Latest Interviews

The Preschool Mandate: How Do We Get It Right?

Chaka Fattah, Mila Henn, Lisa Poon, Phyllis Stewart Pires, Elanna Yalow, Dara Erk

The event synthesizes neuroscientific data and economic research to argue for a federal "Preschool for All" initiative and corporate adoption of workplace childcare to address critical developmental gaps in children under five. Panelists examined specific implementations by leaders like President Obama, Cisco Systems, and the Cleveland Clinic, highlighting how early investment yields high returns while navigating challenges in workforce standards and accreditation. The discussion concluded with a consensus on the urgent need to reframe early education as essential infrastructure rather than mere childcare to secure future global economic competitiveness.

3D Printing: The Industrial Imagination

Jamal, Avi Reikenthal, Peter Weimershausen, Mae Jemison

In a panel featuring industry leaders Avi Reikenthal of 3D Systems and Peter Weimershausen of Shapeways, additive manufacturing is defined as shifting from a developmental niche to a mass-customization engine capable of eliminating tooling costs and inventory through software democratization and rapid cost reduction. These experts highlight transformative applications ranging from Invisalign's 17 million patient-specific units to future advancements in multi-material printing and 4D self-assembly, though they also warn of emerging legal challenges regarding product liability and unregulated weapon production. The convergence of these technologies with robotics and AI is projected to trigger a U.S. manufacturing renaissance that reindustrializes supply chains by enabling a hybrid model where cloud-based factories handle complex production while consumer printers manage prototyping.

Mobilizing the Immune System in the Battle Against Cancer

Arie Belldegrun, Michael Giordano, Jeff Rowbottom, Suzanne Topalian, Louise Perkins

Hosted by the Melanoma Research Alliance, the "Mobilizing the Immune System in the Battle Against Cancer" panel examines the critical transition from traditional chemotherapy to innovative immunotherapies that are driving unprecedented survival rates for melanoma and other malignancies. Experts detail how genetic engineering and checkpoint inhibitors have enabled durable remissions for late-stage patients while highlighting the urgent need for new regulatory frameworks and increased nonprofit funding to accelerate the development of super-personalized combination treatments. The discussion underscores a projected five-year transformation in oncology, emphasizing that converging scientific breakthroughs and global stakeholder collaboration are essential to address rising cancer mortality and realize a potential cure for previously resistant diseases.

Precision Medicine, Custom Cures

Margaret Anderson, Mike Polini, Jim Greenwood, George Church, Retta Berry, Chris Austin

Led by former NIH Director Francis Collins and moderated by Margaret Anderson, a diverse panel of scientists, industry leaders, and patient advocates examined the critical gap between rapid advances in precision medicine sequencing and clinical deployment. While the discussion highlighted success stories like the Berry family's transition from a diagnostic odyssey to effective treatment and the rising adoption of gene therapies, it also exposed systemic bottlenecks in rare disease therapeutics, reimbursement models, and data silos that prevent timely translation of genetic discoveries into cures. The group concluded that realizing the full potential of this medical revolution requires structural healthcare reform, robust data-sharing frameworks, and a shift toward participatory medicine where patients actively drive their own health outcomes.

Central Banks: Is Quantitative Easing Becoming Quantitative Exhaustion?

James McCaughan, Cliff Noreen, Tad Rivelle, Aram Shishmanian, Kevin Warsh, David Zervos, Jim McLaughlin

A panel of financial experts consensus agrees that while aggressive quantitative easing was necessary to prevent a 2008 collapse, the policy subsequently shifted to generating diminishing returns and exacerbating wealth inequality. Speakers like Kevin Warsh and Jim McLaughlin warn that continued reliance on monetary stimulus has stalled structural reforms, distorted asset prices, and risked a deglobalization wave driven by competitive currency devaluations. Consequently, investors are urged to adjust strategies toward non-traditional fixed income and hedging instruments in anticipation of eventual rate hikes and an exit from the current era of central bank dominance.

Power Shift: The Changing American Electorate

Joel Benenson, Harold Ford Jr., Frank Luntz, Dan Schnur, Matt Miller

A panel of political analysts examines how demographic shifts and a generational divide have restructured the American electorate around a "freedom vs. fairness" conflict, fundamentally altering the dynamics observed in the 2012 re-election of President Obama. The discussion highlights how institutional structures, including primary mechanics and the Senate filibuster, incentivize extreme polarization while eroding trust in corporations and the political system. Looking ahead to the 2014 midterms and future governance, the experts argue that successful leadership must emerge from outside traditional congressional channels to navigate ideological silos and address the specific economic and social anxieties of women and Latino voters.

Debt and the Deficit: What's Really on the Table?

Steve, Bob Corker, Peter Hotez Jr., Dave Cody, Maya

A bipartisan panel of policymakers and business leaders, including Senators Bob Corker and Patty Murray and CEO Dave Coudy, warned that the U.S. fiscal trajectory is unsustainable due to entitlement costs and emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive tax and debt reforms before the September 15th deadline. The group outlined contrasting budget strategies from President Obama, Congressman Ryan, and others, ultimately agreeing that stabilizing the debt-to-GDP ratio requires eliminating tax loopholes and restructuring Medicare rather than relying on temporary sequestration cuts. Without direct presidential leadership to bridge partisan gridlock, experts predicted that failure to act by mid-September could trigger market instability and add trillions in future interest costs to the national debt.

Living to 1,000: Impossible or Within Reach?

