Latest Interviews
Showing 406–420 of 525 transcripts.
Clear all filters- Milken Institute57 min
Around the World in 60 Minutes: Creating Global Prosperity
Mike Milken, Tony, Strive, Nouriel, Kathy
The 18th annual Milken Institute Global Conference convened 4,000 attendees and global leaders including Tony Blair and Nouriel Roubini to address the dual challenges of global job creation and economic resilience. Key outcomes included the formation of a task force targeting one billion new jobs and strategic imperatives emphasizing migration liberalization, human capital investment, and health infrastructure to counter automation and demographic shifts. By shifting focus from aid to trade and advocating for lifelong learning, the panel established a framework for future prosperity centered on open governance and innovation.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
The Future Is Now: Things That Will Blow Your Mind
William Santana Lee, Nina Tandon, Dr. Frederick Maul
At this event, William Santana Lee of Nightscope, Nina Tandon of EpiBone, and Dr. Frederick Maul of ORIS presented breakthrough autonomous systems ranging from crime-predicting security robots to tissue-engineered bone grafts and precision surgical micro-robots. These innovations collectively demonstrate a shift toward a "Third Industrial Revolution" where biotechnology and data-driven automation aim to reduce the $1 trillion annual cost of crime while revolutionizing minimally invasive medical procedures and drug testing. The panel further outlined significant challenges in regulatory approval and talent acquisition, alongside a shared vision for deploying tens of thousands of units globally to enhance public safety, accelerate clinical outcomes, and lower healthcare costs.
- Milken Institute43 min
Commercial Diplomacy: A Conversation With U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker
Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, acting as the chief commercial advocate, outlined a strategy to bridge the business community and the administration by prioritizing legislative reforms on trade promotion, patent litigation, and corporate taxation to restore global competitiveness. The Department leverages its four-pillar framework to maximize data utility from agencies like the National Weather Service while deploying 108 Export Assistance Centers and diplomatic missions to advance U.S. interests in Asia, Africa, and Europe. Simultaneously, the administration focuses on critical infrastructure cybersecurity standards and international tax reform to unlock trillions in stranded capital and stimulate domestic investment.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Taxes, Philosophy and Reform: Two Conversations With Milken Institute Review Authors
Peter Passell, Reihan Salam, Len Burman, John Marish, David Mallitz, Ray Bishop, Female Presenter 1
At the Milken Institute Review Panel, Len Berman of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center and Reihan Salam of *National Review* delivered distinct analyses on US tax reform and conservative political strategy. Berman argued that structural polarization and a lack of bipartisan trust currently block comprehensive tax overhauls, proposing revenue-neutral shifts such as Value-Added Taxes and inheritance taxes to replace the current estate tax system. Simultaneously, Salam advocated for "reform conservatism" as a pragmatic framework that utilizes federalism, skills-based immigration, and market-based healthcare solutions to build coalitions rather than pursuing ideological purity.
- Milken Institute51 min
Fountain of Age: Unlocking the Secrets of Longer Life
Dr. Craig Venter, Dr. Peter Diamandis, Paul Irving
Human Longevity, Inc. is executing a strategy to sequence one million human genomes and integrate multi-omics data, including microbiome and neuroimaging, to enable predictive modeling that identifies complex genetic traits and anticipates diseases like dementia decades before onset. By leveraging machine learning to correlate vast datasets with phenotypic markers, the company aims to shift healthcare from reactive treatment to preventative intervention while addressing significant privacy challenges through advanced security protocols. The initiative projects to revolutionize the global economy by extending healthy lifespans, potentially unlocking trillions in capital and redefining retirement, provided society navigates the associated ethical frameworks regarding genetic data and discrimination.
- Milken Institute59 min
The Learning Gap: Creating the Workforce Industry Needs
Giselle Fernandez, Felix Ortiz III, Eloy Ortiz-Oakley, Chris Romer, Raul Valentin, Judy Woodruff
A diverse panel of education leaders and industry experts identified a critical national skills gap where 75 million Americans lack qualifications for middle-skill jobs, creating a mismatch between over 1 million unfilled openings and millions of unemployed individuals. Key figures including Felix Ortiz III, Raul Valentin, and Chris Romer argued that bureaucratic educational rigidity, outdated funding models, and insufficient employer engagement are exacerbating this crisis, which they characterize as a national security threat and an economic imperative requiring a shift toward competency-based outcomes. To resolve these barriers, the group proposed a new "employment triangle" that ties state funding to graduation rates, leverages data to align curricula with labor demands, and establishes hybrid credentialing systems to support lifelong learning and demographic surges.
- 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 Institute1h 1m
Where Does Russia Go From Here?
Matt Winkler, David Bonderman, Ruben Vardanyan, Susan Eisenhower, Carl Theodore, Male Speaker 1
In late 2014, Western sanctions and a 50% collapse in oil prices caused the Russian ruble and MOEX index to become the world's most volatile assets, yet the country began a recovery by early 2015 through stabilized currency values and a 30% growth surge in domestic food retail. Prominent figures including Ruben Vardanyan, David Bonderman, and Susan Eisenhower critique Western policy failures such as NATO expansion and broken agreements, arguing that these actions fueled Russia's strategic drift toward China while leaving the nation without a clear geopolitical identity. The panel warns of escalating nuclear risks due to these tensions but proposes immediate de-escalation through dedicated special envoys, Congressional diplomacy, and the establishment of clear benchmarks for sanction relief.
