvatore, Ari Segal, David Rockefeller Jr., Emily Fortuna, Amanda Han, Eric Schmidt, Ari Schwartzmann, Sam Nelsons, Chai, Peter Barron, Peter Barry Kaufmann, Kevin, Carlos, Paul
Industry leaders highlight that gaming now surpasses film and television in scale, with a user base of 2.6 billion driving a strategic shift for traditional media and sports organizations to secure the Gen Z demographic. Investment activity is surging as entities like Immortals Gaming Club adopt holding company structures to capture high valuations and leverage the mobile boom, while platforms like Twitch demonstrate superior engagement metrics that attract non-endemic advertising. Amidst these rapid expansions, the sector faces evolving structural debates regarding player welfare, the rise of influencer-driven brands over traditional franchises, and the impending need for standardized unionization and global regulatory frameworks.
- Milken Institute52 min
Inside a Blockbuster Franchise: "Avengers: Endgame"
Julia Boorstin, Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, David Levinson, John McCutchan
Directors Joe and Anthony Russo leveraged a unique back-to-back production strategy and a global day-and-date release to propel *Avengers: Endgame* to a record-breaking $1.2 billion opening weekend. Their collaborative "mastermind" approach, which integrated scientific consultation and disciplined ensemble management, transformed the film into a universal cultural phenomenon while reaffirming the distinct value of the theatrical experience. Building on this success, the Russo brothers are now expanding their AGBO production company to champion artist ownership and emerging talent with projects like *Cherry*, all while maintaining a format-agnostic commitment to both streaming and cinema.
- Y Combinator56 min
Analyzing Billions of Transactions to Understand Consumer Behavior - Michael Babineau and Kevin Hale
Michael Babineau, Kevin Hale, Craig Cannon, Mike
Co-founded by Mike and Lillian, the company delivers a financial analytics platform that empowers investors and corporations to analyze over 50 billion credit card transactions to solve complex business intelligence problems. With a diverse team of 60 data scientists and engineers, the firm processes unstructured data for entities ranging from startups to major retailers like Stitch Fix and Amazon, transforming raw transactional noise into actionable strategic insights. Supported by strategic funding from Goldman Sachs and Citi, the platform achieved 150 clients through organic growth by offering a customizable toolset rather than static reports, allowing users to generate their own unique information edges.
- Goldman Sachs22 min
Lei Zhang: Founder and CEO of Hillhouse Capital
Zhang Lei, founder and CEO of Gaoling Capital, directs a firm that has scaled assets under management to over $60 billion by applying a lean, reputation-based investment model that merges Western equity principles with Eastern philosophical concepts. The firm actively pursues the "Plus Internet" sector, driving innovation in traditional industries through artificial intelligence and biotechnology while prioritizing founders who demonstrate empathy, lifelong learning, and a resilient "sports team" culture. Beyond capital allocation, Lei's strategy extends to philanthropy and education, notably through the establishment of Hill House Academy and Westlake University, which aim to transform China's wealth culture by compounding human capital rather than seeking immediate financial exits.
- Milken Institute1h 3m
Words That Work: A Workshop With Frank Luntz
Frank Luntz, Frank Fenwick, Heather, Ken Gilroy, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, James, Martin
Political consultant Frank Luntz argues that escalating polarization has transformed American discourse into aggressive monologues, prompting a strategic pivot toward specific linguistic shifts designed to rebuild trust and bridge ideological divides. He details a revised political lexicon that replaces divisive terminology like "capitalism" and "privilege" with inclusive concepts such as "economic freedom" and "responsibility," while urging leaders to abandon negative social media tactics in favor of future-oriented, collaborative messaging. The session concludes with a recognition that the next generation seeks shared prosperity over binary ideological battles, warning that failure to adopt these de-escalation strategies risks permanently delegitimizing political opposition.
- Milken Institute28 min
A Conversation with Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein, Mike Milken, Michael Milken
Calvin Klein co-founded his global fashion empire with early capital from childhood friend Barry Schwartz, eventually pioneering disruptive marketing strategies like the Brooke Shields "Nothing" campaign and unauthorized product placements to define an American, provocative brand identity. While the partnership with financier Michael Milken provided critical structural discipline during cash crunches, Klein also navigated legal controversies such as the "Kiddie Porn" investigation by prioritizing cultural conversation over traditional safety. Today, he reflects on how social media has compressed the industry timeline, distinguishing between fleeting celebrity brands and enduring legacy companies built on distinct style and consistent messaging.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
Investing with Vision: A Conversation With SoftBank's Rajeev Misra
Rajeev Misra, Mike Milken, Michael Milken
SoftBank Vision Fund has deployed $80 billion across 80 portfolio companies to aggregate fragmented markets through AI-driven platforms and preferential debt financing. Led by Rajiv Mehta, the fund targets 30% long-term returns by applying a minority stake strategy to "fearless" founders while leveraging SoftBank's ecosystem for global expansion. With a second fund planned for immediate launch, the organization aims to capitalize on the transition from internet growth to an AI revolution that restructures industries like transportation and hospitality.
