Latest Interviews
Showing 1111–1125 of 1,191 interview transcripts.
Clear all filters- Goldman Sachs11 min
Talks at GS – Nitin Nohria: The Responsibility of Leadership
Harvard Business School has evolved from a domestic management focus into a global leadership institution defined by its mission to cultivate individuals with both professional competence and the character to inspire trust. Dean Nitin Nohria emphasizes that this dual focus is critical to avoiding organizational fragility while asserting that profitable, self-sustaining enterprises offer a superior path to social dignity than traditional philanthropy. This strategic shift aligns with changing student demographics who increasingly prioritize meaningful impact and work-life balance, often favoring smaller firms over large corporations to mitigate perceived institutional risks.
- Goldman Sachs11 min
Talks at GS – Richard Armstrong: Redefining Beauty Through Art
Since 2008, Director Richard Armstrong has steered the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum toward a mission prioritizing imagination and the human "quest for beauty" within Frank Lloyd Wright's iconic spiral structure. The institution attracts over one million annual visitors who engage with a curatorial model that rejects rigid data-driven education in favor of challenging, high-risk artistic proposals vetted through a hierarchical directorship process. This approach positions the museum as a sanctuary for eccentricity, aiming to foster visual acuity and societal diversity against the backdrop of modern digital consumption.
- Goldman Sachs21 min
Talks at GS – Tony Blinken: Diplomacy: The First Response
Former Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken outlines a foreign policy philosophy where robust diplomacy serves as the essential first response to prevent conflicts from escalating into costly military engagements. He details critical assessments of recent U.S. strategies, noting that the Iran Nuclear Deal effectively delayed nuclear threats while criticizing the withdrawal from that agreement as a strategic error. Blinken further emphasizes that effective statecraft requires balancing humility regarding intervention limits with a commitment to American values of dignity, as seen in his reflection on the failures in Syria and the complexities surrounding North Korea and China.
- Goldman Sachs16 min
Talks at GS – Richard Plepler: Finding the Next Great Voices in Storytelling
Richard Plepler steered HBO from post-*Sopranos* stagnation into growth by reinvesting in differentiated voices like *Game of Thrones* and abandoning legacy sequels to monetize distinction over volume. The leadership cultivated an internal culture of genuine dialogue and non-punitive crisis management, enabling a synchronized response to recent security incidents while fostering an environment where talent takes visceral ownership of their work. By prioritizing human identification and high-stakes storytelling over intellectualization, the network aims to coexist with competitors like Netflix by delivering an addictive content experience rather than chasing sheer audience metrics.
- Goldman Sachs19 min
Talks at GS – Dan Schulman: The Democratization of Finance
PayPal is shifting its global strategy to a mobile-only model that leverages device data and sophisticated algorithms to secure one-touch transactions, addressing high cart abandonment rates and identity theft while democratizing financial services for underserved demographics. Under the leadership of John Donahoe, the company has simultaneously diversified its board to 40% women and minorities and championed an inclusive corporate culture that rejects traditional work-life balance in favor of integrated professional and personal passions. This strategic pivot aims to expand the digital payments addressable market by eliminating complex entry barriers and reducing fees for users who currently spend a significant portion of their disposable income on unnecessary financial costs.
- Goldman Sachs10 min
Talks at GS – Dr. Vivek Murthy: The Global Epidemic of Addiction
Former Surgeon General Dr. Murthy reflects on his tenure while highlighting the opioid epidemic as a defining global crisis exacerbated by historical medical misinformation and aggressive pharmaceutical expansion. He advocates for a shift in public health strategy from merely treating mental illness to proactively fostering emotional well-being through social connection and contemplative practices. Ultimately, Murthy emphasizes that building a culture of trust and openness requires top-down leadership to protect both employee health and organizational performance.
- Goldman Sachs21 min
Lessons from Lloyd: Advice to Our Summer Interns
Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon reflects on his 35-year tenure, tracing his path from a Harvard law graduate who rejected initial offers to a strategic leader who leverages the firm's risk management expertise for its new consumer lending division. He champions diverse corporate policies, including support for marriage equality, while addressing global economic resilience and the market anxieties surrounding an extended economic cycle. Solomon concludes by warning of geopolitical tensions like the Thucydides Trap and emphasizing the importance of a well-rounded background alongside technical acumen for long-term professional success.
