Milken Institute Global Conference 2026

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• This conversation will bring together some of the world’s most influential philanthropic institutions to examine how philanthropies can protect their ability to operate—where they’re most vulnerable, and how to sustain trust and legitimacy. Our speakers will highlight new partnership models beyond traditional grantmaking, including how to engage more effectively across foundations, families, and individual philanthropists. The discussion will include candid reflections on big bets—what’s worked, what hasn’t, and how those experiences are shaping strategy going forward.

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• Philanthropy’s power extends far beyond financial capital. In an era defined by complexity and urgency, foundations and donors possess a suite of often underleveraged assets—brand credibility, convening power, domain expertise, and privileged access to decision-makers—that can shape markets, influence policy, and mobilize collective action. Leading philanthropists and foundations are strategically deploying these non-financial assets to de-risk innovation, unlock cross-sector partnerships, and drive outcomes that far exceed what grantmaking alone can achieve. The conversation will challenge participants to think beyond the checkbook and consider how the full weight of their influence can be brought to bear in service of durable impact.

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• Philanthropy is at an inflection point—shaped by emerging technologies, shifting power dynamics, new models of collaboration and expectations for impact. This highly interactive session will invite funders to imagine the landscape a decade from now. We will begin with a short conversation with two global philanthropists sharing their visions for the future of giving—what inspires them and how philanthropy must evolve to remain relevant and effective. Participants will then engage in facilitated small-group work to co-create a “preferred future state” for global philanthropy in 2036. Through collaborative exercises, attendees will identify the values, innovations, and shifts they hope will define the field, along with practical implications for how funders can begin preparing for it now. This session is designed not just to forecast change, but to help shape it.

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• The Milken Institute is pleased to invite registered media members to attend a private reception to connect with select team experts for engaging conversation and enjoy light refreshments in a relaxing environment as we get ready to kick off an exciting Global Conference.

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• This session convenes members of the Feeding Change Business Council to discuss timely topics related to food systems.

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• This meeting brings together the FasterCures Advisory Groups—including the Board, Business Council, and Changemakers nonprofit advisory council—to discuss timely topics across the biomedical research ecosystem.

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• This annual gathering of leaders at the Global Conference will focus on policy priorities, investments, and approaches to regulation that can drive economic growth, strategic competitiveness, and financial innovation. This off-the-record session will bring together government officials and business leaders for an informative, candid dialogue focused on solutions to some of today’s most pressing economic challenges.

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• Europe's defense competitiveness initiative represents one of the most significant capital reallocation stories of this decade. The question is not whether Europe will invest in its security—geopolitical reality has already answered that. The issues that still matter are: How efficiently will this capital be deployed? Will it strengthen European economic competitiveness or simply transfer wealth? And can Europe build a defense industrial base that is both sovereign and interoperable, both innovative and scaled? The answers will shape not just European security, but the global investment landscape for the next generation.

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• Experiencing impact firsthand can transform how—and where—philanthropists give. This session will explore place-based and experiential philanthropy, from family site visits and local field projects to peer-designed learning journeys that deepen community understanding and inspire more strategic, trust-based giving. Through practical examples, speakers will show how immersive, locally rooted experiences shape values, inform place-based investment, and strengthen family and board engagement. This conversation will highlight how philanthropy, grounded in proximity and sustained local commitment, can drive more responsive, equitable, and purpose-driven impact.

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• Although home to leading research institutions and a highly educated workforce, Europe has fallen behind the United States and China in commercializing breakthrough technologies and scaling innovative companies. The productivity gap continues to widen, with European tech firms struggling to access the capital needed to compete globally. Against this backdrop, the EU's newly launched Competitiveness Initiative aims to mobilize public and private investment to reverse the trend. This session brings together leading investors, policymakers, and tech entrepreneurs to examine what's holding Europe back—and what it will take to unlock the continent's innovation potential.

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• This annual welcome brunch, hosted by Milken Institute Health and presented by Braidwell, convenes senior leaders and stakeholders across biomedical innovation, longevity, public health, and food systems.

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• This annual gathering of leaders at the Global Conference will bring together diverse perspectives to discuss the latest trends and current balance of innovation, competition, and security in the advanced technology space. This off-the-record session will include discussion on artificial intelligence’s impact on the economy, its associated workforce, and energy-related challenges, as well as the strategic imperative for maintaining global leadership through the scaling up of cyber power and digital capacity.

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• Multigenerational giving is a journey, not an event. As families grow and evolve, so do their values, worldviews, and approaches to creating an impact. How can families effectively navigate cross-generational dynamics with intention—strengthening legacy, aligning purpose, and deepening impact? This intimate roundtable conversation will explore practical strategies that families can take to build an enduring philanthropic legacy across generations, as well as ways to address the challenges that arise along the way.

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• In this annual series of fireside chats, VIPs and C-suite representatives from among the world’s leading asset-owners and asset-management firms gather in a casual setting to join in open dialogue.

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• This session will examine the strategic opportunities and challenges in financing Europe's next generation of infrastructure. As the continent pursues ambitious goals around digital connectivity, energy security, and supply chain resilience, panelists will explore how public and private capital can effectively mobilize to support transformative projects. The discussion will address innovative financing mechanisms, risk mitigation strategies, and the regulatory frameworks needed to attract institutional investors while ensuring projects deliver both financial returns and broader societal benefits.

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• This annual gathering of leaders at Global Conference will examine opportunities for accelerating advances in health across the health-care continuum. Advancing health requires fostering alignment and collaboration among the sectors that influence health, addressing areas where innovation and impact are needed (e.g., health financing, food systems, disease prevention, biomedical research, technology and data) and spreading solutions that lead to efficient, sustainable, and equitable systems. During this off-the-record session, health leaders will discuss barriers to resolve, lessons learned, and novel steps that can be taken to improve the health of people and communities.

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• Join a candid fireside conversation with high-profile philanthropists and celebrities who are making a meaningful impact through giving. These changemakers will share their personal journeys, what motivates them to give, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Participants will hear firsthand how these figures approach cause selection, partnerships, and strategy, as well as the challenges and joys of using their platform and resources for social good. The discussion offers inspiration, practical takeaways, and a rare glimpse into the mindset of some of philanthropy’s most influential changemakers.

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• Macroeconomic forces are shaping today’s business environment, from labor markets and trade flows to geopolitical risk and monetary and fiscal policy. These interconnected factors are influencing investment decisions, capital allocation, supply-chain strategies, and long-term competitiveness. Key structural shifts—such as demographic change, technological adoption, and evolving regulatory frameworks—are reframing perspectives on productivity, resilience, and sustainable growth. This session will highlight how leading global corporations are balancing short-term volatility with long-term value creation in an increasingly complex and fragmented global economy.

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• In today's volatile investment landscape, asset owners face unprecedented challenges as traditional relationships between asset classes break down and geopolitical tensions reshape global markets. This panel explores practical strategies for developing truly resilient portfolios that can thrive amid uncertainty. We'll examine critical questions facing institutional investors: How can they safely navigate an environment in which governments, driven by security imperatives, have returned to mercantilism and heightened state intervention, especially in a period of high geopolitical risk? With asset valuations universally elevated, what frameworks enable sound capital allocation decisions when historical correlations may no longer hold?

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• This session examines whether the global economy has entered a structurally different interest rate regime and how that shift is reshaping capital allocation and cross-border flows worldwide. Persistent inflation, constraints on monetary policy, and tradeoffs in growth across developed and emerging markets will be discussed, with a forward focus on policy divergence, fiscal sustainability, and implications for global liquidity. The discussion will link central bank strategy to portfolio risk, duration management, and asset valuation, while assessing how regulatory reform, balance sheet discipline, and corporate governance changes in major economies are redirecting global capital flows across public and private markets. Investors will evaluate regional regime dispersion, the repricing of real assets, equities, and credit, and where capital is likely to concentrate or retreat as portfolios adapt to a more fragmented, higher volatility global macro environment.

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• The global innovation landscape is shifting in real time. West Coast velocity, product engineering, and venture-building are converging with the Middle East’s patient capital, energy advantage, and sovereign capacity to form a new strategic corridor. Anchored by Washington DC’s policy of reduced regulatory influence, this convergence is channeling capital, expertise, and talent in ways that are reshaping markets and fueling economic growth. This session will bring together founders, investors, and policymakers to turn momentum into action across deep tech, financial products, AI and data centers, health care, education, and public–private partnerships. The discussion will focus on execution: capital formation, talent mobility, regulatory frameworks, and security and resilience. The objective is to identify deployable opportunities, drive job creation, expand economic diversification, and deliver globally competitive products at scale.

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• The pace and complexity of the evolving healthcare landscape demand financing models that are more collaborative and resilient than those that depend primarily on government funding. As demand for research and founder talent grows, science R&D is being reshaped by new actors, new incentives, and new capital structures. How can public- and private-sector partners build financing models that keep high-impact R&D moving from early-stage discovery to translation and adoption? What partnerships, pooled vehicles, and incentive structures can support young scientists, help doctors and hospitals deliver higher standards of care, sustain research capacity, leverage technology, and turn breakthroughs into real impact worldwide?

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• Pension reforms and shifting regulatory frameworks are transforming how institutional investors across Latin America deploy capital, heralding a new era of global diversification and alternative-asset allocation. In Mexico, updates to the Afore investment regime are expanding strategies, modernizing governance standards, and enabling greater participation in private markets and cross-border vehicles. In Chile, AFPs are developing their mandates, risk guidelines, and long-term sustainability objectives. These changes are deepening capital markets, strengthening the LP ecosystem, and creating a pool of long-duration capital for global partners. This session will examine how regulatory modernization is reshaping LP behavior, what global GPs must understand to engage effectively, and why Latin America’s institutional capital could soon become a major force in global private investment.

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• As countries, companies, and investors around the world pursue ambitious energy transition and sustainable infrastructure goals, the need for new strategies to accelerate capital deployment and deal flow has never been more pressing. With public sector commitments at COPs stalled due to geopolitics, new, investor-led alliances are emerging to scale up investable project pipelines, overcome de-risking challenges, and lift innovation from the bottom up. This session will bring together regionally diverse investors and asset managers to develop public policy and private collaboration recommendations on accelerating climate capital deployment, to be brought forward at COP31 and the 2026 G20 meeting. This session is part of a series of workshops held by the Milken Institute in 2026 to shape an investor-focused view of what a “Brazil and Beyond” roadmap should contain.

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• Annual meeting for Pathways to Capital stakeholders, partners, and financial supporters to discuss new opportunities for partnership and program growth.

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• Private credit has evolved from a fast-growing niche into a $3 trillion-plus global asset class, reshaping how companies access capital and how institutional investors deploy capital to meet yield and diversification goals. At the same time, increased scrutiny around liquidity, valuations, and borrower quality has sharpened the focus on underwriting discipline. This session will explore how deployment conditions are evolving, how competition with syndicated markets is shaping structures and pricing, and how growing institutional participation is influencing market dynamics. It will also examine how private credit managers and their investors are navigating the current environment, and whether recent turbulence reflects a cyclical correction or more systemic stress.

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• The meaning of “readiness” is being rewritten in real time, as today’s militaries must deter near-peer adversaries, defend critical infrastructure from relentless cyberattacks, and reconstitute an overstretched industrial base. Increasingly, tools are built not by traditional prime contractors, but by a new generation of venture-backed defense startups. This session brings together senior cyber leaders, founders of cutting-edge defense tech companies, investors backing the new arsenal of democracy, and former commanders who have led forces in complex theaters. Together, they’ll explore how AI, autonomy technology, and next-gen manufacturing are reshaping military power. This panel will explore what it will take for government, industry, and capital to ensure the U.S. and its allies are truly prepared for the conflicts of the 2030s and beyond.

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• As China transitions to a more subdued, but sustainable growth path, investors are shifting from broad macro narratives toward sectors with clearer earnings visibility, innovation capacity, and global competitiveness. Advanced manufacturing, AI, semiconductors, electric vehicles, and biotech continue to anchor productivity gains and export resilience. At the same time, the consumer economy is undergoing a more nuanced structural shift, shaped by evolving domestic demand, brand maturation, and changes in consumption patterns. Increasingly, Chinese companies are not only strengthening their position at home but also expanding their presence in global markets. In this evolving landscape, which industries and business models are best positioned to deliver durable profitability and sustained market share gains? How should global capital think about allocating across China’s next generation of growth drivers?

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• From the playing field to the digital arena, the US sports management and administration ecosystem has crossed over to a game-changing model. This panel brings together top investors, team owners, and athletes to explore the forces reshaping the industry and creating new opportunities for growth. Panelists will tackle the disruptive impact of blockchain, data analytics, e-sports, and sports gambling, while highlighting the explosive rise of women’s sports and NIL rights—opening new avenues for athlete empowerment and strategic investment. Discover how these trends are revolutionizing fan engagement, driving new revenue streams, and redefining the future of global sports.

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• Higher interest rates have fundamentally changed how private equity assets are priced, financed, and exited. Panelists will examine how valuation discipline, bid-ask spreads, and liquidity constraints are reshaping value creation as leverage becomes more expensive and exits more selective. These experts will discuss how firms are underwriting growth, managing duration, and sequencing liquidity across IPOs, secondaries, continuation vehicles, and partial exits. The conversation will focus on price discovery, capital recycling, and how private equity returns are generated when markets are less forgiving. How are firms bridging valuation gaps in today’s market? Which liquidity paths are proving most reliable in a higher-rate regime?

