Latest Interviews
Showing 451–465 of 525 transcripts.
Clear all filters- Milken Institute7 min
Is the US Gathering Steam: Remarks on the Government Shutdown
Driven by a fractured political deadlock between House Speaker Paul Ryan and Tea Party factions, the U.S. faces a projected two-week government shutdown and a looming October debt ceiling crisis that threatens to compromise the nation's credit rating. While these domestic governance failures stem from record-low official approval ratings and unsustainable monetary policies, the economic fallout manifests as frozen corporate capital spending and delayed major infrastructure projects. Concurrently, the economic outlook is further strained by a slowdown in Chinese and European markets that is causing U.S. exports to plummet, leaving the domestic economy vulnerable despite significant historical fiscal interventions.
- Milken Institute56 min
MI Summit 2013 - London: Access to Global Capital: Investing in Growth
Mindy Silverstein, Tony Blair, Strive Masiyiwa, Seth Merrin, Jane Rowe, Michael Milken
In partnership with LiquidNet and Tony Blair's Africa Governance Initiative, the Milken Institute launched the Access to Global Capital Initiative to direct foreign investment into emerging markets like Indonesia, Colombia, and Rwanda through improved governance frameworks. Major institutional investors, including Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, are increasing their emerging market exposure by leveraging rigorous risk management and specific country classifications to align fiduciary interests with stable regulatory environments. This collaborative effort aims to catalyze economic transformation by proving that human capital and predictable rules drive growth more effectively than natural resources, thereby incentivizing broader global adoption of these development strategies.
- Milken Institute7 min
MI Summit 2013 -London: Welcoming Remarks
Gerald Ronson, Michael Klowden, Mike Nolan
Hosted by Gerald Ronson at London's Heron Tower, the 2013 Milken Institute Summit assembled approximately 1,000 global leaders to address faltering economic recovery through the lens of finance, business, and philanthropy. Under the strategic guidance of CEO Mike Clowden and President Paul Irving, the non-partisan think tank focused on generating concrete policy solutions to tackle employment, environmental sustainability, and medical research. The event emphasized moving beyond theoretical debate to leverage capital markets as a catalyst for solving urgent social challenges while securing strategic partnerships for ongoing institutional operations.
- Milken Institute6 min
Najib Ghadbian on Syria
Following years of localized repression against the Damascus Spring and Damasco Declaration movements, the 2011 uprising in Daraa ignited a conflict that ultimately killed over 70,000 people and displaced nearly 4 million Syrians. To address this crisis, a 70-member opposition coalition recognized by 114 nations formed a mini-parliament to plan a transition government while General Salim Idris unified 80% of Free Syrian Army factions under the Supreme Military Council. These coordinated political and military structures now face the challenge of leading a nation where over one million citizens have fled abroad and the humanitarian toll continues to escalate.
- Milken Institute7 min
Carlos Slim's Economic Advice
The speaker argues that Western economies face a structural crisis driven by demographic shifts and obsolete fiscal policies, necessitating a transition to a "new civilization" model. To address actuarially bankrupt pension systems and chronic deficits, the proposal advocates for privatizing state infrastructure through public-private partnerships and implementing a radical three-day, 11-hour workweek. This reform aims to expand labor participation, stimulate growth in service sectors, and ensure a sustainable transition where assets eventually revert to public ownership.
- Milken Institute51 min
Dinner Program - To Infinity and Beyond: Jeff Skoll Talks with Elon and Kimbal Musk (updated)
Jeff Skoll, Kimbal Musk, Elon Musk, Paul
At a panel introduced by Jeff Skoll, brothers Elon and Kimbal Musk detailed their divergent yet complementary ventures, ranging from early startups like Zip2 and PayPal to Elon's engineering firms SpaceX and Tesla and Kimbal's culinary and nonprofit initiatives. The discussion highlighted specific milestones such as the sale of PayPal to eBay for $1.5 billion, Tesla's launch of the award-winning Model S, and The Kitchen Community's measurable impact on childhood nutrition and school test scores. Both founders reflected on their formative years in South Africa and Silicon Valley, emphasizing a shared philosophy that combines technological innovation with social responsibility through scalable, market-based solutions.
- Milken Institute57 min
In Tech We Trust? A Debate with Peter Thiel and Marc Andreessen (updated)
Peter Thiel, Marc Andreessen, Martin Giles
Peter Thiel and Marc Andreessen debate whether the U.S. economy suffers from a post-1970 technological stagnation that has stunted wage growth or is actually experiencing an acceleration masked by unmet sci-fi expectations and political interference in physical sectors. While Thiel attributes rising inequality and declining living standards to risk aversion, excessive regulation, and a cultural loss of imagination, Andreessen counters that communication breakthroughs are driving efficiency and that physical sector stalls result from massive oil subsidies and restrictive liability frameworks. Both speakers agree that government monopolies and regulations inhibit innovation in energy and transportation, though they differ on the sufficiency of the digital revolution to solve broader economic challenges.
- Milken Institute1h 2m
The Business of Sports (updated)
Todd Boehly, Jimmy Connors, Wayne Gretzky, Joseph Ravitch, Melinda Witmer, Jim Gray, Joe Ravitch
Guggenheim Partners acquired the Los Angeles Dodgers for $2.1 billion to operate as a global entertainment brand, while Time Warner Cable secured exclusive local media rights through a direct $10 billion agreement that bypasses traditional regional sports networks. Panelists including Todd Boley, Melinda Whitmer, Wayne Gretzky, and Jimmy Connors affirmed that live in-stadium events remain the premium product despite technological advancements in broadcast, citing superior fan engagement and physicality that home viewing cannot replicate. The discussion further highlighted that franchise valuations are driven by real estate potential and media scarcity rather than emotion, with experts predicting the inevitable return of an NFL team to Los Angeles and continued appreciation in major league sports assets.
