Latest Interviews
Showing 4456–4470 of 4,768 transcripts.
Clear all filters- Milken Institute57 min
Brain Wave: How Meditation Can Enhance and Elevate Your Mind
Mallika Chopra, Goldie Hawn, Sara Lazar, Allan Lokos, Russell Simmons
An eight-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program triggers measurable structural brain changes, including increased gray matter in regions responsible for learning and empathy and a decreased amygdala size correlated with reduced stress. Large-scale educational initiatives like the Hawn Foundation's MindUP program leverage these findings to implement daily "brain breaks" in schools, resulting in improved academic performance and pro-social behavior among children as young as six. Furthermore, long-term meditation practice appears to preserve cognitive function and fluid intelligence with age, prompting a shift from spiritual skepticism to scientific acceptance as a viable tool for enhancing mental resilience and global well-being.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
The Growing Drone Phenomenon: Creating Order Out of Chaos
Gary Shapiro, Russ Burns, Lisa Ellman, Dave Vos, David Windmueller, Eric Schmidt, Jure Vatsuri, Nick Smoot, Robert
Industry leaders and policymakers convened to discuss the rapid expansion of commercial drone technology, highlighted by early adopters like Clayco securing FAA exemptions to revolutionize construction efficiency and Google's vision for automated logistics. Participants outlined a roadmap for integrating unmanned traffic management systems that rely on automated data exchange rather than traditional air traffic control, while addressing regulatory challenges regarding privacy and property rights. The dialogue concluded with an emphasis on how these advancements will drive economic growth through cost savings, reduce carbon footprints via electric delivery models, and enable humanitarian applications in disaster response.
- Milken Institute1h 4m
Global Retail: Adapting to Changing Tastes
Lyndon Lee, Guilherme, Daniela, Christophe, Sonu, Coral Chung, Michael, Yasmin Chehata, Cameron Sewell
Industry leaders Lyndon Lee, Guilherme, Danielle, and Sonu discussed how millennial consumers are driving a global shift toward authentic, experience-based luxury and digital-first strategies. To counter market disruption and price volatility, these executives detailed pivots such as abandoning wholesale models for direct ownership, maintaining strict non-discounting policies, and integrating omnichannel technologies like virtual reality to preserve brand integrity. The event concluded with a consensus that while emerging markets are rapidly evolving through distinct stages of luxury consumption, success now depends on aligning with values of sustainability, local craftsmanship, and personalized engagement rather than traditional status symbols.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
The Future of Aerospace in California
George Whitesides, Jacob Anziel, Kelly Johnson, Jen Simpson, Brian Kessler
California's aerospace sector, which commands 25% of the U.S. market and concentrates billions in defense spending, faces a critical juncture defined by a aging workforce, high regulatory costs, and the need to retain its supply chain ecosystem. Key players like Virgin Galactic, JPL, and Aerojet Rocketdyne are advancing commercial space tourism, Mars exploration, and additive manufacturing technologies to drive innovation despite a 17% structural cost disadvantage against global competitors. The industry's future growth hinges on legislative reforms to reduce liability burdens and the successful integration of private-sector agility with established government research capabilities to counter emerging geopolitical threats.
- Milken Institute59 min
Gay Rights: Corporate America's New Export?