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• As research increasingly shows that chronic pain, illness, and anxiety can stem from a dysregulated nervous system, there is a growing need for effective tools to shift from fight-or-flight into rest and repair. For more than twenty years, Nicole Sachs has helped individuals recover from chronic symptoms and conditions. Whether you experience back or body pain, migraines, gut issues, fatigue, or neuropathy, you may be surprised by the extent to which you can influence your physical and emotional well-being. Join Nicole to explore evidence-based practices that can meaningfully improve your health and quality of life.

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• Come spend time with our adorable furry friends and experience the joy they bring. Whether you're looking for a playful companion or simply hoping to make a new connection, you just might meet the perfect puppy to welcome into your home.

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• From real-time economic data and polling to futures markets and prediction platforms, new forms of decision intelligence are changing how we interpret uncertainty, assess risk, and act. Across media, sports, financial markets, and consumer platforms, these tools are shaping how judgment is formed and how consumers and institutions respond to new information. This conversation brings together leaders from prediction platforms, financial markets, sportsbooks, and media to examine whether new sources of decision intelligence can outperform conventional signals, reveal what others miss, and help us navigate uncertainty with greater speed and confidence. In doing so, it asks a broader question: how is innovation changing not just what we know, but how do we know it?

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• Breakthroughs in biomedicine, climate science, and space exploration are reshaping our understanding of life on Earth and beyond. This panel brings together leaders from major science funding organizations to explore how large-scale philanthropy and investment can accelerate discovery across disciplines, from the molecular mechanisms of disease to climate systems and the cosmos. Panelists will discuss how funders can take bold risks, support interdisciplinary collaboration, build durable scientific infrastructure, and translate discovery into real-world impact. The session will also explore how coordinated funding strategies can unlock faster, more equitable, and more transformative scientific progress.

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• Private markets are entering a new phase where the ability to move, price and manage assets more dynamically could meaningfully expand opportunities for investors. While today’s market structure has supported significant growth, it also limits liquidity, flexibility, and portfolio construction in ways that may not persist. This invitation-only discussion will convene senior leaders to explore what a more dynamic and modernized alternatives market could enable. Senior leaders will share perspectives on how evolving infrastructure could support more efficient movement and optimization of assets, with the session centered on the investor lens: how greater flexibility, liquidity and connectivity could reshape strategies, unlock opportunities and influence capital deployment. Designed to be interactive and forward-looking, the discussion will give participants the opportunity to exchange views on where the market is heading, what becomes possible as constraints evolve and what it will take

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• Corporate philanthropy is evolving on two timelines at once: responding to immediate community needs, while building the structures, partnerships, and data required for long-term impact. In this conversation, leaders will explore what’s driving short-term decision-making today—economic pressures, stakeholder expectations, reputation—and how they are simultaneously planning for their long-term future as community partners and social impact leaders.

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• Amid a shifting geopolitical backdrop, countries across the Middle East are demonstrating how resilience—economic, institutional and societal— can be embedded into growth strategies. From adaptive supply chains and digital infrastructure to coordinated government support and long-term capital deployment, the region is maintaining momentum while navigating acute uncertainty. This session brings together leaders from government, investment, and industry to explore how resilience is being operationalized in practice. How are institutions ensuring continuity under pressure? What role do sovereign investors and policy frameworks play in supporting stability and confidence? And how are businesses, governments, and communities converting the pressures of today into the competitive advantages of tomorrow?

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• For the Asia Pacific nations, 2025 was especially challenging economically. The Liberation Day announcement and subsequent tariffs put a damper on exports to the US and capital flows. In this macro-environment, investors discuss the impact of tariffs on economic activity and pinpoint the sectors that have experienced greater than expected growth. This private session also spotlights key countries and sectors that have benefited from reconstituted global supply chains and new cross-border arrangements. This raises the important question: Given the continuing uncertainty around tariffs, where, among the Asia Pacific’s diverse markets and sectors, do the most promising opportunities lie?

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• In a business environment defined by rapid technological change, shifting consumer and regulatory expectations, and increasing global complexity, legacy enterprises across industries—from retail and media to automotive, health care, and beyond—face a common challenge: how to modernize and grow without sacrificing their brand identity and hard‑earned legacy. This session convenes leaders who are leading ambitious transformation agendas: rethinking supply chains and omnichannel retail, reinventing distribution, navigating mobility disruption, and integrating digital innovation across traditional operations. This session explores how to balance legacy and innovation, drive operational and cultural change, manage stakeholder expectations, and position their companies for long‑term relevance and resilient growth.

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• A new generation of breakthrough technologies is opening new territory for health investing, from AI-accelerated discovery and development to multimodal data platforms, next-generation diagnostics, and innovative care models. These advances are creating opportunities to build entirely new categories of solutions – but the industry is facing FDA uncertainty, pricing policies, and tariffs, all simultaneously. This session will spotlight the innovations poised to define the next decade of opportunity across the health ecosystem, and what will be needed to foster them.

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• As portfolios increasingly combine public markets with private credit, real assets, and multi-strategy solutions, multi-asset management is shifting static allocation toward active portfolio design. This panel examines how investors and managers integrate alternatives as core building blocks within multi-asset portfolios, balancing return objectives, liquidity needs, and risk across market cycles. Panelists will discuss how alternatives function as tools for income generation, downside protection, and structural resilience. The conversation will explore risk budgeting, portfolio flexibility at different scales, and how managers' size exposures when liquidity, volatility, and correlations behave differently than in traditional asset classes. The session highlights how scale, specialization, and platform design shape portfolio construction decisions in today’s more complex investment environment.

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• In a moment of profound transformation across media and technology, Laurene Powell Jobs, Founder and President, Emerson Collective, and Darren Walker, President and CEO, Anonymous Content, come together for a timely conversation on the power of storytelling. As streaming platforms and shifting economic models redefine the creative industries, these two leaders will share their perspectives on how to preserve artistic integrity and expand access.

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• As rapid technological advancement, shifting trade dynamics, and mounting infrastructure demands reshape the American economy, the path to sustaining the United States’ economic edge has reached a new inflection point. Join us to hear from industry and government leaders as they tackle the priorities at the center of this challenge—investing in AI and emerging technologies, upskilling the workforce to meet future demand, and modernizing the critical infrastructure underpinning US economic resilience.

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• Global health security is increasingly recognized as a foundational pillar of economic resilience and national security in an interconnected world. Fragile health systems amplify systemic risk—disrupting markets, undermining workforce productivity, and exacerbating geopolitical instability—while strong, well-financed health systems function as essential infrastructure for long-term stability and growth. This session will explore the case for sustained investment in global health systems, including health infrastructure, community health workers, and resilient supply chains, alongside the need for expanded and diversified financing that mobilizes public, private, and blended capital. Bringing together senior leaders from government, finance, and industry, the discussion will examine how strategic health investments can reduce global risk, strengthen preparedness, and safeguard economic and security interests across borders.

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• As interest rates remain structurally higher and geopolitical uncertainty reshapes capital flows, investors across private equity, credit, and institutional portfolios are recalibrating how capital is deployed into the real economy. This conversation examines how macro conditions are translating into deal activity, credit dispersion, and sector-level investment opportunities. From middle-market resilience and AI-driven productivity shifts to opportunistic credit and evolving deal structures, investors will share how they are navigating volatility while identifying the next wave of capital deployment.

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• Global business leaders are operating at the intersection of intensifying geopolitical competition, rapid technological disruption, accelerating energy challenges and a reordering of strategic trade relationships. Ongoing conflicts, expanding economic statecraft, and the fragmentation of global markets are reshaping investment flows, supply chains, and redefining risk across sectors. During this convening of the Geo-Economics Leadership Network, the discussion will explore how organizations are adapting their strategies to recalibrate investment decisions—to build resilience and create opportunity in an increasingly complex and multipolar world.

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• In an industry increasingly driven by scale, speed, and shifting metrics, Elisabeth Moss and Warren Littlefield offer a perspective grounded in long-term creative investment and disciplined collaboration. Drawing on their work together on The Handmaid's Tale and beyond, they will explore the tension between long-term creative investment and short-term performance metrics, and why the future of television may belong to fewer, more impactful series rather than volume-driven strategies. At the core of the conversation is the value of strong alignment between showrunner, producer, and talent—and how these partnerships enable projects that endure beyond short-term performance cycles.

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• The human brain is at the intersection of science, technology, public fascination, and investment. As science illuminates the brain’s complexity, what we are learning is opening possibilities unimaginable a decade ago. Billions of dollars are flowing into brain research and neurotechnology, and the returns are starting to show up in medicine, in the spaces we design, the devices we wear, and the entertainment we consume. This session brings together innovators applying neuroscience in new and unexpected places, including architecture, technology, entertainment, and design. Panelists will explore how our growing understanding of the brain is already changing everyday life and how today’s momentum can be channeled into lasting advances in human potential.

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• One of Hollywood's most celebrated actors—as well as director and screenwriter—John Turturro brings a deeply personal lens to a conversation on mental health. For decades, John has been a steadfast advocate—shaped profoundly by his experience of having a brother who lived with mental illness. In this intimate fireside chat, Turturro reflects on the human cost of untreated mental illness, the gaps in our care systems, and what genuine compassion look like when the stakes are highest.

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• Join us for a conversation with Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, on the evolving intersection of nuclear governance and international security—from non-proliferation and energy security to the role of advanced technologies and global cooperation in an increasingly complex strategic landscape.

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• The commodity and derivatives markets are rooted deep in real-world assets: energy, crops, and minerals. Today, these markets are at a new digital inflection point, undergoing a structural reset, with innovations such as digital assets, prediction markets, and perpetuals taking on new prominence. Join us as Chairman Michael Selig discusses the Commission's priorities to foster innovation, ensure market integrity, and navigate the rapidly evolving market landscape.

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• Hosted by the Lifetime Financial Security Program, this cocktail reception will gather leaders and experts focused on financial education, long-term financial security, global financial health issues, and innovations in retirement planning. This gathering offers a unique opportunity to connect with peers and engage in meaningful discussions around the US and global financial security landscape.

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• What does it mean to live a life of faith in an era defined by uncertainty and accelerating change? For many, faith is not a relic of the past but a living resource, a source of strength, moral clarity, and enduring community. In this conversation, panelists reflect on their personal journeys and examine how faith traditions continue to orient, sustain, and connect us in a world that often pulls us apart.

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• Artificial intelligence and modern data infrastructure are reshaping how financial institutions analyze markets, allocate capital, and operate at scale. In this session participants will explore how AI is driving productivity in data-intensive financial workflows, enabling new products and investment platforms, and accelerating the convergence of technology, financial services, and capital markets. Business leaders will discuss how firms are modernizing data architecture, unlocking value from proprietary data, and building the next generation of financial infrastructure.

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• After more than a decade of rapid growth, private markets continue to evolve as investors navigate shifting market dynamics. Allocations have grown significantly, exit activity remains uneven, and competition for capital and deals is intensifying as the industry continues to scale. How are institutional investors approaching portfolio construction and liquidity management in this environment? What opportunities are emerging across private markets? As the field becomes more crowded and competitive, what characteristics will distinguish the managers and strategies best positioned for long-term success? This roundtable of leading asset owners will present opinions on the challenges and opportunities shaping private markets today.

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• India’s economy grew by an impressive 7.6 percent across fiscal year 2025/26, and carried with it strong momentum into 2026/27. How India managed to overcome macroeconomic and political challenges is testament to pro-growth policy reforms, robust domestic consumption, and business investments that have buoyed resilient growth and strengthened investor confidence. In this discussion, speakers will discuss the activities and efforts to deepen structural reforms, enhance high-value technological innovations, and attract capital to maintain strong growth and long-term opportunities. What are the drivers underpinning India’s growth story, and how durable are they against lingering global challenges? What will define the next phase of India’s economic development, and where are the most compelling areas of opportunity?

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• With food systems under growing pressure from weather, economic, and trade disruptions, leaders need more than cut-and-dried solutions. They need clarity on what works, why it matters, and how to make it happen. This private session will bring together experts to explore how to effectively communicate the value of sustainable and regenerative food practices, identify financing approaches that support real-world implementation, and define measurable impact. Participants will engage in candid discussions on strategies that help producers, companies, and investors build resilient, climate-smart systems that benefit both communities and the environment.

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• Join the Inclusive Capitalism Executive Council for a high‑level dialogue among senior leaders across finance, policy, and industry. This session will explore how policy, talent, and capital, working together, can shape a more inclusive and effective investment landscape. Participants will exchange practical strategies to expand opportunity, strengthen talent and capital pipelines, and ensure representation across the value chain. The conversation will emphasize actionable solutions and shared accountability in building a resilient, equitable, and forward‑looking economy.

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• Supply- and demand-side opportunities remain plentiful throughout the Asia Pacific. From strategic value chains and production hubs to growing consumer markets and digital adoption, the region offers multiple avenues for companies and investors to enhance their economic activities and drive innovation across different sectors. Even so, contending with global macroeconomic uncertainty remains a constant challenge and presents several downside risks. What are the make-or-break priorities for companies and government administrations in today's uncertain climate? How are they navigating risks and driving a culture of innovation and growth?