- Milken Institute1h 12m
Growth on the Frontier: Insights From African Executives
Jonathan Berman, Paul Hanks, Mimi Alamayo, Brian Orjiaku, Bassem Haider, Bob Diamond
A panel of experts analyzed the transformative impact of Nigeria's 2015 democratic transition and the subsequent strategic pivot required to navigate oil price collapses, South Sudan's instability, and volatile commodity markets. While nations like Ethiopia and Rwanda demonstrate the potential for infrastructure-led growth and regulatory reform, regional leaders emphasized that Africa's demographic surge necessitates private sector-led diversification into local manufacturing and food security to avert youth-driven political unrest. The discourse concluded that sustainable development depends on overcoming critical power and logistics deficits through value-added processing and innovative mobile solutions rather than reliance on raw material exports.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
Impact Investing 2.0: Finding Value in Doing Good
Tom Hyland, Dimple Sani, Gary White, Kimball Ganzier, Jacqueline Novogratz
This session convened leaders from Acumen, Water.org, and Soros-backed venture capital to establish impact investing as a discipline requiring clear social intention, rigorous measurement, and transparent stakeholder communication. Panelists demonstrated that mission-aligned funds can achieve market-rate returns, citing a 41% IRR for aligned exits and highlighting hybrid financing models that successfully served low-income populations without compromising financial viability. The discussion concluded that the sector is evolving toward segmented strategies driven by generational demand, necessitating permanent capital structures and standardized metrics to scale solutions for persistent global problems.
- Milken Institute54 min
Beyond the Headlines: Global Leaders Explore Africa's Future
Mindy Silverstein, Bronwyn Nielsen, Tony Blair, H.E. Paul Kagame, Scott Minerd, Patrice Motsepe, Strive Masiwa, Bob Collymore, Jay Ireland, Fred Swannaker, John Rice, President Uhuru Kenyatta
The Milken Institute launched the Africa Business Fellowship Program, a reciprocal exchange initiative partnering with Strive Masiwa, Safaricom, and the Dangote Group to place up to 15 American entrepreneurs in African firms over six months. Supported by high-profile speakers like President Paul Kagame and Tony Blair, the event utilized demographic projections showing Africa's population could double by 2050 to argue that regional integration and private sector infrastructure investments are critical for unlocking a continent identified by the IMF as home to the world's fastest-growing economies. Panelists including Scott Minnert and Patrice Motsepi concluded by dismissing security concerns as manageable barriers and calling for immediate U.S. capital deployment to fuel the rising middle class and consumer industries across Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Milken Institute57 min
A Path Appears: A Conversation With Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
Nicholas Kristof, Sheryl WuDunn, Steve Grove, Nick Kristof, Ashley, Derek McKesson, Dan Galpin, Esther Duflo, Brian Mulaney, Dan Pallotta, Eric Schmidt, Sheryl McCarthy, Nick Orloveyski
Google News Lab director Steve Grove facilitated a discussion with Pulitzer Prize-winning authors Nick Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn regarding their book *A Path Appears* and its accompanying PBS documentary on transforming social vulnerability into opportunity. The speakers advocate for applying business principles and market incentives to poverty alleviation, citing evidence from randomized trials that effective interventions must measure outcomes rather than inputs and leverage corporate strategies to address systemic issues like missing girls and the "word gap." They further highlight the physiological benefits of philanthropy and argue that future social progress depends on a "double bottom line" model where for-profit enterprises and rigorous data measurement replace traditional charity to solve intractable challenges in education, health, and urban violence.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
Cyber-Security: Protecting Companies and Citizens From Assault
Eli Sugarman, Alex Stamos, Suzanne Spaulding, Ray Rothrock, Susan Gilchrist
A panel of federal officials and industry leaders, including DHS Undersecretary Suzanne Spaulding, Yahoo CISO Alex Stamos, and Red Seal CEO Ray Rothrock, convened to address the escalating intersection of U.S. cybersecurity legislation, global threat intelligence sharing, and corporate liability. The group critically evaluated the efficacy of static compliance standards versus dynamic resilience frameworks, highlighted the economic necessity of investing in security infrastructure, and debated the strategic and moral implications of government-mandated encryption backdoors. Their discussion concluded that future security strategies must prioritize continuous monitoring, standardized risk metrics for investors, and international collaboration to protect critical infrastructure against evolving cyber threats.
- Milken Institute48 min
A Conversation With Ben Horowitz
Ben Horowitz discusses the unexpected broad resonance of his book *The Hard Thing About Hard Things* while detailing the dramatic $2.8 billion valuation of Slack, which emerged from a $18 million failure at TinySpec. He analyzes modern market dynamics, arguing that Silicon Valley avoids bubbles due to lower capital requirements and cloud infrastructure, while noting that regulatory gaps in private markets pose significant risks to liquidity and valuation. Additionally, Horowitz outlines a non-quota hiring strategy that eliminated unconscious bias to achieve 53% female representation and debunks the notion of a ride-sharing monopoly by highlighting driver saturation and the imminent disruption of self-driving technology.
- 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.