Katie O'Reilly, Randy Berry, Beth Brooke-Marciniak, Jason Collins, Fred Hochberg, Ross LaJeunesse, Harry Keeley, Tim Hoy
A recent panel discussion analyzed the shifting legal and corporate landscape for LGBT rights, highlighting a transition from advocacy driven by human rights to one grounded in economic imperatives like the $3.7 trillion global consumer market and superior stock performance for inclusive firms. Experts emphasized that personal visibility and strategic corporate engagement in sensitive regions, such as Google's initiatives in Singapore and Hungary, often prove more effective than government pressure or market exits when navigating complex cultural and legal environments. Key figures including Jason Collins and Beth Brooke Marciniak underscored the power of leadership to dismantle workplace assimilation, while strategies from the "Open for Business" coalition aim to leverage investor partnerships to advance inclusion through profitability arguments rather than social pressure.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Prescription for a Longer (and Healthier) Life
Paul Irving, Freda Lewis-Hall, Becca Levy, Loretta DiPietro, Patricia Boyle, Jeff Hogan, Byron Boston, Laura Ladd
Experts advocating a lifelong "platform" model for healthy aging emphasize that positive age stereotypes and a sense of purpose can extend survival by 7.5 years and significantly delay cognitive decline. Despite these findings, systemic barriers such as a medical budget skewed 90% toward treatment and a three-decade gap in public perception hinder the adoption of preventive strategies. To overcome these challenges, leaders recommend integrating early education on aging, designing age-neutral communities, and accelerating the translation of scientific data into immediate policy shifts.
- Milken Institute58 min
California: Global Incubator for Innovation and Growth
Kevin Klowden, Bracken Darrell, Gil Elbaz, Adam Miller, Donna Morris
California maintains its status as a global economic power and innovation laboratory through a unique consumer culture and deep university talent pipelines, even as regional dynamics shift between Northern California's venture-driven software sector and Southern California's entertainment-infused tech ecosystem. Global competition is intensifying as China, Europe, and the Nordic region accelerate their own innovation capabilities, prompting US firms to establish overseas operations while facing significant hurdles from restrictive visa policies and data privacy regulations. To sustain this leadership, stakeholders urge urgent reforms in education to promote design thinking, strategies to retain local and international talent amidst high living costs, and legislative changes to streamline skilled immigration.
- Milken Institute58 min
Solving the Global Water Challenge
Diane Regas, Christine Cioffe, Monica Ellis, Robert MacLean, Seth Siegel, Gary White
A panel of experts from Water.org, PepsiCo, and California American Water analyzed the global water crisis, highlighting that 660 million people lack basic water access while developed nations face aging infrastructure and pollution. The discussion detailed how innovative financial models like Water Credit leverage private capital to serve low-income populations and how agricultural reforms in places like Israel offer scalable solutions for the 70% of water used globally for farming. Ultimately, participants argued that shifting focus from the cost to the value of water, combined with desalination and climate resilience strategies, is essential to bridge the gap between humanitarian aid and sustainable commercial finance.
- Milken Institute39 min
A Conversation with Jacob J. Lew, Secretary, U.S. Department of the Treasury
Treasury Secretary Jack Lew characterizes Puerto Rico's $70 billion debt crisis as an immediate emergency requiring legislative authority to establish an independent oversight board and prevent a chaotic restructuring that would harm 3.5 million residents and U.S. municipal bond markets. Simultaneously, Lew advocates for comprehensive federal reforms to overhaul the housing finance system, close corporate inversion loopholes, and implement a revenue-generating tax code that addresses broken incentives without relying on revenue neutrality. Complementing these economic measures, the administration announced a redesign of U.S. currency featuring Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill to better reflect American history, while urging bipartisan cooperation to overcome modern political divisiveness.
- Milken Institute1h 2m
The Speed of Money: What Faster Payments Mean for Banks, Consumers and the Economy
Jackson Mueller, Daniel Gonzalez, Jordan Lampe, Jane Larimer, Shivani Siroya, Dan Gonzalez
Amidst a highly fragmented U.S. payment landscape involving over 12,000 financial institutions, the Federal Reserve's Faster Payments Task Force is guiding an industry-led transition to enhance settlement speeds and data capacity. This initiative builds upon NACHA's mandatory Same-Day ACH rules while evaluating hybrid network models to meet the 75% of businesses expecting one-hour payment completion without relying on a single dominant rail. Driven by global precedents and technical standards like ISO 20022, the sector anticipates a robust, interoperable real-time ecosystem within three to five years that balances innovation with existing prudential regulations.