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• US real estate is undergoing a broad repricing as higher financing costs and constrained credit reshape valuations across sectors and regions. This discussion will explore where pricing is beginning to stabilize, how refinancing risk and lender selectivity are influencing transaction activity, and how debt markets are shaping the next phase of the cycle. It also will consider how AI and technology shifts, from evolving workplace models to rising data center demand and smart building efficiencies, are redefining asset performance and long-term capital allocation decisions. Where are investors finding conviction as capital, technology, and fundamentals begin to realign?

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• Enduring investment success is rarely defined by market timing and often determined by mindset. This conversation brings together long-term capital stewards to reflect on how founder-led thinking, disciplined governance, and principled capital allocation enable institutions to compound value across cycles. Drawing on lessons from past episodes of volatility and transformation, panelists will explore how conviction forms, how risk is assessed when consensus breaks down, and how organizations preserve integrity, alignment, and long-term purpose despite uncertainty. At a time when markets reward speed but punish impatience, what does it mean to be a responsible steward of capital? How do institutions balance ambition with discipline to build durable value that lasts beyond any single cycle?

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• As the expectations placed on today's corporate leaders continue to expand, executives are redefining what it means to lead in an era when the competitive landscape is being restructured by AI, global complexity, and evolving stakeholder demands. This session will explore how leaders across technology, finance, and communications are leveraging digital platforms and emerging technologies to drive transformation across strategy, operations, culture, and customer experience. It will examine how they are navigating critical market shifts, balancing the promise of AI-driven opportunity with the realities of geopolitical uncertainty, all while sustaining lasting growth, trust, and value for both stakeholders and shareholders alike.

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• From its early origins as a cypherpunk application maintained by hobbyists, crypto has risen to the multi trillion-dollar global market we know today. With the rise of stablecoins, new platforms, and protocols, much of crypto’s complexity is being abstracted away into invisible infrastructure, aspiring to be the next set of default rails powering our financial system. Join us at this critical juncture in the development of the digital financial system, as we convene architects building our financial future.

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• With over 137 million Americans living in mental health professional shortage areas, many people wait months for care, struggle to afford treatment, or cycle through multiple providers. Despite progress in mental health awareness, the field lacks the patient data and coordination that a proactive, sustainable care system requires. With better data and greater coordination across the system, we can deliver the right care at the right time and improve equitable access. Leaders from clinical systems, philanthropy, policy, and health technology will discuss what is needed to improve mental health care.

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• The international security landscape is being reshaped not just by geopolitical shifts, but by an unprecedented convergence of military modernization, industrial capacity, and private capital. This session brings together frontline experts to examine how security capabilities are being redefined in an era where deterrence depends as much on technological advancements—AI, autonomy, space, cyber—as on budget toplines. Join us to explore how public and private actors are building resilient production ecosystems that advance technological innovation while also fostering alliance-building amid an ever-changing world order.

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• A Sound Bath is a deeply relaxing, restorative experience using specially tuned vibrational instruments. The tones and frequencies help calm the nervous system, restore balance in the body, and promote a sense of energetic alignment and expanded awareness. Benefits of a Sound Bath may include reduced stress, relief from anxiety and tension, improved mood, and an overall sense of peace and well-being.

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• Artificial intelligence is ushering in a new industrial era, one defined not just by breakthrough models, but by the full stack of infrastructure, systems, and human ingenuity required to bring them to life. As industries race to integrate intelligence into their operations, AI is reshaping how companies compete, how work gets done, and where value is created. At the same time, it is elevating the role of people, shifting human effort toward higher-value work including designing intelligent systems, guiding decision-making, and unlocking new forms of creativity and scientific discovery. In this conversation, NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang will share his vision for the full-stack AI revolution, from GPUs to applications, the role of American leadership in shaping this future, and how human innovation will remain central to translating rapid technological progress into sustained economic growth and global competitiveness.

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• They dominated their sports for decades. Now they’re writing new playbooks for business. Tom Brady and Shaquille O’Neal have built diversified empires that extend far beyond sport. Each has transformed their cultural relevancy into long-term enterprise value. Brady through his co-ownership of eMed and his collaborative relationship with Merrick Ventures Chairman and CEO Michael Ferro and O’Neal through his strategic partnership with Authentic Brands Group Chairman and CEO Jamie Salter. This conversation breaks down how discipline, team-building, and an obsession with winning translate from professional athletics to entrepreneurship, investing, and building lasting brands.

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• Hosted by Invest in Canada, this exclusive cocktail reception will convene a select group of global investors, business leaders, and strategic partners for an evening focused on Canada’s evolving investment landscape. Bringing together those already investing in Canada—as well as those actively exploring opportunities—this gathering offers a unique opportunity to connect with peers and engage in conversation around the trends, sectors, and policy dynamics shaping Canada’s role as a destination for long-term capital.

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• Join us for an exclusive cocktail reception gathering a special group of supporters, speakers, and guests involved in Australia's finance, government, and technology sectors.

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• Europe is a continent on the move. From the Draghi Report to a new German government investing boldly in infrastructure, from France's leading role in AI to the UK's renewed industrial ambitions, European policymakers, entrepreneurs, and investors are making the case to global capital: choose Europe. Join us for an evening of conversation on Europe's opportunity as a destination for global investment, innovation, and growth.

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• Milken Institute Africa, in partnership with BGR Group, will host a private dinner for Africa stakeholders and members of our Africa Leadership Council as we kick off the 2026 Global Conference. This exclusive gathering will bring together key business leaders and investors to discuss leading priorities for Africa and the Milken Institute's engagement on the continent.

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• In conjunction with Global Conference, on the evening of Monday, May 4, Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy will host its annual Community Dinner. This engaging gathering convenes philanthropists and heads of foundations, together with social-impact leaders and innovators. The evening offers a moment both reflective and celebratory, centering on the vital role philanthropy plays in building and empowering communities. Following an informal dinner and conversation, the program will feature a fireside-style chat spotlighting a notable changemaker and the vision, mission, and impact driving their work.

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• A conversation exploring the geopolitical, economic, and historical forces shaping today’s global landscape.

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• Entering 2026, global investors confronted a fragmented landscape disrupted by divergent monetary policies, uneven policy credibility, and shifting centers of economic leadership. This opening plenary examines how uncertainties around the Federal Reserve, inflation trajectories, fiscal pressures, and geopolitical risk are reshaping currencies, real rates, and cross-border capital flows on a global scale. The panelists, all leaders in finance, will discuss where capital is moving, how confidence is formed or lost in major economies, and how policy divergence is influencing global financial conditions. The conversation will frame the macro forces shaping markets and the implications for global stability and long-term capital health.

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• Since the installation of a transitional government, Venezuela has entered a period that will shape its own trajectory along with the wider region’s prospects for democratic renewal, institutional rebuilding, and inclusive growth. The central issue is confidence: Can the post‑Maduro transition deliver credible rule of law, durable property and creditor protections, and institutional continuity strong enough to anchor long‑term commitments rather than tactical, opportunistic plays? Panelists will situate Venezuela’s reconstruction and reintegration at the center of Latin America’s next chapter—from energy security and supply chains to migration and human capital. The question to be resolved is whether this opening can rebuild trust, catalyze strategic capital, and support the return and empowerment of talent both at home and across the region.

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• Despite turbulent economic conditions, the real estate industry is experiencing a period of immense opportunity across the US. The explosion of data centers, a resurgence in office and retail space, and momentum in logistics and AI infrastructure, create a unique environment for investors. How have these opportunities impacted capital flow into real estate? In this off-the-record session, investors and industry leaders will discuss emerging trends, opportunities, and challenges in real estate, and will share their thoughts on how the industry will develop over the next several years.

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• Health care is in a period of structural change, driven by scientific advances, new technologies, and growing pressure on health-care systems. This opening plenary will focus on the ways that investment decisions in care delivery, life sciences, and technology are shaping the ability of those systems to deliver better outcomes and value. Panelists will discuss how these choices influence population health outcomes, health system performance, and global competitiveness in the years ahead.

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• Americans’ hope for the future has fallen to a new low. In 2025, just 59 percent said they expected their lives to be better five years in the future, the lowest level recorded in nearly two decades of polling. At a moment marked by retreating public funding, geopolitical instability, and deepening inequality, confidence in the future is fraying. Philanthropy cannot afford business as usual and must step in to help build a prosperous future. This conversation convenes leaders from institutional philanthropy, corporate foundations, impact investing, venture philanthropy, and purpose-driven companies to discern how capital must evolve and align to meet this moment. If hope is declining, how can philanthropy help rebuild it?

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• Come join us as we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with a vibrant journey through its musical history. We’ll open the evening with an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at the birth of our nation, featuring hit songs from Hamilton , performed by select members of the touring Chicago cast. From there, we’ll transition into a dynamic mashup showcasing America’s rich contributions to the world of music: from legendary Motown artists to Bruce Springsteen. Come celebrate this milestone anniversary and America's rich legacy of music. Arrive early—the first 100 guests will receive a limited-edition Milken Institute Late Night Hamilton Experience Playbill.

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• The Wellness Garden is a sanctuary, offering attendees a space to pause and recharge between sessions. Attendees engage in grounding workshops, skill-building sessions, and immersive mind-body experiences—from expert-led meditation, reiki, sound baths, and massages to innovative offerings like biohacking and next-gen mind-tech. Blending time-honored healing traditions with emerging wellness practices, the Wellness Garden creates meaningful opportunities to recharge, learn, and reconnect at the heart of the conference.

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• For millions of Americans, the promise of economic mobility—stable housing, wealth-building opportunities, and pathways to capital—remains out of reach. In this fireside conversation, join us to hear HUD Secretary Scott Turner discuss how federal policy can close the gap between aspiration and access, and rebuild the path to the American Dream.

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• At a defining moment for American science and technology, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) sits at the intersection of innovation, policy, and national strategy. Join us to hear Director Michael Kratsios address OSTP's priorities, strategies to advance America’s AI Action Plan, and share his vision for keeping American innovation at the forefront of the technologies shaping our global future.

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• State leaders are increasingly at the forefront of driving the nation’s economic competitiveness. Join us to hear from Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer on key policy priorities, including creating jobs, lowering costs, and building the infrastructure and workforce needed to sustain America’s economic edge—drawing on lessons from one of the most consequential manufacturing states in the country.

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• History often serves as a powerful teacher, helping to shape society’s responses to modern-day dilemmas. In 1929 , Andrew Ross Sorkin draws on eight years of research and newly uncovered archival material to reconstruct the crash not as an abstraction, but as a human drama—driven by overconfidence, unchecked ambition, and a financial system that rewarded risk until it suddenly didn't. He masterfully takes us behind the curtain of Wall Street, inside the minds of the day’s most powerful financiers and influencers, and toward a better understanding of how turning to yesterday’s blunders can inform today’s decisionmakers. What does the greatest market crash in history have to teach us about how we look at the world today? What’s at stake? Join Andrew Ross Sorkin in conversation with David M. Rubenstein as he dives into Wall Street’s crash of 1929 and what its history has to tell us about the cycles we may be living through right now. As with all Global Conference public sessions, registra

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• Five-time Olympian and twelve-time Olympic medalist Dara Torres will deliver an inspiring conversation on defying limits, embracing change, and showing up fully at every stage of life. Drawing on her extraordinary swimming career—including her historic return to the Olympics at age 41—she will reflect on the mindset, discipline, and self-belief that fueled her success and shaped her path beyond competition. Join Dara as she offers a nuanced look at reinvention, the challenge of quieting self-doubt, and the strength found in vulnerability—a powerful reflection on resilience, growth, and lifelong wellness.

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• Economic mobility lies at the core of the American Dream, yet widening wealth gaps and uneven access to capital have made that promise increasingly difficult to realize. Drawing on the work of the Milken Institute's Economic Mobility Alliance, this session will bring together leaders across finance, business, and public policy to explore practical, scalable approaches to broaden access to capital for entrepreneurs, strengthen family-owned businesses, and help households build wealth earlier in life. Crucial to this discussion, the panel will also examine how public, private, and philanthropic capital can work in concert to foster innovation and more widely shared prosperity.

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• As populations live longer and the future of public pension systems grows more uncertain across global markets, responsibility for financial security is increasingly shifting to individuals, families, and the institutions that support them. At the same time, a historic intergenerational wealth transfer is reshaping how capital is preserved, invested, and passed on. Private wealth is emerging as a key frontier for private markets, as advisors increasingly incorporate alternative investments to meet the evolving needs of high-net-worth investors while shaping broader portfolio strategies. Institutions across wealth management, asset management, and insurance are integrating private markets, customized solutions, and evolving income strategies into client portfolios. Advances in AI and data are also transforming how advice is delivered, enabling more personalized and scalable planning.

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• As the global economy enters a more complex and less synchronized phase, institutional investors and corporate leaders are repositioning to navigate higher-for-longer interest rates, evolving liquidity conditions, shifting geopolitical dynamics, and the accelerating impact of artificial intelligence. Traditional allocation models are being tested as the lines between public and private markets – and between markets, balance sheets, and operating businesses – continue to blur, with sources of return becoming more dispersed. This discussion brings together leaders from across the financial ecosystem to examine how capital is being deployed at scale, how portfolios are being constructed and recalibrated, and how firms are managing liquidity, risk, and resilience in an increasingly fragmented environment. Panelists will also explore how these structural shifts are reshaping investment strategies, corporate priorities, and the broader relationship between capital markets and the real econom

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• Private credit, now a central engine of institutional finance, extends beyond direct lending into a broader set of capital solutions as banks pull back and demand for flexible financing grows. Middle-market lending remains a key proving ground, where refinancing activity, competitive pressure, and wider performance dispersion are testing underwriting standards, structures, and lender discipline. Panelists will examine how covenants, documentation, and workout capabilities are evolving; where risk may be building beneath headline growth; and how leading platforms are differentiating through sourcing, selectivity, and credit discipline in a more crowded cycle.