- Milken Institute55 min
A Conversation with Howard Marks and Mike Milken (updated)
Howard Marks, Mike Milken, Michael Milken
Historical analysis of major market crashes, including the 1973 Nifty Fifty collapse and the 2008 financial crisis, reveals that investors often suffer catastrophic losses by ignoring cyclical valuations and overestimating the safety of high-quality assets. The presentation further explains that long-term bond returns depend more on reinvestment rates than initial yields, while successful investing requires focusing on knowable factors like specific companies and demographics rather than unpredictable macro variables. Finally, the discussion highlights how Oaktree Capital Group sustains its long-term success through a firm culture rooted in specific ethical creeds, harmonious teamwork, and a succession strategy that prioritizes the perpetuation of values over individual founder skills.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Bioscience Discoveries That Will Blow Your Mind (updated)
Jack Andraka, David Baltimore, Francis Collins, Tejal Desai, Aydogan Ozcan, Margaret Anderson
Prominent figures including Jack Andraka, Tejal Desai, and NIH Director Francis Collins present breakthroughs in nanotechnology, genomics, and cellular engineering that promise to revolutionize early cancer detection, drug delivery, and precision medicine. While these innovations leverage falling sequencing costs, portable diagnostic devices, and adaptive sensor platforms to bridge the gap between molecular discovery and clinical treatment, panelists express deep concern over a 20% decline in real research funding. The collective discourse underscores an urgent need to redirect resources toward young innovators and high-risk projects to sustain the momentum of this biological renaissance.
- Milken Institute1h 18m
MI Forum: Silicon Rally: L.A.'s Thriving Tech Scene (HD)
Walter Driver, Susan Feldman, Michael Jones, Dana Settle, Mike Jones
The Los Angeles tech ecosystem, known as "Silicon Beach," is distinguished by a culture of entrepreneurial hustling and rapid venture capital growth that has historically outpaced Boston, New York, and the Bay Area. Panelists Mike Jones, Susan Feldman, and Walter Driver discuss how local startups must prioritize immediate monetization due to a lack of late-stage capital and limited acquisition targets, while noting that the region faces significant challenges in talent retention and university industry connections. To succeed, founders are advised to leverage deep personal expertise and build strategic "connective tissue" with broader national communities, as the local landscape currently demands sustainable business models over high-risk visionary plays.
- Milken Institute1h 26m
MI Forum: Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose
Former Link Exchange co-founder Tony Hsieh scaled Zappos into a billion-dollar enterprise by prioritizing "delivering happiness" over traditional retail metrics, a strategy that secured a 2009 Amazon acquisition while preserving operational independence. The company distinguishes itself through radical customer service tactics, such as a 365-day return window and unscripted phone support, which drive a 75% repeat customer rate by treating the business as a service provider rather than a merchandise vendor. Furthermore, Hsieh enforces a culture-first management model where core values dictate hiring and firing, using financial incentives like the "offer to quit" to filter employees who align with the organization's mission to generate long-term value through emotional connection.
- Milken Institute1h 8m
MI Forum: Sustainable Excellence: The Future of Business in a Fast-Changing World
Authors argue that "Sustainable Excellence" has evolved from a moral preference into a critical business imperative, compelling corporations to integrate environmental and social factors into core strategies to survive resource constraints. Major companies like Nike, Ford, and Unilever demonstrate this shift by reimagining products and forming strategic alliances with NGOs, moving sustainability from peripheral reporting to central boardroom decisions. Despite persistent challenges such as consumer behavior gaps and geopolitical risks, the convergence of regulatory mandates and market efficiency suggests that sustainable practices are becoming synonymous with fundamental business excellence.
- Milken Institute1h 15m
MI Forum: The Grace of Silence
Journalist Michele Norris presented her book *The Grace of Silence* at a KCRW forum, recounting how her family's unspoken trauma regarding her grandmother's "Aunt Jemima" performances and her father's 1946 police shooting in Birmingham revealed the protective function of silence in Black American history. Norris contrasted these personal narratives with systemic racial disparities and the "post-racial" myth, arguing that unaddressed historical trauma continues to shape contemporary inequities in employment and education. The event concluded with Norris advocating for a "National Day of Listening" to preserve such family oral histories, emphasizing that acknowledging these specific stories is essential for understanding national strength rather than dwelling in pain.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
MI Forum: Creating a World Without Poverty
Muhammad Yunus, Mike Milken, James McGowan, Betsy Zyman, Ross Duvall, Steve Barth
Founded by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to democratize access to capital, the Grameen Bank operates a unique microfinance model where 7.3 million borrowers, 97% of whom are women, own the institution itself. This structure inverts traditional banking by eliminating collateral and legal enforcement while utilizing social pressure to maintain repayment rates exceeding 98%, thereby extending credit to the world's poorest populations. Building on this foundation, Yunus has expanded into social business ventures like Grameen Danone and Grameen Shakti, which deliver essential services ranging from nutrition to solar energy without relying on external dividends.