Jonathan Sokoloff
Showing 1–5 of 5 transcripts.
- Milken Institute56 min
A Conversation with Wilbur L. Ross, Jr., Secretary, U.S. Dept. of Commerce | The American Workforce
Wilbur L. Ross, Jr., Gerard Baker, Bernard Harris, Jr., Barbara Humpton, Jonathan Sokoloff, John, Wilbur Ross
The American Workforce Advisory Board, led by Secretary Ross, has secured commitments for 7.5 million apprenticeships to address critical labor gaps caused by a "barbell" demographic and a vocational training deficit. Industry leaders and policymakers are collaborating to shift from a traditional degree-centric model toward merit-based hiring, lifelong retraining, and expanded STEM education to prepare for technological displacement and emerging sectors like space travel. This strategic pivot aims to align the workforce with evolving economic realities by prioritizing digital readiness, soft skills, and streamlined credentialing over obsolete vocational labels.
- Milken Institute59 min
Global Private Equity Outlook
Leslie Picker, Leon Black, Bruce Flatt, Robert Smith, Jonathan Sokoloff, John Sokoloff
Representing a combined $600 billion in assets under management, panelists from Apollo, Brookfield, Vista Equity, and Leonard Green & Partners discussed navigating a market characterized by rising valuations, $1.8 trillion in global dry powder, and a shift toward sponsor-to-sponsor exits. The leaders detailed distinct operational strategies ranging from Apollo's distressed debt focus and Brookfield's permanent capital model to Vista's software specialization, all while rejecting heavy consultant reliance in favor of internal value creation teams. Despite significant fundraising record-breaking activity and a growing international investor base, the group unanimously opposed increased regulation, arguing that their long-term ownership structure offers superior governance and alignment compared to public markets.
- Milken Institute35 min
Creating a 21st Century Workforce: Entrepreneurship, Apprenticeship and Lifelong Learning
Michael Moe, Christine Gulbranson, Badr Jafar, Maysa Jalbout, Abbas Kazmi, Jonathan Sokoloff, Mike Moe, John Sokoloff
A panel of experts and regional leaders convened to address the critical mismatch between the MENA region's young, rapidly growing demographic and its persistently high youth unemployment rates exacerbated by global automation trends. Speakers highlighted strategic pivots toward continuous learning, e-commerce expansion, and women's workforce inclusion, while citing specific initiatives like the Abdallah Al-Ghorair Foundation's support for underserved youth and the University of California System's venture capital pipeline as models for economic transformation. The discussion concluded that overcoming cultural stigmas around failure and integrating corporate governance frameworks are essential to fostering a resilient startup ecosystem capable of generating the net new jobs required for future prosperity.
- Milken Institute1h 3m
Common Sense from Uncommon Investors
Michael Milken, Thomas Barrack, John Calamos Sr., Mitchell Julis, Stephen Schwarzman, Jonathan Sokoloff
Leading Blackstone executives and private equity investors convened to analyze the structural evolution of global capital markets, highlighting a strategic pivot toward service-based consumer portfolios and the critical role of alternative financing in filling gaps left by traditional banking constraints. The panel detailed specific operational successes, including long-term outperformance in real estate and private equity against public indices, while addressing governance models that align owner-operator incentives with sustained job creation and revenue growth. Participants further outlined a forward-looking framework that rejects the permanence of low-interest-rate environments, urging active management and disciplined exit strategies to navigate emerging geopolitical dislocations and inflationary pressures.
- Milken Institute1h 3m
New Directions in Private Equity
Leon Black, David Bonderman, Jonathan Nelson, Jonathan Sokoloff, Scott Sperling, Maria Bartiromo
Despite a 30% drop in private equity deal volume, market leaders like Apollo's Leon Black and TPG's David Bonderman are pivoting from traditional leveraged buyouts to high-growth assets, minority stakes, and distressed opportunities in Europe. While valuations remain stretched due to cheap credit and seller reluctance, firms are prioritizing capital deployment in defensive sectors like media and consumer staples while navigating macroeconomic uncertainty. Panelists anticipate a continued harvest phase over the next 18 months, with capital flows shifting toward customized structures and emerging markets that offer differentiated returns beyond standard GDP growth metrics.