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• For the South Korean economy, 2025 was a defining year. KOSPI’s strongest rally since 1999 propelled the market to the top of global equity performance, even as overall growth remained modest. A rebound in the semiconductor sector and firmer domestic demand pulled the country out of its early-year downturn, while a new political chapter unfolded. Which sectors and structural shifts drove stock market upswings? What are the newly emerging growth engines of the Korean economy, and what new investment opportunities are Korean businesses and investors pursuing?

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• Commodity markets have experienced significant volatility and rapid price movements over the past year, signaling a potential turning point in the global economic landscape. In this session, experts identify the key forces driving these shifts across energy, metals, and agricultural products, and consider whether recent trends may point to deeper structural changes in supply, demand, and geopolitical dynamics. Panelists will discuss what this evolving environment means for asset managers, market analysts, and institutional investors, including how commodities are shaping decisions around portfolio construction, risk management, and strategic asset allocation.

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• Europe is a continent on the move. From the Draghi Report to UK Prime Minister Starmer’s Five Missions for National Renewal, France’s leading AI role, and a new German government that has overturned old rules to invest in new infrastructure, European policymakers, entrepreneurs, and investors are making the case for global investors to “Choose Europe.” This panel brings together investment ministers, founders of tech unicorns, and innovators seeking to power Europe’s energy future to show how Europe is forging a future both for the continent and, more broadly, for our world.

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• For global investors, Brazil entered 2026 as a pivotal market shaped by accelerating energy-transition goals, evolving fiscal and industrial policies, and shifting geopolitical dynamics across the Global South. With reforms advancing, a strengthened monetary framework under the Banco Central do Brasil, and renewed focus on climate-aligned growth ahead of COP30, the country is redefining its role in international capital flows. At the same time, Brazil’s leadership in agriculture, critical minerals, renewable energy, and digital infrastructure is drawing strong interest from investors seeking scale, diversification, and long-term returns. Yet questions remain around tax reform, regulatory stability, productivity, and the balance between sustainability and competitiveness.

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• From private equity firms and family offices to athlete-investors and operators, sports is increasingly being viewed as a serious asset class shaped by a wider range of capital and perspectives than ever before. This conversation will explore what is driving value across the sports landscape—from franchise scarcity and media rights to sponsorship, fan engagement, technology, and adjacent business platforms—and whether today’s valuations are supported by durable long-term fundamentals. Participants will examine how institutional investors, athlete-backed ventures, and other emerging voices are reshaping ownership, value creation, and opportunity across the broader sports ecosystem, and what this evolution signals for the future of sports business, leadership, and influence.

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• With more and more early-phase clinical trials launching outside the United States, is the future of US leadership in the life sciences at risk? This meeting will bring together biotech and pharma leaders, investors, and research institutions to examine targeted policy or practice changes to ensure the US can continue to deliver groundbreaking discoveries and lifesaving treatments to ensure a healthier future for all.

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• Artificial intelligence is catalyzing a new investment cycle that spans platforms, infrastructure, and capital markets, with implications far beyond the technology sector. As spending accelerates across compute, data systems, and enterprise adoption, AI is beginning to reshape productivity, labor dynamics, and the structure of the broader global economy. This session brings together leaders from asset management, technology, and market infrastructure to examine where value is emerging in the AI ecosystem, how capital is being deployed and intermediated, and how financial markets are adapting to support this transformation. Panelists will also explore whether current investment levels are sustainable, how returns are likely to be distributed, and what this shift means for growth, competitiveness, and market structure in the years ahead.

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• Global trade is undergoing a profound transformation as business leaders face overlapping issues demanding management. Geopolitical tensions, supply-chain disruptions, climate demands, and the rise of artificial intelligence: All are reshaping the flow of goods, services, and capital. As nations recalibrate their trade strategies, companies are rethinking where and how they operate, to balance the often-conflicting demands of efficiency and resilience, while still balancing longer-term commitments to improving metrics such as sustainability, supply-chain traceability, and investments in the future of the workforce. Panelists will explore the forces driving trade realignment and their implications for industries and consumers worldwide.

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• Housing affordability has become both a policy flashpoint and an economic imperative. In a recent national survey, nearly half of Americans said they were concerned about their ability to afford housing, with most respondents attributing this problem to supply-side challenges such as building costs. In this conversation, we bring together housing finance and public policy experts to discuss potential solutions to the housing crisis across the US. The discussion will explore how high construction costs, lengthy approval processes, and local zoning policies shape the crisis—and examine innovative public, private, and cross-sector approaches that could redefine the path toward accessible, sustainable housing for all Americans.

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• Since taking the helm of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Chairman Paul Atkins has signaled a new direction for one of America's most consequential financial regulators. From capital formation to investor protection and market regulation, join us to hear his perspective on the opportunities and challenges defining the next era of the SEC's agenda.

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• Wellness isn’t a reward for working hard or something you earn after burnout—it’s what helps prevent it. It’s reflected in what you allow into your schedule, who you choose to spend time with, and the understanding that rest is productive. Together, Barbara Bizou and Lavinia Errico, co-founder of Equinox, will lead a conversation that helps release burdens and refocus attention on what supports greater balance and well-being. Participants will leave feeling energized, with greater clarity, confidence, and a deeper connection to their authentic selves.

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• As foreign policy shifts and the role of multilateral institutions is reassessed, this session examines how US engagement at the United Nations can help address a rapidly changing global landscape. Ambassador Mike Waltz, US Representative to the UN, shares insights on US foreign policy priorities and how American diplomacy and partnerships can refocus the UN on its core mission of maintaining international peace and security while supporting a more effective rules‑based international order.

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• What does the American Dream look like in an era of shifting economic realities? During this session, we will explore how public policy and private investment can work in tandem to dismantle barriers to upward mobility, including access to capital.

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• As the demand for skilled talent intensifies across industries, the states that invest strategically in workforce pipelines will define America’s competitive future. Join us to hear from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on key policy priorities to build a workforce ready to power the next chapter of American growth.

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• Private equity is navigating a more complex and interconnected deal cycle, where buying, holding, and exiting are increasingly shaped by constrained M&A markets, rising restructuring activity, and the growing need for private credit solutions. As secondaries and other liquidity solutions become core to the ecosystem and outcomes grow more dispersed, panelists will explore how the full spectrum of deal activity is evolving, alongside shifting valuation dynamics between public and private markets, elongated hold periods, and increased LP focus on DPI, liquidity, and manager differentiation in a highly selective fundraising environment, and whether private ownerships are better structured to navigate these shifts.

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• What does it take to build a financial enterprise that lasts? From MassMutual’s 175-year history to Eldridge Industries’ modern, opportunistic platform, this conversation brings together two CEOs with distinct perspectives on insurance, asset management, and leadership. Together, they will discuss how trust, resilience, and long-term thinking unlock opportunity across market cycles—and why insurance remains central to investing for the decades ahead.

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• Some of life's most enduring lessons don't come from boardrooms or business schools—they come from mom. In this collection of 27 deeply personal essays, What I Learned from Mom , CEO of Sesame Workshop Sherrie Westin invites some of today’s most celebrated figures to reflect on the maternal wisdom that shaped who they have become. Prepare to be inspired by the unique stories and firsthand accounts of what these individuals’ first teachers — their mothers — passed down and how they take those lessons into their adult lives. Alongside Anonymous Content’s Darren Walker, who himself contributed a personal essay to the collection, Sherrie Westin will shine a light on what it means to honor our first teachers, why these stories matter, and what all of us — regardless of our relationship with our own mothers — can take from the lessons shared in these pages. As with all Global Conference public sessions, registration is not required to attend an Author Talk, but seating is limited. Seats will

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• Prediction markets sit at the intersection of macro forecasting, AI analytics, and evolving market structure, offering real-time probability signals on elections, policy cycles, and geopolitical risk. Institutions increasingly use it to explore event-driven data for scenario analysis and AI modeling. As sovereign wealth funds, central banks, exchanges, and asset managers become more engaged, prediction markets may offer a new layer of price discovery. How should institutions evaluate reliability and governance of these markets? Given recent legal rulings, how will regulation shape its adoption?

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• Venezuela’s post‑Maduro transition opens a window to reassess the country as a complex, high‑beta investment thesis. Moving beyond macro narratives, this private session will dissect where, how, and under what conditions capital can be deployed across Venezuela’s emerging opportunity set: from upstream and midstream energy to logistics, consumer goods, financial services, and digital infrastructure. Experts will probe concrete deal structures, residual legal and sanctions risk, questions of title and creditor hierarchy, and the interplay between multilateral engagement and private capital flows. With input from Venezuelan business leaders, global energy CEOs, and policy practitioners, talk will focus on identifying investible niches versus value traps, realistic expectations and timelines, and the frameworks required for institutional investors, strategics, and diaspora capital to take part responsibly in Venezuela’s reconstruction.

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• Long‑term stewards of capital—families, endowments, foundations, and institutions—manage portfolios with horizons measured in decades. As complexity increases, the key question shifts from access to opportunity to how success itself is defined. This invite‑only conversation will explore how leading investors define success over time—balancing growth, resilience, liquidity, governance, and mission alignment as markets and organizational needs evolve. Drawing on perspectives from family capital and institutional asset owners, the discussion will examine how long‑horizon investors set objectives, adapt to change, and steward capital across generations.

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• A skilled workforce. A healthy community. Pathways to prosperity. These are just a few of the pillars of a thriving society that private and corporate foundations are investing in. As key actors in the philanthropic sector, the two groups have traditionally pursued their work on parallel tracks, with limited collaboration. Yet in today's turbulent environment, where philanthropy faces growing scrutiny, public funding continues to retreat, and the needs remain vast, the urgency to break silos and work together in more strategic and consequential ways has never been greater. In this private session, leaders from both communities will challenge the status quo—exploring models of aligned incentives, breaking down barriers, and identifying tangible opportunities for meaningful collaboration that deliver timely and significant impact.

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• The new era for global markets is shaped by rising sovereign debt, tighter liquidity, geopolitical fragmentation, and the rapid expansion of private credit. As governments fund deficits, AI, and energy transition investments, capital demands intensify and policy flexibility grows narrower. This CEO-level discussion will ask whether private markets are a stabilizing force in this debt-heavy environment or a potential source of future stress, while exploring portfolio positioning, yield dynamics, and the evolving balance between public and private capital as 2026 rapidly recedes into the distance. Are private markets absorbing risk more effectively than traditional banks and public markets, or are they simply relocating it? And, as debt burdens rise globally, where should institutional investors position capital for resilience and long-term returns?

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• Geopolitics, AI, and energy security are reshaping how capital is deployed and how nations and companies compete. Governments are advancing industrial strategies across AI, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, and critical infrastructure, redefining infrastructure to include energy systems, data architecture, and positioning, navigation, and timing PNT capabilities. Capital is increasingly aligned with national priorities around resilience and technological leadership. Companies must adapt to an AI driven economy where access to energy, data, infrastructure, and PNT systems defines long term advantage, while navigating uneven global access to technology. This panel examines how investors are positioning as corporate and national competitiveness converge, supply chains reorganize, and technology becomes both an engine of growth and a tool of geopolitical power. Where can capital still compound as risk rises, and how should portfolios adapt?

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• As global expectations regarding transparency, ethics, and accountability evolve, corporate governance is undergoing a fundamental transformation. This panel will explore how forward-thinking boards are adapting to emerging challenges such as auditing AI bias in the boardroom, overseeing technological changes, and meeting the needs of stakeholders. This panel of leading voices in governance will explore the structures, mindsets, and technologies shaping boardrooms in 2026, and the steps companies must take to build trust, resilience, and long-term value in a rapidly changing world.

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• Artificial intelligence is no longer a standalone innovation. It is becoming embedded across workflows, decision systems, and customer experiences, reshaping how companies operate at every level. As adoption accelerates, the competitive gap is widening between organizations that are successfully integrating AI into their core business and those that are not. This session brings together technology leaders, investors, and operators to examine how AI is being deployed across modern organizations, from underwriting and product development to customer engagement and internal decision-making. Panelists will explore what it takes to move from experimentation to scaled implementation, how organizations are redesigning workflows and talent models, and where early gains in productivity and performance are proving durable. As AI shifts from tool to operating system, what distinguishes companies that translate capability into sustained competitive advantage?

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• In business, AI no longer serves as just a competitive edge—it's becoming the new baseline for success as it restructures organizations, redefines roles, and reshuffles advantage across every sector. Throughout finance, retail, media, and beyond, companies are racing to embed intelligence into their operations while confronting key questions about labor, institutional trust, and the workforce. Yet the promise of AI is only as strong as the data that powers it, thus making accuracy and trust in data infrastructure as foundational as the technology itself. In this session, cross-industry business leaders will explore where AI deployment is delivering results, how the outcomes are reshaping talent and organizational structures in response, and what it will take to turn technological disruption into shared economic opportunity and business longevity.

