Latest Interviews

Reimagining Education: Ted Dintersmith and Abby Falik

Ted Dintersmith, Abby Falik

Ted Dintersmith and Abby Fallick warn that the current education system creates a dangerous misalignment with the real world by prioritizing standardized testing and irrelevant content over the adaptability and leadership skills required for future survival. In response, successful reform models are emerging that replace traditional metrics with competency-based portfolios, real-world problem solving, and transformative "launch years" that foster maturity and purpose before university enrollment. These initiatives, supported by major universities and non-profits like Global Citizen Year, aim to redefine success by prioritizing power skills such as empathy and creativity to prepare students for a rapidly evolving global landscape.

Talks at GS: Malcolm Gladwell on the Art of Storytelling – From Print to Podcasts

Malcolm Gladwell

In this wide-ranging discussion, Malcolm Gladwell explains how the immersive nature of podcasting enabled him to transition from print journalism to the non-fiction series *Revisionist History*, where he explores counterproductive outcomes by well-intentioned people. He details specific investigations into the University of Pennsylvania football scandal, the economic paradox of private country clubs, and the NIH's innovative response to the AIDS epidemic while defending the ad-supported audio model. Finally, Gladwell outlines the central thesis of his upcoming book *Talking to Strangers*, which examines the "default to truth" bias through the lens of the Madoff scandal and discusses his personal views on academic research and standardized testing.

Sarah Kauss: Starting Up and Going Global

Sarah Kauss, Jo Natauri, John F.W. Rogers, Kevin McCarthy, Tyler Perry, Danny Meyer, Wilbur L. Ross, Sara Blakely, Michael Bloomberg, Gina Raimondo, Rick Snyder, Marco Rubio, Lloyd Blankfein, Richard Branson, Warren Buffett

After gaining experience as a CPA during the dot-com era, Sarah Kaus founded Swell to combine fashion-forward hydration with a mission to reduce plastic waste. Under her leadership, the company expanded from a single boutique concept into a global brand stocked in 2,200 U.S. stores and major partners like Starbucks and Target. Kaus now guides a 100-person team with a philosophy that prioritizes financial self-sufficiency, rigorous quality control, and a culture that blends aggressive scaling with core environmental values.

Helping Small Businesses Grow: Views from 10,000 Small Businesses

Steve Strongin, Amanda Hindlian, John F.W. Rogers, Kevin McCarthy, Tyler Perry, Danny Meyer, Sarah Kauss, Wilbur L. Ross, Sara Blakely, Michael Bloomberg, Gina Raimondo, Rick Snyder, Marco Rubio, Lloyd Blankfein, Richard Branson, Warren Buffett

Over 100 small business owners across 18 states identified inconsistent regulations, labor shortages, and restricted capital access as critical barriers preventing economic growth and expansion. Participants detailed how bureaucratic complexity and frequent policy shifts force entrepreneurs to liquidate personal assets and divert resources from hiring to compliance, while survey data indicates that doubled financing availability would boost employment by 30%. To address these systemic issues, advocates propose establishing centralized credentialing systems and shifting toward cooperative compliance windows rather than punitive measures.

Talks at GS – Alex Blumberg & Jacob Weisberg: The Power of Podcasting

Alex Blumberg, Jacob Weisberg

Gimlet Media founder Alex Blumberg and Slate executive Jacob Weisberg chart the industry's evolution from legacy radio constraints to a decentralized audio ecosystem where *Serial* and *Start-Up* catalyzed a cultural shift toward intimate, on-demand storytelling. By prioritizing emotional connection over rigid formats and separating editorial integrity from branded content through transparent business models, these leaders established a framework that allows political and narrative podcasts to flourish without traditional FCC limitations. As the medium matures into a second golden age characterized by genre diversification and normalized consumption among younger demographics, their collaboration underscores the necessity of blending creative journalism with sustainable entrepreneurial strategy.

Talks at GS – The Story of Historically Black Colleges and Universities & Race Relations in America

Stanley Nelson, Jr., Dr. Wayne Frederick, Johnny Taylor, Jr.

Documentary director Stanley Nelson and current Howard University president, the 17th and seventh Black individual to lead the institution, discuss the historical necessity and modern evolution of HBCUs, highlighting their role in transforming legal prohibitions against Black literacy into a premier engine for professional mobility. The conversation details how political pragmatism, exemplified by General Howard's 1867 chartering by President Andrew Johnson and Speaker Paul Ryan's restoration of federal funding cuts, has allowed 101 institutions to produce the majority of Black physicians and dentists despite a contemporary 40-year decline in Black male medical school applications. Ultimately, the speakers argue that maintaining access to these "unbridled opportunities" requires leaders to navigate complex political landscapes without compromising their identity, thereby ensuring HBCUs continue to provide the societal change that began during Reconstruction.

Talks at GS – David Eagleman: The Neuroscience of Creativity

David Eagleman, David Rockefeller Jr., Eric Schmidt, Jonathan Levine Jr., Dan Coffey Jr., Dan Collins

This analysis redefines human creativity as an evolutionary advantage rooted in the prefrontal cortex's capacity for hypothesis testing rather than physical traits, identifying three universal cognitive operations—break, blend, and bend—as the fundamental drivers of innovation. By shifting educational and economic focus from rote memorization to cognitive flexibility, individuals and organizations can leverage the collective intelligence of 8 billion brains to navigate a transitioning creativity economy. Ultimately, success in this new era requires actively dismantling past successes and tolerating failure to generate novel solutions that artificial intelligence currently cannot replicate.