- Milken Institute1h 2m
Reforming Islam: A Conversation With Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Somali-Dutch activist Ayaan Hirsi Ali recounts her journey from a radicalized childhood in Somalia to her intellectual awakening in the Netherlands, where she developed a critical framework for analyzing Islamic doctrine following the September 11 attacks. She proposes a five-point reform agenda targeting the Quran's authority, the infallibility of the Prophet, Sharia law, and the concept of Jihad to reconcile Islam with modern humanism and Western liberal values. While condemning Donald Trump's appropriation of her message for anti-Muslim rhetoric, Ali advocates for distinguishing between critiquing religious ideologies and respecting individuals, urging continued support for the AHA Foundation to combat honor violence and religious tyranny.
- Milken Institute1h 4m
From Battlefield to Business: Translating Military Skills Into Civilian Success
Susan Fallon Brown, Greg Behrman, Brendan Hart, Christopher Perkins, Blas Villalobos, Chris Perkins, Connie Mielke, Ronald Funderburg, Yolanda Parker, Jim Coleman, Lieutenant Hawley
Hosted by Susan Fallon Brown of Monster and Military.com, this panel featured Chris Perkins of Citi, Brendan Hart of Prosper Labs, and Greg Berman of Nationswell to analyze the transition of 2.5 million veteran-owned businesses into the civilian labor market. The discussion highlighted how public-private partnerships have boosted veteran confidence and job readiness metrics while exposing critical gaps in skills translation and self-advocacy that employers can address through initiatives like Citi's hiring targets or Uber's data-driven recruitment. By addressing barriers such as the delayed timing of Transition Assistance Programs and the need for better support for disabled veterans, the event outlined a strategic shift toward corporate retention and tailored mentorship to leverage military leadership in diverse sectors.
- Milken Institute55 min
Private Equity Outlook from Industry Titans
Andrea Kramer, Leon Black, Jonathan Nelson, David Rubenstein, Robert Smith
At a recent industry summit, private equity leaders including Leon Black, Jonathan Nelson, and Robert Smith identified high recession risks, compressed leverage, and evolving LP demands as critical challenges reshaping the market. The discussion highlighted a strategic pivot from rapid acquisitions to operational value creation, with firms diversifying into credit products and leveraging sovereign wealth funds to navigate tightening spreads and regulatory barriers. Furthermore, experts projected extended holding periods and a potential expansion of access to non-accredited investors while maintaining skepticism regarding emerging market returns due to currency and governance uncertainties.
- Milken Institute1h 7m
Gender Gap: Checking the Box or Moving the Needle?
Richard Ditizio, Christopher Ailman, Alexandra Cavoulacos, Lauren Leader-Chivée, Rosie Rios, Janet Thomas, Candida Wolff
Panelists and officials highlighted the persistent economic and social costs of gender inequality, citing data that gender-balanced leadership correlates with lower risk, higher performance, and significant GDP growth. While private sector initiatives like CalSTRS and Citi have successfully implemented accountability measures and diverse hiring practices, government agencies continue to lag due to fragmented policies and a lack of internal mentoring structures. The consensus among speakers is that advancing women in leadership requires men to act as active sponsors and companies to enforce measurable diversity targets rather than relying on vague aspirations.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
Connectivity Is the New World Order: A Conversation with Parag Khanna
Senior fellow Parag Khanna argues that massive global infrastructure investment has replaced geography as the primary driver of destiny, creating a "Connectography" where traditional borders and territorial conquest are increasingly obsolete. His analysis highlights a shift toward competitive connectivity, where nations like China and the United States compete for control over trade enclaves, digital networks, and energy grids rather than physical land. Khenna contends that future geopolitical stability depends on adopting long-term infrastructure diplomacy and economic integration strategies to manage accelerating migration and the complex web of megaprojects reshaping the world.