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• The global investment landscape for critical minerals is in a new era that calls for cross-border partnerships anchored in policy alignment and capital collaboration. This session will feature leaders shaping the dynamics around policy, mining and capital allocation, sharing insights on how strategic partnerships and financing models are redefining investment opportunities over $300 billion critical mineral markets worldwide.

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• Talent is ubiquitous, but capital is concentrated within fixed networks and geographies. How can we expand access to capital so that we may build a more dynamic economy, ensure shared prosperity, and promote individual economic mobility? During this session, we will discuss innovative approaches and partnerships that have been leveraged to build resilient communities, grow small businesses and startups, and strengthen inclusive pathways to capital, ensuring that the American Dream is within reach.

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• Join us for lunch and conversation with global industry leaders in business, health, finance, and technology as we delve into current and emerging trends and challenges shaping the landscape of 2026 and beyond. Moderated by Richard Ditizio, CEO of the Milken Institute, and featuring insights from Chairman Michael Milken, this conversation will present an opportunity for CEOs to share their candid thoughts about today’s business environment, and how they are working to cultivate resilience, foster organizational culture, propel sustainable growth, and lead amid challenges in an ever-evolving market.

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• In this fireside chat, director and producer Ryan White and comedian and producer Tig Notaro discuss their Academy Award nominated documentary feature, Come See Me in the Good Light. An acclaimed success at Sundance and the Oscars, the film explores the life of Colorado Poet Laureate Andrea Gibson and their wife Megan Falley and the "stupid bravery" required to find humor in the unthinkable—a terminal cancer diagnosis. This session examines how vulnerability acts as a radical tool for resilience, offering a blueprint for navigating life's most challenging narratives with heart and unexpected joy.

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• In just a matter of days, the war in the Middle East changed everything—and the hardest questions have yet to be answered. What comes next for Iran? And what are the likely consequences for a region central to global energy markets, maritime trade routes, aviation corridors, and developing economic linkages connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa? Immediate stability aside, this discussion will explore the broader regional and global ramifications of the current conflict, tracing how shifting power dynamics and new alliances are likely to redefine the Middle East. Experts will address the implications for international markets and identify those who bear responsibility for shaping the future as it emerges from this era of volatility.

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• With only an art school background, unshakeable work ethic, and a single salon chair, Anastasia Soare, founder and CEO of Anastasia Beverly Hills, climbed to the top of the global cosmetics industry. But this is more than a beauty story. It's a story about what it costs—and what it takes—to start over in a new country, raise a daughter on your own, and refuse to let rejection define you. In Raising Brows , Soare recounts how she turned a single salon chair into a global cosmetics empire, earning the trust of clients from Michelle Obama to Kim Kardashian along the way. Join Anastasia Soare in conversation with MS Now’s Alex Witt for a discussion about the power of passion, creativity, and intentional dedication to build something extraordinary from nothing. As with all Global Conference public sessions, registration is not required to attend an Author Talk, but seating is limited. Seats will be open to the first 100 attendees. We recommend Conference attendees add any Author Talks of in

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• After more than a decade of sluggish growth in productivity across advanced economies, AI is now positioned as a potential inflection point for global output, capital formation, and long-term economic expansion. Yet it remains to be seen whether AI will deliver sustained productivity gains or simply reallocate value within existing systems. Experts in this session will examine whether AI represents a true structural growth catalyst capable of reshaping GDP trajectories, inflation dynamics, labor and capital balance, and sovereign competitiveness, or are expectations are outrunning measurable economic impact? The discussion will propose how AI might alter the global growth model, widen or tighten cross-country divergence, influence capital investment cycles, redefine the productivity frontier, and build a modern workforce for the next decade.

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• Join this discussion with industry and investment leaders to look at opportunities to catalyze change in women’s health. Breakthrough innovations are unlocking new markets, and accelerating returns and exits are proving that serving 50 percent of the population is now a compelling growth strategy—not a sidebar. This session will surface insights from managers and allocators of dedicated women’s-health funds, to demonstrate why life-science, biotech, and broader health-care investors would profit from assessing opportunities through a women’s-health lens—measuring market size, de‑risking pathways to commercialization, and strategically positioning portfolios for meaningful impact and strong exits.

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• “News influencers” are shaping the current political conversation and overtaking traditional media outlets, functioning as a new generation’s news source. Media executives and journalists will discuss the impact of these independent voices on legacy media and how they are developing authentic and personal connections with the audience. When trust in news sources is at an all-time low, this massive disruption is leading to bold innovation and next-generation business models.

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• Although investments made early in life yield powerful and enduring returns, children account for only a small share of total US health spending. Strong childhood and adolescent health drives higher educational attainment, greater lifetime productivity, and more resilient communities. Despite these long-term benefits, pediatric health efforts face significant financial, structural, and incentive barriers across prevention, early diagnosis, and mental and community-based care. This session will explore how innovation across the youth health ecosystem can improve outcomes for the next generation and prioritize children’s health as both a moral imperative and a strategic investment in our collective future.

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• Dollar backed stablecoins and tokenized US Treasuries are becoming core collateral and settlement rails in digital markets, even as policymakers debate their implications for monetary sovereignty, bank funding, and dollar dominance. We will convene leading infrastructure providers, asset managers, and policy voices to examine how tokenized cash, Treasuries, and assets are being used today, what guardrails are emerging in the US and abroad, and how this wave of “on chain dollars” could reshape liquidity, geo-economics, and the global role of the dollar.

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• This private session will feature leading private investors’ perspectives on Africa’s dynamic and rapidly evolving investment landscape. Discussions will focus on the opportunities and challenges shaping investment strategies across the continent, with a particular emphasis on trade and value chains, infrastructure, regulatory environments, demographics, and technology. Against the backdrop of US national security interests and of African countries’ development priorities, we will explore how investors in Africa are succeeding, what role African governments are playing, and how global and local factors influence decision-making. Experts will provide actionable insights into Africa’s attractiveness and the sectors driving the continent’s growth.

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• As global markets navigate persistent inflation pressures, geopolitical fragmentation, and rapid technological change, institutional investors and asset managers alike are rethinking how portfolios are built, capital is allocated, and risk is managed. The next era of asset management will be shaped by shifting capital flows, the growth of private markets, advances in AI-driven investment strategies, and increasing demand for resilience across market cycles. This panel will bring together leading allocators and investors to discuss how institutions are allocating capital globally, identifying emerging opportunities, and adapting portfolios to a more complex and uncertain macro environment.

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• As new structures and distribution channels bring alternative investments to a broader range of investors, private markets are expanding beyond their traditional institutional investor base. Evergreen and semi-liquid vehicles, alongside retirement solutions and digital platforms, are reshaping how private assets are accessed and managed. What opportunities and risks emerge as private markets expand to new investor segments? How can innovation increase access while maintaining appropriate liquidity management and investor protection? And what role will regulators, platforms, and asset managers play in shaping the next phase of this evolution?

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• This panel will explore how investors are evaluating software platforms, enterprise AI applications, vertical SaaS solutions, and developer tools that monetize AI capabilities at scale. The discussion will focus on business model durability—as competition intensifies, which companies will capture margin through proprietary data, distribution advantages, or switching costs, versus those competing primarily on model performance or compute efficiency? How are enterprise adoption patterns, time-to-value, and ROI measurement shaping which AI applications gain traction, and which remain as science projects? With thousands of AI startups competing for attention, what separates sustainable software businesses from infrastructure-dependent wrappers?

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• After surpassing Japan to become the world’s fourth largest economy in March 2026, India’s growth continues to demonstrate resilience despite recent global headwinds. From healthcare, technology, and advanced manufacturing, India’s industries have attracted new investments as the country continues its path toward becoming a top-performing major economy and significant geopolitical force. As India progresses towards Viksit Bharat 2047—the vision to achieve developed-country status by 2047—what opportunities and challenges are emerging across sectors critical to this ambition? How are shifts in healthcare, industrial capacity, regulatory frameworks, and strategic industries such as aerospace and defense shaping India’s next phase of growth? How might ongoing reforms, domestic capability-building, and shifting geoeconomic dynamics reshape opportunities for global investors and businesses in India?

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• Progress in cancer research is increasingly likely to be defined not by isolated breakthroughs but by the ability to perceive risk earlier, act sooner, and learn continuously. This session will spotlight the scientific advances that are redefining how cancer is managed and shortening the distance between discovery and impact on the patient. Panelists will explore how these innovations could reshape what progress against cancer will look like by 2035.

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• Join Marla Maples as she invites audiences on a journey from fear to freedom—and from self-doubt to purposeful living. Drawing on her own experiences navigating life in the public eye, Marla will share the tools and mindset shifts that helped her find authenticity, inner peace, and genuine joy amid extraordinary circumstances. With warmth, vulnerability, and hard-won wisdom, she will explore the transformative power of forgiveness, the importance of surrounding yourself with intentional energy, and why leaning into fear—rather than running from it—is the first step toward real growth. Audiences will leave with a renewed sense of purpose, a more compassionate relationship with themselves, and a practical framework for choosing the good in every situation life presents.

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• Consumer credit is a core engine of economic growth but delivering it at scale increasingly requires integrated platforms spanning origination, servicing, securitization, and permanent capital. In a higher-rate, liquidity-sensitive environment, this session examines how capital markets are evolving to fund the American consumer. Panelists will discuss how funding models shape credit access, risk management, and capital efficiency, and where durable, risk-adjusted income can be generated across consumer finance platforms.

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• Come spend time with our adorable furry friends and experience the joy they bring. Whether you're looking for a playful companion or simply hoping to make a new connection, you just might meet the perfect puppy to welcome into your home.

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• Few people alive today can claim they are genuinely changing the course of human history—Demis Hassabis may be one of them. Demis Hassabis, Co-Founder and CEO of Google DeepMind, Nobel Prize winner, and chess prodigy, has spent decades pursuing what once seemed impossible and now may be within reach: machines capable of reasoning at a level that rivals, and perhaps surpasses, our own. In The Infinity Machine , acclaimed financial journalist and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist Sebastian Mallaby draws on years of extraordinary access to Hassabis and his inner circle to unravel the complex world of a genius. Mallaby explores what it means to be in such a central role in the world of AI, while also remaining critical and wary of some of its implications. Sebastian Mallaby, alongside The Wall Street Journal’s Gregory Zuckerman, will discuss what it means to stand at the frontier of the most consequential technological race of our time, and whether the people leading it can truly control wh

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• The rise of large-scale state intervention is reshaping industries and redefining competitiveness. Governments are actively reinventing industrial policy to achieve national priorities, such as bolstering manufacturing, investing in place-based development, and securing strategic supply chains for national security and economic resilience. As these policies are implemented, a new model of strategic capitalism is taking shape, raising questions about how governments balance national strategy with market discipline, and the tradeoffs between domestic industrial priorities and global competition. This session brings together policymakers, CEOs, and industry leaders to explore how a 21st-century industrial policy can strengthen resilience and innovation while maintaining market dynamism, and to assess the implications for capital flows, international competitiveness, and long-term growth.

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• Private credit secondaries are having a moment—2025 is on track to be a record year, with rising deal volume as investors tap secondaries for liquidity, rebalancing, and yield beyond traditional fixed income. As volatility persists and allocators seek predictable, asset-backed cash flows, the market is evolving from a liquidity tool into a core portfolio strategy. The second part of this discussion focuses on a specific opportunity: distributed energy assets. While utility-scale projects tied to data centers have drawn headline capital, a quieter opportunity is emerging at the distributed level. Community-originated clean energy loans are generating steady, diversified cash flows, yet lack an institutional secondary market. This session will explore what’s needed for these assets to scale, including standardization, documentation, and pricing frameworks, and why firms shaping that infrastructure today will be best positioned to deploy capital into it tomorrow.

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• AI isn't just moving fast—it's reshaping the rules of how industries build, regulate, and compete. As adoption accelerates across every sector, the demand for the infrastructure that powers it, including advanced microchips, high-capacity memory, and massive data centers, is testing the limits of global supply chains and governance alike. But infrastructure is only half the equation. Industry leaders are racing to design frameworks that can keep up with AI's expansion without stifling the innovation driving it. These leaders will explore what it really means to design AI's future, discussing both the challenges and opportunities to build faster, smarter, and more sustainably and securely from the start. This session will examine how digital infrastructure, capital deployment, and manufacturing innovation must scale together to meet the demands of this hypergrowth era, while ensuring AI's products and platforms are built to be both secure and resilient for years to come.

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• This session highlights the rapidly expanding investment landscape in women’s health, and announces the Milken Institute Women’s Health Network funding initiatives designed to channel more—and more diverse—capital into this underserved market. Leaders across finance, philanthropy, and industry, together with celebrities, will examine and share emerging opportunities, as well as their own commitments, that are reshaping the sector. Their participation and contributions will underscore the cultural and economic momentum driving women’s health forward.

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• In a period of economic fluctuation and inflationary uncertainty, energy consumers are laser-focused on affordability. At the same time, businesses and consumers continue to drive increases in electricity demand, including growth in data and AI access. Despite these challenges, energy companies are set on producing and delivering reliable electricity in an affordable way, leveraging unique partnerships, being strategic about supply chains, and strengthening the power grid. This conversation will highlight current and future energy demand drivers and demonstrate how the industry is addressing rising demand and meeting the moment.