Talks at GS – Eddie Huang: Food, Culture, Identity

Eddie Huang

Executive Producer and author Nahnatchka Khan reflects on her memoir *Fresh Off the Boat* and the television adaptation as pivotal moments in transitioning from defensive survival mechanisms to intentional identity formation. She critiques the show for diluting authentic Asian experiences into universal white narratives while rejecting the "model minority" stereotype through her personal journey of culinary preservation and leadership at her restaurant, Bauhaus. Ultimately, she advocates for a cultural shift that prioritizes shared humanity over differences, utilizing a management philosophy that blends high performance with deep personal care to foster genuine employee loyalty.

10,000 Small Businesses UK Participants Share Experiences of Time on Programme

Launched in 2012, this intensive program guided struggling entrepreneurs through a rigorous diagnostic process that identified critical financial leaks and strategic pivots from B2B to B2C models. By pairing founders with growth experts and fostering a transparent cohort of vetted peers, participants transformed their ventures from loss-making entities into cash-positive businesses generating up to £1.5 million in revenue. The initiative delivered a transformative return on investment, enabling companies to hire strategically, secure major capital projects, and establish a lasting support network that continues to drive long-term operational efficiency.

The State of Small Business in America

Warren Buffett, Lloyd Blankfein, Michael Bloomberg, Jack Dorsey, Savannah Guthrie

Goldman Sachs, Square, and various business leaders convened to address the systemic financial and regulatory hurdles facing established small businesses, noting that traditional banking approves only 10% of capital requests while regulatory costs consume significant operational time. The program highlighted Square's success in approving over 98% of loan applicants through automated repayment models and emphasized a hiring philosophy prioritizing resilience and passion over elite credentials. Strategic insights from Jack Dorsey, Mayor Bloomberg, and Warren Buffett focused on reducing bureaucratic burdens, fostering open organizational cultures, and aiming to delight customers to drive sustainable growth.

The Social and Economic Impact of Evolving Family Dynamics: Talks at GS Session Highlights

Stew Friedman, Betsey Stevenson, Neera Tanden, Betsy, Stu, Claudia Golden

This event analyzes the structural transition from specialized to equal partnership models in family life, highlighting how multi-generational caregiving burdens and shifting fertility trends among Millennials and Gen X are outpacing current U.S. support systems. Speakers detail the economic consequences of these dynamics, demonstrating that closing the gender labor gap could boost GDP by nearly 10% while corporate work-family policies drive market appreciation and long-term wage growth for the next generation. The discussion concludes with a strategic call for a federal paid leave floor and a cultural realignment of corporate expectations to secure sustainable economic growth and social stability.

National Geographic Society - Storytelling as an Agent of Change: Talks at GS Session Highlights

Marcus Bleasdale, Susan Goldberg, Dr. Enric Sala, Claudia Malley

At a decade-long anniversary event with National Geographic, Goldman Sachs hosted Susan Goldberg, Dr. Enric Sala, and Marcus Bleasdale to discuss the intersection of storytelling and conservation policy. Goldberg outlined a five-principle framework prioritizing urgent global issues, while Sala detailed how the Pristine Seas Project leveraged scientific data to secure a record 300,000-square-kilometer marine reserve in Chile. Bleasdale further illustrated the power of imagery by exposing the link between conflict minerals in the Democratic Republic of Congo and electronics supply chains, concluding with panelist pledges to unify global leadership on climate and sustainability.

MBA 101: Navigating Industries, Careers and Beyond: Google Hangout

Pierre, Nathan, Sabrina, Nate

Goldman Sachs representatives Pierre, Sabrina, and Nate moderated a panel discussing MBA recruiting strategies, emphasizing that academic excellence and genuine passion are critical for differentiation in Investment Banking and Private Wealth Management. The speakers advised treating the hiring process as a marathon that prioritizes deep connections over high-volume networking while utilizing career services to navigate off-campus opportunities. They further detailed how the firm supports a sustainable work-life balance by integrating community engagement and mentorship into demanding professional roles.

Goldman Sachs Economists on EU Capital Markets Union: Talks at GS Session Highlights

Huw Pill, Jim Esposito, Philippe Ithurbide, William Wright

As European economies transition from crisis management to long-term structural growth, a strategic push is underway to establish a Capital Markets Union that diversifies funding beyond the banking sector. This initiative targets critical barriers such as fragmented exchange infrastructure, inconsistent insolvency laws, and information asymmetries that currently hinder SME access to public markets. Panelists recommend immediate regulatory harmonization and technology-driven standardization to unlock deep pools of long-term capital, ensuring that medium-sized enterprises and infrastructure projects can secure sustainable financing.

10,000 Small Businesses - New York Conference: Michael Bloomberg and Lloyd Blankfein

Michael Bloomberg, Lloyd Blankfein, Warren Buffett, Dr. Michael Porter, Mike Bloomberg, May Gorilla, Pete Wendell, Theresa Lawrence, Rhonda Jackson, Jessica Johnson, Ray Rupp, Kenneth Coates, Jason Burns, Navjot Vajwa, Raj Thakur, Elizabeth Colon, Reece Powell, Saudia Davis, Amy Voloshin, I.M. Tucker, Brian Custer, Mike Brown, Male Presenter 1

The 10,000 Small Businesses initiative functions as a practical "mini-MBA" that has enabled graduates like Maya Gorilla and Reece Powell to achieve average revenue growth of over 60% and significant job creation across 23 cities. By fostering peer learning and strategic insights from leaders such as Mike Bloomberg and Lord Blankfein, the program addresses critical hiring challenges while empowering immigrant entrepreneurs to scale operations and secure major contracts. This evolving network now supports remote participation at Babson College and has cultivated a robust alumni community where members actively transact business to drive economic expansion.