- Goldman Sachs10 min
Talks at GS – Danielle Weisberg and Carly Zakin: Changing the Face – and Format – of News
Danielle Weisberg, Carly Zakin
Co-founders Danielle Weisberg and Carly Zakin launched The Skimm in 2012 to bridge the news consumption gap for female millennials by delivering concise, nonpartisan global updates via email. The company now generates revenue through strategic brand partnerships and a forward-looking "Skim Ahead" subscription service, with the editors personally curating all content to maintain a trusted, conversational voice. As the business has grown, the founders have expanded their mission to address misinformation while advising new entrepreneurs to prioritize value articulation over academic credentials in a challenging startup landscape.
- Goldman Sachs12 min
Talks at GS – Eddie Huang: Food, Culture, Identity
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.
- Goldman Sachs11 min
Talks at GS – Julia Steyn: Car Sharing and the Future of Auto
GM is pivoting from a traditional manufacturing model to a service-oriented strategy through its Maven brand, which targets younger urban demographics with integrated car-sharing and rideshare solutions. CEO Mary Barra oversees this multi-billion dollar investment in artificial intelligence, autonomous technology, and electric vehicles to address the mismatch between slow automotive engineering cycles and rapid consumer tech adoption. The initiative aims to secure lifetime customer value by adapting to shifting urban habits while acknowledging that personal vehicle ownership will persist in rural markets.
- Goldman Sachs13 min
Talks at GS – Adam Grant: The Psychology of Resilience
Organizations Psychologist Adam Grant and Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg discuss how originality functions as a portfolio strategy requiring high failure rates and how prioritizing employees over shareholders drives sustainable corporate success over decades. Their collaboration on *Option B* emerged from Sandberg's grief after her husband's death, leading to insights on how leadership transparency and early organizational engagement foster resilience and continuous improvement. Grant further emphasizes that leaders should normalize vulnerability by sharing their own performance reviews, a practice exemplified by Carolyn Iverson at Facebook, while advising individuals to focus on executing decisions rather than merely making the right ones.
- Goldman Sachs15 min
Talks at GS – Robert Smith: The Fourth Industrial Revolution
Vista Equity Partners Chairman and CEO Robert Smith leveraged his early Bell Labs experience and Goldman Sachs tenure to launch a private equity firm that redefines enterprise software investment by shifting focus from single products to long-term ecosystem control. Operating within the framework of the fourth industrial revolution, Smith's strategy prioritizes building platform moats over decades to dominate specific geographic or sectoral markets rather than competing for short-term product advantages. His approach combines a rigorous evaluation of industry equilibrium with a cultural emphasis on innovation, aiming to transform capital deployment from asset aggregation into deep, value-creating partnerships with software leaders.
- Goldman Sachs12 min
Talks at GS – John Mackey: Conscious Capitalism, Conscious Eating
This event details the strategic expansion of Whole Foods from a small collective to a 470-store global enterprise while presenting a comprehensive case for plant-based nutrition and environmental sustainability. Speakers advocate for the "Conscious Capitalism" framework, arguing that purpose-driven leadership and stakeholder focus drive both human health recovery in corporate wellness programs and long-term business viability. The discussion concludes that reducing animal food consumption is essential for ecological balance and that successful entrepreneurship relies on cultivating team-based communities rather than relying solely on individual heroism.
- Goldman Sachs13 min
Talks at GS – The #FindMike Campaign: Rethinking Mental Health
Jonny Benjamin, Neil Laybourn, Johnny, Tanya Cushman
Johnny, a young man struggling with severe mental illness and suicidal ideation, was rescued in 2008 by stranger Neil after an intervention on London's Waterloo Bridge that led to six years of separation. Johnny's viral "Find My Neil" campaign eventually reconnected the two men, sparking a global partnership dedicated to dismantling mental health stigmas in schools, prisons, and workplaces across multiple continents. Their collaborative advocacy emphasizes the critical importance of early conversation, practical workplace accommodations, and the power of dialogue in preventing suicide and supporting recovery.
- Goldman Sachs9 min
Talks at GS - Marc Metrick: Authenticity, the “New Luxury”
Saks Fifth Avenue is pivoting from traditional ostentation to a strategy of "new luxury" defined by authenticity, personalized technology, and open retail environments that mirror the service standards of brands like Starbucks. This agile approach includes the launch of amenity-driven standalone men's locations featuring barber shops and coffee bars, alongside a rapid, entrepreneurial product model that enabled a LeBron James-collaborated sweatshirt to sell out in 45 minutes. By ensuring a seamless omni-channel experience where 75% of sales are digitally influenced, the retailer is effectively shifting from exclusivity to accessibility to meet modern consumer demands.