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• Australian asset owners are among the largest institutional investors globally due to the sheer scale and steady growth of Australia’s compulsory retirement savings system and expanding single family offices. Their long-term horizons, strong liquidity, and sophisticated internal investment teams enable them to act as major global players in private markets, infrastructure, energy transition assets, and real estate. Expanding their presence in Europe, America, and Asia, they increasingly shape global capital flows, influence LP-GP dynamics, and set high standards for ESG, governance, and co-investment practices. What Australian asset owners paying attention to in global capital markets? What changes are they making to their strategic asset allocation, especially with alternatives, to capture long term returns while balancing risk and liquidity concerns?

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• In this private session, leaders in private equity will discuss how they’re approaching investing in today’s more uncertain environment. With higher interest rates and tougher competition, the conversation will focus on where they’re still finding opportunities, how they’re improving the companies they own, and why alignment—especially with management and employees—is becoming more important. This candid dialogue offers a rare look into how top-tier firms are adapting strategies to sustain performance across cycles.

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• The Americas are increasingly seen as a major growth opportunity for US and global investors, especially as demand rises for data infrastructure, AI, advanced manufacturing, and more reliable supply chains. Companies looking to reduce risk and shorten production distances are turning to the Western Hemisphere for its proximity, commercial ties, and strong resource base. Across key markets, investors are backing new data centers, cloud and connectivity projects, and automation, while also expanding the major manufacturing sectors. Younger populations of workers and consumers, streamlined regulations, and new investment in transport and energy systems are also helping to support more durable growth. This session will look at how investors are reengaging with the Americas, where new capital is going, and how the region can position itself as a core corridor for future North–South trade and technology.

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• The case continues to grow for investing in climate-focused assets both as a hedge against physical risk and extreme weather losses and as an area of opportunity. For example, new research shows that companies with green revenues grow two times faster than conventional business lines, and their cost of capital is typically lower. Firms generating more than 50 percent of their revenues from green markets often enjoy valuation premiums of 12-15 percent on capital markets, reflecting investor confidence in their long-term resilience and profitability. That said, leading asset managers advancing sustainability solutions continue to be seen as the bleeding edge rather than the leading edge. This session will bring together the sector’s major players to discuss scaling opportunities and develop recommendations for the Milken Institute Investors Roadmap project.

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• As global markets navigate geopolitical uncertainty and the accelerating energy transition, Qatar has positioned itself as a model of sovereign financial resilience. But what does fiscal resilience look like when the rules of the global economy are being rewritten in real time? Join us as H.E. Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari discusses how Qatar is balancing long-term investment strategy with the demands of a rapidly shifting world economy.

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• As insurance companies, pensions, endowments, SWF, and multi strategy platforms expand their exposure to private markets, alternatives are moving from satellite allocations to core portfolio pillars. This session examines how large allocators integrate private equity, private credit, real assets, and multi strategy strategies into long term policy portfolios, with asset liability management, capital charges, and risk budgeting shaping allocation decisions. The focus is on portfolio outcomes rather than specific liquidity tools, including diversification under stress, drawdown management, factor exposure, and capital efficiency across regimes. Panelists discuss how institutions evaluate correlation assumptions, manage valuation opacity, and define resilience when alternatives represent a significant share of total assets. As alternatives scale, what distinguishes disciplined portfolio construction from simple allocation growth?

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• Institutions of higher learning face a defining moment in how they prepare students for a rapidly evolving economy and workforce. In the wake of major shifts in US education, its funding, and workforce pipelines, what comes next as graduates step into workplaces shaped by new technologies, changing expectations, and ongoing uncertainty? Hear from university leaders as they examine how higher education can evolve its curriculum, address degree affordability, and better support early-career talent-building.

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• Abu Dhabi has set its sights not just on transforming health care for its own population, but on positioning the emirate as a global testbed for AI-driven medical innovation. Join us to hear H.E. Mansoor Ibrahim Al Mansoori discuss how integrated health data, scalable technology, and ambitious reform are combining to empower citizens, and export a new model of care to the world.

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• Housing is increasingly being financed and operated as a scalable income-generating platform. This session explores how capital is flowing across homebuilding, single-family rental, and affordable housing in a supply-constrained, higher-rate environment. Panelists will examine how institutional capital, operating platforms, and financing structures are shaping availability, affordability, and long-term ownership, and where sustainable income opportunities are emerging across the housing ecosystem.

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• Dubai has built one of the world's most competitive urban economies, attracting capital, talent, and enterprise at a scale few cities can match. In a moment of regional uncertainty, join us to hear from H.E. Hadi Badri as he explores the drivers of Dubai’s resilience, its strategy for sustained growth, and how the emirate is shaping the next chapter of global economic and investment leadership.

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• Anchored in Abu Dhabi’s broader economic strategy and its ambition to deploy capital at scale across global markets, ADGM has rapidly established itself as a leading international financial center. Built on a common law framework and forward-looking regulatory approach, ADGM continues to attract global institutions while positioning itself at the intersection of capital, capability, and connectivity. Join us to hear H.E. Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi discuss the drivers behind ADGM’s rise and the priorities shaping its next phase.

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• Health equity is foundational to economic growth and social stability. Achieving it requires collaboration between sectors to build systems that serve everyone across geographic and socioeconomic boundaries. Real progress can be made when investors in health infrastructure—and those on the ground—work with communities to address their own health needs. This panel brings together leaders from across the biomedical and health ecosystem who are building the necessary partnerships and represent the full spectrum of what it takes to achieve health equity, build resilient systems, and ensure that investments reach the communities that need them most.

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• The real African investment narrative is far more compelling than outdated ideas of high risk and low returns. Across infrastructure, financial services, energy, tourism, and critical minerals, African investments are generating rapid growth, high returns, and measurable economic impact, while remaining materially under-allocated in global investment portfolios. Panelists will reframe Africa as a core destination for long-term capital, where asset-backed investments are delivering returns equal to or greater than those in developed markets. Drawing on real transactions and investor experience, the panelists will show what global and domestic investors are missing, how African institutions are reshaping capital markets from within, and what it will take to mobilize institutional capital at scale for Africa’s next decade of growth.

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• From streaming milestones to expanding global audiences, the music industry is a dynamic, interconnected business. The panel will look closely at how streaming, live touring, publishing, recorded music, A&R, and technology platforms work together to drive growth, enhance artist development, and deepen audience engagement. Panelists will share how organizations, musicians, and producers are adapting to rapid change: forming strategic partnerships, leveraging data, and discovering innovative ways to connect with fans worldwide. Speakers will also highlight the impact of AI and other emerging technologies in reshaping both business infrastructure and the creative process. Attendees will gain insights into the forces shaping the future of music and how today’s ecosystem is evolving for sustainable growth and creative excellence.

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• Sports have always been a powerful force for unity, inspiration, and belonging, and sports philanthropy extends that impact far beyond the arena. This session examines how athletes, teams, and leagues are using their platforms to effect positive change in the communities they represent. We’ll examine effective models of giving back, from youth development initiatives and health equity programs to community revitalization and fan-engagement campaigns. Participants will gain insights into how sports spur local investment, social connection, and community well-being, and how philanthropic leaders can build programs that create lasting wins on and off the field.

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• Are you feeling disconnected, distracted, or disillusioned? You're not alone—and there may be a roadmap out. In his latest book, The Meaning of Your Life , renowned social scientist Arthur Brooks tackles life's most complex questions with the rigor of research and the warmth of a trusted guide, offering evidence-based answers to what so many of us are quietly searching for. Join Arthur Brooks in conversation with Milken Institute Executive Director of Global Programming Conrad Kiechel for an honest, illuminating discussion about the defining challenges of our time and how to move through them toward genuine happiness and fulfillment. As with all Global Conference public sessions, registration is not required to attend an Author Talk, but seating is limited. Seats will be open to the first 100 attendees. We recommend Conference attendees add any Author Talks of interest to your agenda. If you cannot attend the Author Talk or are solely interested in the book signing portion, we encourag

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• Luxury is no longer defined by what people own but by what they feel, remember, and share. As discerning clients tire of pure product, brand leaders are reimagining what it means to feel truly indulged and how to create customer experiences that cannot be scrolled or copied. This session brings together creators and leaders who design some of the world’s most coveted experiences to explore how multi-sensory storytelling, personalization, and impeccable service have become the true markers of status and value. They will discuss how expectations are evolving across generations, where investment is flowing in an experience-first economy, and what it takes to craft encounters that linger long after the moment has passed.

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• A seismic shift known as “the feminization of wealth” is underway as women are increasingly controlling assets through inheritance, divorce, longer life spans, and financial independence. Join us as we explore the unique financial planning considerations women face as they gain more financial power and autonomy, including strategies related to inheriting wealth, building financial stability as a single worker and homeowner, and managing assets alone after divorce or outliving a spouse. We will also consider how the financial industry can evolve to better serve women clients by focusing on things like methods for sharing information, communication styles, and prioritizing life-goal-oriented planning while building trusted relationships. We will hear actionable insights from a panel of experts.

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• As once-in-a-lifetime weather events occur with greater frequency and intensity, traditional resources and systems are proving incapable to meet the challenges of respond and rebuild. This development is extending times for recoveries and disruptions, with significant economic and social consequences. Panelists will discuss how smarter investing for resilient assets and neighborhoods is increasingly a C-suite conversation. Members of the panel will share how their investments in resilience are shaping the conversation about making this a bankable asset class: from lower costs to economic gains and social benefits.

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• The US-based defense technology sector offers investors two highly compelling benefits—potentially promising returns and the opportunity to bolster America’s long-term resilience. Defense technology startups had a particularly prosperous 2025, with equity funding almost tripling to $14.2 billion from $5 billion in 2024. Equally significant is that the number of firms investing in this space increased by 41 percent in 2025. The factors contributing to this surge of new investments include heightened geopolitical tensions, a rise in dual use technologies, and continued support from the current administration. Join us in this off-the-record discussion to hear what factors are drawing leading investors to this industry, where they are seeing the most success, and how they anticipate the sector evolving in 2026 and beyond.

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• In our annual convening of the “Rising Allocators,” we’ll bring together our 2026 cohort of young investment professionals from across the institutional investor community to discuss investment trends and share best practices. Members are nominated by their CIOs to participate, with the goal of nurturing the next generation of investment leaders within their organizations. What are the long-term themes that members expect will shape institutional portfolios most over the next decade? What practical skills, habits, and frameworks differentiate early‑career investor success? How can young professionals build investment judgment and drive processes effectively within large organizations?

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• Mexico enters 2026 as one of the world’s most closely watched economies, positioned at the crossroads of shifting trade dynamics, tariff realignments, and the upcoming USMCA review that could reshape North America’s competitive landscape. Global investors are evaluating the effects of US–China tensions, supply-chain restructuring, nearshoring, and new industrial policies influencing capital flows. With investment rising across the major business sectors, Mexico’s long-term trajectory will depend on regulatory certainty, cross-border coordination, and strategic responses to geopolitical and tariff pressures. This session gathers investors, corporate leaders, and policy experts to assess Mexico’s outlook for 2026 and beyond. Where is capital moving? Which risks matter most? How can the country reinforce its role as a resilient, globally competitive hub primed for future growth and investment?

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• What does prosperity look like when longevity becomes the defining variable? As fertility rates fall and longevity rises, the population pyramid is taking a new shape. More than a demographic shift, it is a structural turning point that requires rethinking foundational systems: education, work, and community life. Systems built for shorter lives—front-loaded education, linear career paths, and short retirements—no longer match the realities of longer, healthier lives. Strained pension systems, evolving labor markets, and workforce shortages require a new model of productivity, contribution, and lifelong learning. This conversation will explore how institutions must evolve so that longevity becomes an engine of economic growth and prosperity across generations.

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• Hedge funds are operating in a fragmented market marked by dispersion and unreliable traditional signals. This panel will explore how hedge funds managers and investors are adapting by combining expanding datasets, quantitative expertise, and predictive tools to improve decision-making. Panelists will discuss diversification, factor rotation, and evolving risk management, as well as how AI and advanced analytics are being used to accelerate inference, optimize investment processes, and build resilience across market regimes. The discussion will also examine what markets are pricing today, where mispricing is emerging, and how hedge funds managers and investors are refining their strategies to generate alpha in a more volatile and uneven liquidity environment.

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• In a higher-for-longer rate environment, shifting investor needs are redrawing the competitive map for global asset managers. Institutions are reallocating across public markets, private credit, private real estate, and multi-asset retirement solutions, intensifying competition for capital and reshaping traditional asset allocation. This CEO-level discussion explores how private capital is influencing the balance between liquidity, yield, and scale, and whether this represents a cyclical adjustment or a lasting structural reset in global capital formation. Are public markets poised to regain share as yields normalize, or will private capital remain a larger, structural component of institutional and retirement portfolios? As the fight for global flows accelerates, which models will win: private markets specialists, diversified global platforms, or integrated solutions providers positioned to capture the next decade of growth?

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• A Sound Bath is a deeply relaxing, restorative experience using specially tuned vibrational instruments. The tones and frequencies help calm the nervous system, restore balance in the body, and promote a sense of energetic alignment and expanded awareness. Benefits of a Sound Bath may include reduced stress, relief from anxiety and tension, improved mood, and an overall sense of peace and well-being.

