Michael Smith
Showing 1–3 of 3 transcripts.
- Milken Institute30 min
Leading Through Volatility: Strategies for Agility and Resilience | Global Investors' Symposium 2026
Laura Deal Lacey, Rania Al-Mashat, Kenneth Gaw, Michael Smith, Kenny Ga
Panelists at a high-level economic forum analyze how a cascade of geopolitical shocks in early 2026, including US military interventions and strained alliances, has fundamentally altered the global investment landscape. Experts like Kenny Ga and Michael Smith detail a strategic pivot toward diversified "China plus one" industrial real estate, distressed corporate assets in Hong Kong, and infrastructure critical for AI resilience. The discussion concludes that future economic success relies on balancing rapid agility with strategic patience while navigating a multipolar technology environment where energy security and human capital define competitive advantage.
- Milken Institute55 min
Energy Markets: The Year Ahead for Oil, Gas and Renewables
Gregory Zuckerman, Helima Croft, Joshua Harris, Bernard Looney, Michael Smith, Greg Zuckerman
Panelists projected that global oil demand will likely exceed current levels for the next two decades, supported by resilient growth in aviation, marine transport, and petrochemicals despite a forward price curve signaling long-term uncertainty. Strategic shifts are underway as private equity firms acquire distressed shale assets at break-evens between $30 and $60 while companies like BP and Apollo pivot toward midstream infrastructure and natural gas to serve as an essential bridge fuel for grid stability. Geopolitical leverage is simultaneously realigning with U.S. energy independence displacing traditional exporters, forcing major producers to secure captive markets in India and China while navigating significant investment risks in regions like Mexico.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
How the Energy Transformation Will Power the Future
Josh Barro, Robert Armstrong, J. Andrew (Drew) Murphy, Mark Schwartz, Michael Smith
Industry experts project that while global oil demand will peak by 2040 driven by petrochemicals, natural gas will remain the fastest-growing fossil fuel alongside a renewable sector that is rapidly undercutting traditional baseloads. Economic forces are increasingly dictating energy transitions, with falling solar and wind costs enabling corporate adoption and grid modernization efforts, even as political uncertainty and infrastructure risks threaten to slow nuclear retirements and coal-phaseouts. Simultaneously, the sector faces critical challenges in grid stability and storage integration, while long-term technological bets on fusion and advanced batteries aim to address a persistent underinvestment in research and development.