Lorelei Mucci, Gary Small, Harvey Spivak

A panel of experts including Dr. Lorelei Mucci and Dr. Gary Small leveraged data from major Harvard cohorts to demonstrate that engaging in three hours of weekly physical activity can extend life expectancy by up to five years while reducing Alzheimer's risk by targeting modifiable lifestyle factors. The discussion detailed how functional training, strategic dietary shifts toward whole foods, and social walking interventions offer superior benefits over supplements or isolated cognitive exercises for preventing chronic disease. Furthermore, the panel highlighted industry adaptations by corporate leaders like Equinox to promote accessibility, ultimately concluding that combined lifestyle changes yield the most significant improvements in longevity and cognitive health.

Evolution of Hedge Fund Investing: Institutional Investors Go Direct

Francisco, Mattias, Ed, Jan

Major institutional investors including AXA Investment Managers, AP3, CalPERS, and PGGM are shifting billions in hedge fund allocations from traditional fund-of-funds structures to direct managed accounts to reduce costs, eliminate middle layers, and gain control over portfolio construction. This strategic transition addresses operational risks exposed by the 2008 crisis and allows these entities to negotiate favorable fee terms while demanding specific exposures like alternative credit or systematic risk premiums previously unavailable. Consequently, these pension funds are building internal teams of varying sizes to manage daily stress testing and risk budgeting directly, thereby moving toward "fund of one" structures that offer customized liquidity and concentrated positions.

Credit Markets: What's Next?

Maria Boyazny, Richard Cantor, Joshua Friedman, Tony Ressler, Steven Tananbaum, David Warren, Michael Milken, Steve Tannenbaum, Maria Boiasni, Mike Milken

Six prominent credit executives from firms like Ares, GoldenTree, and Moody's convened to analyze the current credit market cycle, balancing optimistic views on RMBS and European bank debt against warnings of rising leverage and potential defaults. The panelists identified specific undervalued opportunities in structured products and illiquid assets while debating the structural risks posed by re-leveraging and the Federal Reserve's balance sheet expansion. Ultimately, the discussion emphasized a shift toward dynamic tactical asset allocation to navigate an environment where investors face a trade-off between immediate compensation and anticipated market corrections.

The Rise and Decline of Nations and Civilizations

Jared Diamond, Niall Ferguson, James Robinson, William Bennett

This analysis applies a non-linear theoretical framework to evaluate the divergent trajectories of the United States and China, identifying personal health crises, environmental degradation, and extractive institutions as primary drivers of societal collapse. While the U.S. retains structural advantages in soil fertility and federal innovation, it faces severe risks from political polarization, regulatory complexity, and civic atrophy, whereas China's rapid economic rise is constrained by an inability to transition from authoritarian governance and critical resource scarcity. The discussion concludes that future instability may stem from cyber warfare, external shocks, or a shift in the global locus of innovation toward China rather than a sudden, total collapse of either civilization.

Can Retailers Thrive in a Digital World?

Silas Chou, John Danhakl, Jim Fielding, Mindy Grossman, David E. Simon, Dottie Mattison, Jason Rapp, Justine Angeli, Adam Kalish, Ken Hicks

Retail leaders and investors from HSNI, Simon Property Group, and Claire's convened to discuss the industry's transition from multi-channel operations to a "boundaryless retail" model where digital and physical experiences merge into a single network. Participants highlighted key strategies such as leveraging data for customer intimacy, utilizing user-generated content to drive engagement, and repositioning malls as experiential destinations to counteract online price advantages. The dialogue concluded that while e-commerce continues to grow, pure-play sales face a ceiling comparable to historical catalog retail, necessitating a complementary focus on in-store sensory experiences and exclusive curation to satisfy modern consumer demands.

Pensions: The Real Fiscal Cliff

Brad Belt, Jeff, Brian Pellegrino, Larry Schloss, David Vila

This analysis contrasts the severe underfunding of U.S. public and corporate pensions, highlighting Illinois's $100 billion shortfall against Wisconsin's successful hybrid model that achieves 99.8% funding. While New York City struggles with governance failures and outsourced management costs despite rising contributions, the corporate sector increasingly adopts Liability-Driven Investment strategies and benefit redesigns to mitigate insolvency risks. Ultimately, the report concludes that investment returns alone cannot resolve multi-trillion dollar deficits, necessitating structural reforms such as COLA adjustments or increased contributions to prevent taxpayer bailouts or state bankruptcy.

Value and Values: Building a High-Performance Company

Mark Benioff, Ken Hicks, Walter Robb, Jay Rizzullo, Tom Wyatt, Willow

Salesforce CEO Mark Benioff, Whole Foods Co-CEO Walter Robb, Disney CFO Jay Rizzullo, Foot Locker's Ken Hicks, and Knowledge Universe CEO Tom Wyatt convened to discuss aligning corporate social responsibility with high-performance cultural strategies across their respective enterprises. The panelists detailed how empowering local decision-making, integrating philanthropy into operations, and enforcing ethical transparency have driven talent retention, brand loyalty, and financial resilience despite short-term investment pressures. Looking forward, the group emphasized that future market success depends on leveraging social technologies to rebuild legacy systems and maintaining radical accountability as consumer expectations shift toward ethical business models.

Financial Inclusion: Solutions for the Global 99 Percent

Rapid expansion in impact investing is evident as active funds surpassed 346 and assets exceeded $40 billion in 2011, driven primarily by institutional and public capital rather than retail sources. Emerging financial structures like Social Impact Bonds and the Endeavor Catalyst fund have introduced innovative mechanisms to transfer performance risk to private investors while generating social outcomes in sectors such as criminal justice and entrepreneurship. Despite these advancements, the sector faces significant scaling challenges due to fragmented intermediaries, regulatory hurdles, and a heavy reliance on philanthropic funding, prompting a strategic shift toward standardized measurement and institutional-grade vehicles.