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• As the world's most popular sport enters a new era of expansion, FIFA has spent the past decade reshaping global football—expanding the World Cup to 48 teams, introducing a new 32-team Club World Cup, and significantly increasing investment in grassroots football across its 211 member associations worldwide. With the FIFA World Cup 2026 set to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico—projecting $80.1 billion in gross economic output— the organization stands at the center of a pivotal moment for the sport's commercial and cultural growth. FIFA President Gianni Infantino joins us to discuss how the world's game is driving investment, development, and opportunity on a truly global scale.

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• Join us for an exclusive cocktail reception gathering a special group of supporters, speakers, and guests involved in Latin America's finance, government, and technology sectors.

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• This festive reception hosted by James Frost will convene leaders across business, finance, philanthropy, policy, and advocacy, all with the goal of deepening partnerships across the LGBTQ+ community. Against the backdrop of the Milken Institute Global Conference, the evening will emphasize connection, alignment, and fostering collaboration.

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• Join the Young Leaders Circle for a special one-on-one conversation with Michael Ovitz, legendary talent agent, investor, and co-founder of Creative Artists Agency. Ovitz transformed Hollywood, pioneering a model of representation and deal-making that empowered talent and reshaped the entertainment industry. Over the past several decades, he has brought the same vision to investing, partnering with leaders across Silicon Valley and identifying the next generation of exceptional talent. In an intimate setting, Ovitz will share the principles that have guided his extraordinary career and built enduring institutions. The conversation will be followed by a reception for Young Leaders Circle members and invited guests.

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• This Alo yoga session draws on somatic principles and is designed for all levels, grounded in the understanding that our nervous systems store stress, unresolved decisions, and years of high-performance living in physical ways—in the jaw, shoulders, hips, and gut. This practice is an invitation to release some of that stored tension. Through accessible movement, breathwork, and intentional stillness, we’ll work to dissolve tension that thinking alone can’t reach—leaving you with a clearer, lighter system ready to do what you do best. No flexibility required. No experience needed. Just come as you are.

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• The Global Capital Markets Advisory Council, representing more than $28 trillion in AUM, will gather for its annual meeting during the Milken Institute Global Conference. This is an opportunity to exchange ideas between investors from pension plans, endowments and foundations, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies, state and corporate treasuries, and family offices. Drawing on collective knowledge, CIOs and CEOs will consider the most effective ways to negotiate changes in the macroeconomic landscape and address the most pressing questions for institutional investors. What portfolio changes are allocators implementing to address emerging risks and opportunities inherent in a changing global order? How are CIOs integrating AI across investment processes and organizational decision-making? Where are traditional portfolio risk frameworks breaking down, and what replaces them? How are allocators reassessing regional exposures following fragmentation of supply chains and capital flows

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• As Chairman of the US Senate Banking Committee, Senator Tim Scott has championed a bold agenda to expand financial inclusion, unlock housing affordability, and establish clear regulatory frameworks for the next generation of digital assets. This session will delve into the Chairman’s vision for building an economy that keeps American innovation at the forefront of global competition and forges a financial future primed for opportunity.

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• Since the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, a new wave of an old evil has emerged in the US and other countries: Antisemitism. A recent survey by the American Jewish Committee indicates that 86 percent of Jewish Americans feel that antisemitism has increased in the US since then, as does 63 percent of the general population, whereas nearly half of young American Jews say they have been personal targets of antisemitism in the last year. In addition to physical violence, such as the attempted assassination by arson of the governor of Pennsylvania, antisemitic hate speech has emerged—from both right and left ends of the political spectrum. What is to be done? In this panel, a group of prominent thinkers and leaders will probe the newly emboldened force of antisemitism, including how American leaders and institutions should respond to the phenomenon—and how they are responding to it. Panelists will discuss how antisemitism has proliferated online, and its relationship to free speech and

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• As the world grapples with meeting elevating energy demand across industries, countries are finding an efficient, reliable solution in nuclear power. While it is a longstanding pillar of power grids in many parts of the world, nuclear power is finding renewed interest in others as a source of low-carbon energy. It can successfully feed the growing needs of the AI boom, satiate environmental concerns about energy production, and even assist with medical research. On the other hand, the sector continues to struggle with how to safely store and make use of radioactive waste and reduce high construction and maintenance costs. This panel of industry leaders will highlight the challenges and opportunities of the increasing popularity of nuclear power generation.

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• Tokenization is moving from pilot programs to institutional financial infrastructure, reshaping how cash, Treasuries, and collateral move across markets. This session examines how crypto native and traditional financial institutions are integrating tokenized instruments into treasury operations, custody frameworks, and liquidity management at scale. Panelists discuss how asset managers, banks, and platforms are enabling real-time settlement, collateral mobility, and capital efficiency while operating within evolving regulatory and risk-management frameworks. The conversation focuses on the plumbing behind adoption, including custody, governance, operational controls, and interoperability with existing financial systems. What new risks emerge as crypto rails intersect with institutional balance sheets? And how are market participants designing safeguards to ensure resilience as tokenized finance scales?

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• When population health needs outpace public resources, businesses have the means to drive access and innovation. Companies can make meaningful contributions in expanding access to health care, from promoting early disease detection, through ensuring affordable medications, to fostering environments and products that support mental and physical well-being for employees, customers, and communities. Investing in health not only improves quality of life, but also delivers business advantages including higher productivity, lower long-term health-care costs, and stronger economic resilience. This roundtable will explore how forward-thinking organizations are redefining the role of corporations and health by making public good, good business.

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• The companies defining the next era of technology aren't built overnight—they're forged through capital allocation, organizational transformation, and leadership willing to make multi-decade bets. This session brings together CEOs and investors to explore how values-driven leadership, strategic M&A, and long-term planning and strategy are reshaping industries. What does it really take to build enduring institutions when the timelines are long, the capital requirements are enormous, and the implications are global?

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• Institutional investors must navigate a rapidly shifting risk landscape shaped by escalating geopolitical tensions, including global energy market disruptions, rising trade fragmentation, and changes in industrial policies that heighten market volatility and force reconfiguration of global supply chains and capital allocation strategies. This roundtable will explore how portfolios adapt to converging risks—balancing resilience, diversification, and opportunity in an environment marked by policy uncertainty, supply shocks, and structural economic realignment.

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• To accelerate discovery and achieve meaningful progress in biomedical research requires a high tolerance for risk and the ability to pivot quickly. Science philanthropies play a unique role by providing both catalytic capital and stopgap funding to move ideas from early-stage research to therapeutic development—through seed funding, workforce support, and bold, high-impact bets. Yet one of the greatest challenges funders face is knowing how to plan for and adapt to scientific, financial, partnership risks while maximizing the impact of their investments. This roundtable will examine risks across the biomedical research ecosystem and the strategies philanthropists use to manage them effectively. Through expert insights, peer dialogue, and real-world examples, participants will share approaches for recognizing risk, making informed pivots, and sustaining progress as scientific and funding landscapes evolve.

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• China’s capital markets are undergoing a deliberate reset as global investors reassess valuations, earnings, and exit routes. While reforms aim to strengthen market discipline and attract longer-term capital, rising deal activity in advanced manufacturing, AI, and green technologies is quietly restoring momentum across private and public markets. Even so, performance gaps remain: While high-tech clusters continue to advance, property-linked and traditional consumption remains depressed. While cross-border capital flows are steady, geopolitical uncertainties are shaping investors’ perceptions of whether improving fundamentals and more consistent shareholder-return practices can anchor lasting re-rating. What signals would convince global allocators that a market recovery is taking shape? How will exit conditions and valuations adjust across private and public markets? Where might the most durable opportunities emerge as China’s capital-formation cycle enters a new phase?

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• In 2026, M&A and IPO markets have exhibited diverging dynamics across transaction types, with largescale strategic deals and selective equity issuance shaping the opportunity set for corporates and sponsors alike. Strategic M&A remains robust, while IPO issuance and sponsor exits are increasingly concentrated in higher quality, scaled issuers amid valuation discipline and still discerning financing markets. This panel examines how IPO windows are forming, how companies are preparing for public markets, and how boards are weighing timing, structure, and execution risk across sale, IPO, and dual track options. Panelists also discuss financing conditions, cross border activity, and alternative pathways for capital formation.

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• Credit markets are increasingly shaped by dispersion rather than broad macro direction, with risk and opportunity varying widely across issuers, structures, and liquidity sources. Panelists will explore how investors assess credit risk, pricing, and refinancing amid fragmented public and private markets, and how Treasury market dynamics influence liquidity, spreads, and funding conditions. The discussion will focus on how credit portfolios are being constructed today, where risk is actively managed, and where compensation may fall short as market structure increasingly drives outcomes. Where is credit risk being mispriced as liquidity becomes more episodic? How are leading investors building resilient credit portfolios when market structure—not just fundamentals—shapes performance?

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• As private markets scale across asset management and insurance platforms, CEOs face a structural challenge: integrating long-duration assets into portfolios that balance growth, income, and long-term capital preservation. At the same time, advances in AI and data are reshaping how leaders make decisions, allocate capital, and operate at scale. This conversation brings together CEOs from leading insurers, global asset managers, and private capital platforms to explore how these models are converging to deliver more integrated investment solutions across institutional asset management, retirement, and ultra-high-net-worth channels. Panelists will discuss how trust, governance, and product innovation are evolving to support lifetime financial security, intergenerational wealth creation, and durable income—while scaling private market exposure in a more technology-enabled investment landscape.

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• American families are navigating complex tradeoffs as costs of essentials strain household budgets. Housing expenses are fundamentally reshaping where people can afford to live. Grocery bills have climbed and health-care cost increases, felt in high deductibles, prescription drugs, and rising insurance premiums, create added pressure. Layered on top are childcare expenses, transportation costs, education debt, and utilities—the full range of kitchen table concerns that force painful choices between necessities. This session will examine how these affordability pressures intersect and compound, how they vary across different communities and demographics, and what market-based and policy solutions show the most promise for strengthening household economic security.

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• The Wellness Garden is a sanctuary, offering attendees a space to pause and recharge between sessions. Attendees engage in grounding workshops, skill-building sessions, and immersive mind-body experiences—from expert-led meditation, reiki, sound baths, and massages to innovative offerings like biohacking and next-gen mind-tech. Blending time-honored healing traditions with emerging wellness practices, the Wellness Garden creates meaningful opportunities to recharge, learn, and reconnect at the heart of the conference.

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• Purpose-driven leadership has moved from boardroom buzzword to business imperative—but translating values into strategy, and strategy into results, remains one of the hardest jobs in the C-suite. This session brings together CEOs who have built purpose into the operational and financial core of their organizations, not just their marketing. From workforce equity and upskilling to inclusive growth and environmental stewardship, these CEOs are committed to making strategic calls that prioritize principles alongside profit. The conversation will examine how these leaders keep values at the center of their business decisions—and sustain the structures, cultures, and strategies to effectively back them up.

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• You can’t think about entrepreneurship and innovation without thinking of Emma Grede. Founding Partner of Skims and Co-Founder and CEO of Good American, inspiring podcast host, Chair of The Fifteen Percent Pledge, and mom, Grede has managed it all to become one of America’s most celebrated self-made women. In Start With Yourself , she challenges the assumptions and inherited beliefs that quietly keep people from going after what they want—and lays out a practical, accountability-driven framework for doing things differently. Emma Grede sits down with L Catterton’s Stephanie Phair for a candid discussion about building brands with purpose, rewriting the rules you didn't know were holding you back, and what it truly looks like to bet on yourself from the ground up. As with all Global Conference public sessions, registration is not required to attend an Author Talk, but seating is limited. Seats will be open to the first 100 attendees. We recommend Conference attendees add any Author Talk

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• This session will feature speakers who are deploying capital in carbon markets across diverse geographies, discussing how they approach carbon—a key off balance sheet item for investments. They will share on-the-ground insights from origination, execution, and investing angles, highlighting what is driving integrity and investment readiness. In this invite-only session, they will aim to answer questions on how carbon is shaping up to be a credible asset class and offer an investor-centered look at progress and the path to meaningful market maturity.

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• Asset-based finance is reemerging as a scalable institutional credit strategy as investors seek durable income, structural protection, and capital efficiency. This session explores consumer, equipment, and specialty finance lending through the lens of collateral performance, securitization, and risk transfer. With middle-market fundamentals showing resilience amid higher default rates, panelists examine how asset-level underwriting, cash-flow visibility, and structural safeguards are reshaping return profiles. Why is collateral-driven credit regaining appeal, and how should investors reassess collateral risk, liquidity, and downside protection in today’s market environment?

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• Historically, the rare disease community has met persistent barriers when forced to follow clinical and regulatory pathways designed for common diseases. Such barriers are reinforced by a fractured funding environment and a challenging investment case. With more than 10,000 rare diseases identified, applying one-disease-at-a-time models is prohibitively slow, costly, and ultimately unsustainable. Breakthroughs in genetic therapies and AI are now enabling a fundamental reimagining of how rare diseases are diagnosed, studied, and treated. Panelists will examine how innovators are rewriting the rules—from AI-powered diagnostics and drug-repurposing screens to platform-based therapies and batch regulatory-approval models that address multiple diseases at once. Together, these approaches will facilitate more rapid, cost-efficient, and scalable progress for the global rare disease community.

