Latest Interviews
Showing 1–11 of 11 transcripts.
Clear all filters- Goldman Sachs31 min
Lloyd Blankfein on His Memoir, Risk Management and Leadership
Lloyd Blankfein, David Solomon
Former Goldman Sachs Chairman and CEO Lloyd Blankfein details his tenure from 2006 to 2018, contrasting the firm's unique partnership culture with post-IPO public market pressures while outlining specific strategies that enabled survival during the 2007–2008 financial crisis. He attributes this resilience to rigorous mark-to-market accounting and a proactive risk-management focus on tail events, rather than predictive foresight, alongside a leadership philosophy centered on "managing down" to foster collective ownership. Blankfein's memoir, "Streetwise," further examines his journey from Brooklyn public housing to Wall Street, the firm's expansion into philanthropy through 10,000 Women, and the deliberate preservation of Goldman Sachs' distinctive internal culture amidst structural evolution.
- Goldman Sachs1h 1m
Danny Meyer: Shaking it Up: Stories of Success from a Disruptor
Danny Meyer, Tim O'Neill, John F.W. Rogers, Kevin McCarthy, Tyler Perry, Sarah Kauss, Wilbur L. Ross, Sara Blakely, Michael Bloomberg, Gina Raimondo, Rick Snyder, Marco Rubio, Lloyd Blankfein, Richard Branson, Warren Buffett
Danny Meyer launched Union Square Cafe in 1985 by applying an "enlightened hospitality" philosophy that prioritizes employee well-being over profit, a strategy that transformed a struggling neighborhood eatery into a cultural icon following a pivotal New York Times review. This approach evolved into the Union Square Hospitality Group, which expanded to include Shake Shack and over 100 locations globally by institutionalizing a culture where leaders act as "culture carriers" and growth is driven by a specific stakeholder hierarchy. Meyer's career demonstrates how maintaining core values while aggressively pruning non-performing assets allows an organization to scale without losing its soul or financial stability.
- Goldman Sachs36 min
A Creative Empire: Tyler Perry's Life Lessons
Tyler Perry, Harvey Schwartz, John F.W. Rogers, Kevin McCarthy, Danny Meyer, Sarah Kauss, Wilbur L. Ross, Sara Blakely, Michael Bloomberg, Gina Raimondo, Rick Snyder, Marco Rubio, Lloyd Blankfein, Richard Branson, Warren Buffett
Tyler Perry leveraged a childhood desire to escape poverty to transition from a struggling playwright with only forty-five acquaintances to the founder of a 330-acre studio empire that rivals Universal and hosts major productions like *Black Panther*. Through seven years of personal reinvestment and the early cultivation of a two-million-person email list, he scaled his work to financial independence before constructing a workplace culture defined by optional prayer and deep respect for his 400 direct staff. Currently, Perry uses the revenue from his commercial "Madea" franchise to fund ambitious artistic visions while maintaining a leadership philosophy centered on faith and the belief that his success serves as a testament to limitless possibilities for future generations.
- Goldman Sachs15 min
Rep. Kevin McCarthy: Standing Up for Small Businesses
Kevin McCarthy, John F.W. Rogers, 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
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican with deep roots in the state's energy and agricultural sectors, outlines his journey from early entrepreneurial ventures to crafting bipartisan legislation like the Jobs Act. He argues that small businesses are the nation's primary job creators and urges owners to build direct, sustained relationships with lawmakers to overcome capital and training hurdles. Drawing on historical symbolism from the Gettysburg Address and Washington Crossing the Delaware, McCarthy concludes by calling for cross-party collaboration to address long-term challenges and forge a more perfect union.
- Goldman Sachs49 min
Rising Tide: How Small Businesses Boost Communities
Senator Chris Coons, Senator Tim Scott, Mike Allen, John F.W. Rogers, Rep. 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
Senator Chris Coons and Senator Tim Scott convened to discuss bipartisan legislative strategies addressing immigration reform, economic competitiveness against global rivals, and sentencing corrections. Drawing from their diverse backgrounds in small business and public service, the pair highlighted their "Investing in Opportunity Act" and a new coalition aimed at revitalizing distressed communities through tax incentives. Looking ahead, they emphasized a shift toward substantive policy negotiations on education and healthcare to improve congressional approval ratings while navigating a polarized political landscape.
- Goldman Sachs13 min
John F.W. Rogers: Opening Session Remarks
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
Goldman Sachs is convening 10,000 Small Business Program alumni, including 2,200 current participants, to address critical operational hurdles such as hiring and financing while leveraging the sector's role in employing 60 million Americans. The summit features a strategic "Hill Day" that mobilizes this diverse network to meet with elected officials across all 50 states and nearly all congressional districts to advocate for legislative relief. By uniting these resource-constrained firms, the event aims to bridge the gap between current business expectations and future capabilities through actionable insights and direct policy engagement.
- Goldman Sachs46 min
Talks at GS – Ron Chernow: Lessons in Leadership – The Unlikely Rise of Ulysses S. Grant
Ron Chernow, Ulysses S. Grant, Lloyd Blankfein
Biographer Ron Chernow reconstructs Ulysses S. Grant's arc from a failed businessman and dismissed officer to a strategic genius who secured Union victory and championed Reconstruction through the Department of Justice. Chernow utilizes Grant's presidency to challenge the "Lost Cause" narrative, highlighting the passage of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments and the unprecedented political representation of African Americans before the era's eventual collapse. While documenting Grant's tragic financial ruin and his unique psychological capacity for calm under fire, the work reframes the general as a modernizing leader whose legacy has surged from historical obscurity to the center of civil rights history.
- 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 Sachs39 min
Archbishop of New York Timothy Dolan and Lloyd Blankfein: Talks at GS Session Highlights
Timothy Dolan, Lloyd Blankfein, Cardinal Timothy Dolan
Archdiocese of New York Archbishop Cardinal Timothy Dolan leads a strategic restructuring that closes 55 parishes and 59 schools to redirect $392 million toward active social services while managing a linguistically diverse flock across three boroughs. Facing tensions between traditional doctrine on marriage and modern pastoral needs, Dolan balances doctrinal integrity with Pope Francis's inclusive approach to ensure the church remains spiritually vibrant despite demographic shifts. Concurrently, he champions religious freedom against government mandates and establishes new communication offices to engage younger generations, aiming to strengthen faith communities by prioritizing dynamic ministry over maintaining vacant facilities.
- Goldman Sachs24 min
Congressman John Lewis & Lloyd Blankfein: Talks at GS Session Highlights
Former civil rights leader John Lewis traces his journey from a sharecropper's son in rural Alabama to a central figure in the 1960s nonviolent movement, detailing his collaboration with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and pivotal events such as the Freedom Rides, the 1963 March on Washington, and the 1965 "Bloody Sunday" confrontation in Selma. These struggles directly catalyzed landmark federal legislation including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which Lewis credits for enabling the presidencies of Carter, Clinton, and Obama while warning that the unfinished work of racial and LGBTQ+ justice demands continued vigilance against modern legal setbacks.
- Goldman Sachs48 min
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.