- Goldman Sachs22 min
Hooi Ling Tan: Co-Founder of Grab
Grab, a Southeast Asian super app serving over 600 million people across eleven nations, evolved from a taxi safety solution into a comprehensive platform for mobility, food delivery, and financial services under the leadership of co-founders Huiling Tan and Anthony Tan. By strategically acquiring Uber's regional operations and securing critical financial wallet licenses faster than competitors, the company has integrated diverse markets into a unified ecosystem while maintaining strict safety protocols and regulatory partnerships. Operating with a heavy focus on on-the-ground infrastructure and cultural alignment, Grab targets the region's middle-to-lower income demographics to drive financial inclusion and aims to become the market leader in all its territories by year-end.
- Milken Institute1h 5m
Keeping the American Dream Alive
Michael Milken, Raymond Dalio, Robert Smith
A panel of economists and policy experts diagnoses the erosion of the American Dream as a result of stagnant incomes for the bottom 65%, extreme wealth concentration, and systemic underdevelopment driven by technological substitution and flawed monetary policy. To reverse these trends, the group proposes data-driven public-private partnerships that treat education and early intervention as high-yield capital investments, specifically targeting at-risk youth and underserved STEM students through targeted internships and holistic support systems. The discussion concludes that without bipartisan cooperation to redistribute opportunity and address the looming risk of social conflict, the nation faces severe systemic instability exacerbated by a rapidly shifting demographic landscape.
- Goldman Sachs13 min
Hugh Herr: Co-Director of MIT Center for Extreme Bionics
Biomechatronics engineer Hugh Herr redefines disability as a technological failure, predicting that human augmentation will eliminate the concept of disability within a century while enabling synthetic parts to merge with the nervous system. His expert testimony successfully challenged the Olympic ban on Oscar Pistorius, a victory that foretells a future where bionic athletes will likely outperform biological ones and spawn entirely new sports categories. Beyond competition, Herr advocates for robust policy to manage the risks of direct neural interfaces with AI and emphasizes that emotional intelligence and fearlessness are the essential drivers behind innovation and human resilience.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Food as Medicine
Ryan Shadrick Wilson, The Edge, William Li, Tim Ryan
A panel including Dr. William Lee, Bono, and Representative Tim Ryan convened to advocate for a paradigm shift from pharmaceutical-dependent treatment to preventative nutrition, citing that over 200 specific foods can activate natural defense systems to combat major chronic diseases. Despite evidence suggesting that dietary interventions could save the U.S. economy $1.7 trillion annually in healthcare costs, the current system is hindered by inadequate medical education and federal subsidies for unhealthy commodities. To address these systemic failures, the group proposed establishing a National Institute for Nutrition, mandating school-based food education, and restructuring tax policies to incentivize nutrient-dense agricultural production.
- a16z49 min
10+1 Lessons from Serial Entrepreneur Justin Kan
Fourteen-year veteran entrepreneur Justin Kahn applies his extensive experience from founding and exiting ventures like Twitch and Justin.tv to lead Atrium, a technology-enabled law firm designed to offer speed and transparency for startups. Transitioning from high-market-risk consumer apps to execution-focused B2B models, Kahn leverages a massive Series A round to signal trustworthiness while advocating for a "conscious company" culture built on empathy and radical responsibility. His approach emphasizes that sustainable success requires treating startup building as a multi-decade marathon rather than a sprint, integrating rigorous personal development with strategic business growth.
- Y Combinator49 min
Monetizing Podcasts and Newsletters - Chris Best of Substack and Jonathan Gill of Backtracks
Chris Best, Jonathan Gill, Craig Cannon, Jack Ryder, Debdut Mukherjee
Substack leadership and industry experts analyze a shifting podcasting landscape where direct subscription models are gaining traction against traditional advertising, leveraging strategies like micro-pricing and referral incentives to monetize niche audiences. The discussion highlights that success relies less on mass download metrics and more on consistent publishing, high-quality audio storytelling, and the ability to measure engagement through direct response data rather than obsolete download counts. Ultimately, the panel predicts a future ecosystem where creators maintain direct audience relationships through independent platforms, blending ad-supported mass content with paid subscription niches to counter the consolidation risks posed by major tech giants.
- Goldman Sachs18 min
Joseph Tsai - Co-Founder and Executive Vice Chairman, Alibaba Group
Joseph Tsai, David Solomon, Joe Tsai
Goldman Sachs hosted its inaugural "Business & Investing" event in China, featuring a strategic discussion between CEO David Solomon and Alibaba Executive Vice Chairman Joe Tsai. Tsai detailed Alibaba's evolution from a small Hangzhou startup into a global powerhouse, highlighting its defensive expansion logic, proprietary technology investments, and the unique 40-member Partnership system designed to preserve corporate culture. The conversation also offered actionable guidance on scaling entrepreneurship through mission-driven focus, leadership humility, and long-term talent development.
- Y Combinator6 min
How to Create Luck - Dalton Caldwell, Y Combinator Partner
Founders accelerate the probability of success by executing at three times the industry speed, which expands their "surface area" for luck through frequent interactions, rapid pivots, and immediate code deployment. Companies like Brex, Retool, and Magic achieved breakthroughs by validating or discarding multiple concepts quickly, while early-stage strategies emphasize network expansion, active discomfort, and prototype distribution over passive waiting. This approach to scaling luck requires maintaining a culture of fast experimentation and hiring teams capable of outpacing market standards to sustain continuous innovation through Series A and beyond.