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• Senior investment leaders play a pivotal role within allocator organizations, balancing execution with responsibility for shaping portfolios, guiding teams, and influencing manager and investment decisions. As mandates broaden and market complexity rises, these leaders are expected to demonstrate sound judgment, strategic perspective, and an ability to drive investment processes while maintaining organizational alignment. What distinguishes those who successfully step into true portfolio leadership? How are senior investment leaders asserting influence with managers, structuring their portfolios, and adapting to AI‑enabled workflows and evolving governance demands? How should allocators sharpen their perspective and build the capabilities required to advance into future CIO roles?

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• Protein cold foam, sodas, ice cream, and more—the recent explosion of trendy, ‘health-conscious’ snacks points to a larger shift in which our health and wellness choices are dictated and influenced by the latest online fad. This is evidenced in the global wellness economy growing to a record high of $6.8 trillion in 2025 with no signs of slowing down. Join investors and health professionals for a discussion highlighting both opportunities and potential pitfalls in the industry.

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• Africa is home to many of the world’s most dynamic emerging fund managers, yet they confront persistent barriers accessing global institutional capital. The Milken Institute’s Africa program will convene a curated group of African fund managers investing across a range of sectors and geographies that are actively in capital raise alongside interested investors and other strategic partners to discuss how to scale investment into Africa’s top fund managers and asset classes.

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• ASEAN’s institutional investors have been instrumental in accelerating growth for their countries and for companies internationally. Capital deployment across industries and asset classes, from new technologies to national infrastructure, has generated strong returns and enhanced strategic partnerships. Looking ahead, what are the key priorities for institutional investors from ASEAN? This roundtable convenes investors to examine various approaches to capital deployment and associated risks, with emphasis on AI opportunities to transform industries and boost competitiveness and investments in strategic sectors like energy transition, infrastructure, and downstream industries. The discussions will also examine improving project bankability, utilizing co-investment models, platform-based approaches, and partnerships that would enable execution at scale.

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• As the 2026 USMCA review approaches, the economic future of North America enters a pivotal cycle. The three regional economies—the United States, Mexico, and Canada—now constitute one of the world’s most competitive production corridors, with deep industrial links in energy, advanced manufacturing, technology, and services. At the same time, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to drive an unprecedented surge of infrastructure investment, tourism flows, and cross-border economic activity. Against a backdrop of trade uncertainty, rising regionalization, and growing investor demand for resilient markets, experts in this session will suggest how North America might leverage the USMCA revision, strengthen trilateral competitiveness, and harness World Cup momentum to unlock the next trillion-dollar opportunity for the continent.

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• As technology and financial services chart new paths of transformation around the world, each region has its own story to tell about growth, access, and innovation. From Sao Paulo to Singapore, FinTech is rewriting how money moves across borders, how people access credit, and how institutions engage globally. Drawing on the global reach and experiences of FinTechs around the world, we’ll shine a light on the road travelled, the rails built, and the people and institutions impacted by this digital revolution.

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• Scientific and technological advances are transforming our understanding of health, aging, and human biology in ways unthinkable just a decade ago. Regeneration, rejuvenation, peptides, reprogramming, and AI-enabled precision health now shape the longevity narrative, championed by voices ranging from fringe biohackers to wellness influencers to world-class physicians and scientists. Yet, this expansion of approaches, claims, and products has made it difficult for markets and consumers to discern what is ready for broad application from what is still emerging. New speculative interventions can also take the focus away from those proven to extend healthy life. As capital flows into the longevity space, how can markets distinguish promise from hype and translate credible science into investable, scalable solutions—while also clarifying what individuals can safely apply today?

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• The entertainment industry is entering a highly uncertain phase, as rapid technological change, economic pressures, and shifting audience expectations transform every part of the creative ecosystem. The rise of AI—both production tool and disruptive force—has intensified questions about authorship, creative integrity, and the future of work in the wake of historic labor strikes and job losses across film, television, and digital media. At the same time, platform consolidation, volatile streaming economics, and changing distribution models are forcing studios, creators, and investors to rethink longstanding strategies. Despite instability, however, opportunities are emerging through global market expansion, creator-driven distribution, data-informed production, and new storytelling formats. In this session industry leaders will explain how innovation, policy, and human-centered design can reshape entertainment for a more resilient future.

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• As higher interest rates, tighter liquidity, and geopolitical uncertainty reshape global capital markets, private capital is undergoing a structural repricing. Private credit has become a primary financing engine, while advisory solutions, restructuring expertise, and liquidity tools such as continuation vehicles are playing a growing role in sustaining deal activity. This discussion brings together leaders across alternative asset management, advisory, and institutional investment to examine how capital is being raised, structured, and deployed in this new environment. The conversation will explore how credit markets are evolving, how institutional partnerships are shaping the next generation of private platforms, and where opportunities are emerging across Europe, North America, and global private markets.

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• Loneliness is now recognized as a greater mortality risk than smoking or obesity, yet it remains one of the most underfunded challenges in health. Heather Hartnett will explore why the most promising longevity investments may not only extend lifespan through biotech but also strengthen the connection infrastructure that helps prevent isolation. From digital health platforms to community-driven care models, this session examines where technology and human connection intersect—and why that intersection represents both a venture strategy and a longevity strategy. Attendees will also take part in a brief experiential exercise designed to demonstrate the immediate physiological effects of genuine human connection.

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• With 23 Grand Slam titles and four Olympic gold medals behind her, Serena Williams channeled her competitive edge into venture capital, founding Serena Ventures. Join Serena for a conversation on how she identifies and backs high-growth companies, her approach to sourcing and evaluating opportunities, and what she looks for in founders building scalable businesses. The discussion will explore her investment strategy, lessons from building a venture platform, and her perspective on where the next generation of breakout companies will emerge.

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• The war in Ukraine has shown Europe’s vulnerability not only to weapons aimed at battlefield targets, but also those aimed at its civilian infrastructure, energy supplies, and intellectual property. While world leaders hold discussions about security guarantees for Ukraine, how can the West help secure the wider region against aggression? Capital is needed to fortify Europe’s eastern border militarily, but also to renew and protect infrastructure and businesses. This panel brings together investors, infrastructure providers, defense experts, and government leaders to discuss how the West can best contribute to rebuilding Ukraine, along with maintaining effective deterrence along Europe’s entire eastern border.

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• From launch infrastructure to lunar ambitions, the space economy is attracting a new generation of investors willing to bet on the long arc of human expansion beyond Earth. This panel brings together leading venture capitalists, fund managers, and industry pioneers to explore where the smartest money is flowing, how to evaluate risk in a sector defined by technical complexity and extended time horizons, and what it will take to build enduring companies in orbit and beyond.

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• What do Afghanistan, rock and roll, and a multibillion-dollar media empire have in common? Tom Freston. A co-founder of MTV, former CEO of Viacom, and author of Unplugged: Adventures from MTV to Timbuktu , Freston takes us through his non-traditional path from wandering the Sahara and launching a clothing company in Afghanistan to bringing MTV to screens in over 150 countries and shaping the modern media landscape. His is a story not of a straight line to the top, but of curiosity, reinvention, and an abiding belief that the unconventional path is often the most rewarding one. In conversation with CNBC’s Julia Boorstin, Tom Freston reflects on building one of the most iconic brands in television history, championing causes beyond the boardroom, and what it really takes to embrace risk, adapt, and keep moving forward. As with all Global Conference public sessions, registration is not required to attend an Author Talk, but seating is limited. Seats will be open to the first 100 attendees

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• The global development landscape has been rapidly and profoundly transformed. As nationalism reshapes foreign policy priorities, major powers have sharply reduced foreign aid budgets and reconsidered the role of soft power, leaving long-dependent nations and populations exposed. Nearly a year since the formal dissolution of USAID and the broader contraction of international development funding, this session looks at what comes next. Where have nontraditional partnerships emerged to fill the vacuum? How are philanthropic and non-governmental organizations alongside humanitarian agencies reorienting their roles? And where do critical gaps remain—particularly in global health infrastructure and aid programs—that no entity has yet stepped in to address?

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• The continued growth of passive investing has transformed asset management, prompting investors to reassess where active strategies can deliver differentiated value across asset classes. As market concentration increases and indices become more dominated by a small number of companies, many investors are reconsidering the role of active management in portfolio construction. How are asset owners evaluating active strategies in today’s market environment? Where can active managers still generate sustainable alpha? And how are advances in data, analytics, and artificial intelligence reshaping investment decision-making? This roundtable of leading asset owners will explore how active management is evolving and what may define its next phase.

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• Today's private sector leaders operate within an increasingly complex and highly visible environment. Economic uncertainty, rapid technological change, evolving workforce expectations, and intensified public scrutiny have placed the private sector firmly in the spotlight, where they are expected not only to deliver strong performance but also to cultivate healthy workplaces, demonstrate responsible leadership, and maintain credible public identities. Social media, employees, investors, and activists all play a growing role in shaping public perception. Trust and brand credibility have therefore become core business imperatives with tangible and immediate economic consequences. Developing a clear and intentional brand for both the organization and its leadership continues to emerge as a key strategic priority. What lessons must today's executives learn to navigate this evolving landscape while building durable trust with employees, clients, governments, and the broader public?

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• The middle market presents distinct sourcing, execution, and scaling challenges as competition intensifies; founder-led businesses transition ownership. This session will examine how specialized strategies, disciplined add-on execution, and operational modernization are reshaping value creation in middle-market private equity. Panelists discuss how data, automation, and selective AI deployment are improving diligence, accelerating integration, and driving operational performance—without overcapitalizing balance sheets. The conversation also explores liquidity pathways, exit readiness, and how firms differentiate in increasingly crowded segments. Where is technology delivering measurable value in middle-market portfolios? How are sponsors balancing innovation with execution discipline?

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• Japan's economy over the last year has been significantly challenged, but remains resilient. Public equities experienced strong growth—the Nikkei Index grew 24 percent in 2025—but companies were hammered by US trade tariffs, with resulting increased government spending causing public debt levels to rise to well over twice the size of its economy. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi rolled out new policies to boost business activity and political goodwill, including a USD $550 billion commitment to invest in the US economy, which has been rewarded with a landslide election victory. What opportunities do investors see as the fiscal and monetary environments change in this new administration? How can Japanese businesses capture the opportunity into greater investment activity and financial returns?

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• The concept of retirement is undergoing rapid transformation. A significant portion of the modern workforce—gig workers, part-time employees, and those in small businesses—lack access to employer-sponsored retirement plans or full health coverage. This leaves many vulnerable as they age. The gap is exacerbated by evolving working models and a general lack of financial engagement among many workers who are not actively saving for the future. This interactive session will move beyond conventional solutions. The session will consider innovative, universal models designed to close the coverage gap and facilitate financial security for all workers. It will focus on expanding coverage, boosting engagement, and adapting to the future of work.

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• With one of the world’s most stable financial systems, a rapidly expanding innovation economy, and strong commitments to decarbonization, Canada is positioning itself as a strategic hub for sectors such as AI, life sciences, critical minerals, and next-generation automotive production. At the same time, new regulations, shifting immigration dynamics, evolving fiscal policies, and intensifying US–China tensions are reshaping capital flows and risk assessments. Global investors are watching closely: Where are the most compelling opportunities? How will trade, climate, and industrial policy influence competitiveness? And what must Canada do to strengthen its role as a resilient, globally connected investment destination? This session convenes global asset managers, corporate leaders, and policy experts to evaluate Canada’s outlook for 2026 and the forces that will shape its next chapter in the global economy.

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• American politics is in a period of realignment, as competing visions on trade, immigration, fiscal policy, and America's global role raise a fundamental question: can a political center still hold? And yet, despite the dissonance, in areas such as housing supply, energy development, industrial policy, and economic competitiveness, policymakers in both parties are exploring a shared vision. Join us to hear Rahm Emanuel, former US Ambassador to Japan and 55th Mayor of Chicago, and Glenn Youngkin, 74th Governor of Virginia and former Co-CEO of The Carlyle Group, explore where the two parties are heading and what it will take to build coalitions that support durable growth and expanded economic opportunity for all Americans.

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• Artificial intelligence is no longer an emerging technology: It is a systemic force reshaping economies, governance, and social structures at unprecedented speed. This session will examine the societal, ethical, and economic dimensions of AI’s rapid integration, while tackling critical questions such as: How do we preserve human agency as AI systems influence decision-making at scale? What frameworks are necessary to ensure equitable access, societal resilience, and ethical alignment? How can public and private institutions anticipate the unintended consequences of AI adoption before they crystallize? The discussion will illustrate the interplay between technology and human values, and explore how societies can still shape AI development in ways that reinforce democratic institutions, economic opportunity, and shared prosperity as we define the next chapter of AI and its impact on humanity.

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• With countries, companies, and investors pursuing ambitious goals in energy transition, adaptation, and sustainability, the need to accelerate climate related capital deployment and deal flow has never been more pressing. To build momentum for the climate transition in an era of geoeconomic and technological disruption, new, investor-led alliances are emerging to scale up investable projects, overcome de-risking challenges, and lift innovation from the bottom up. This session will bring together regionally diverse investors to discuss strategies for portfolio management and sustainability investment.

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• Sleep is a primary regulator of the nervous system. Across the circadian cycle, daily performance influences sleep quality, and sleep in turn shapes performance. When the nervous system is overstimulated, sleep is disrupted; without sufficient sleep, regulation further declines, creating a self-reinforcing Sleep-Stress Cycle. In this session, Sara Elizabeth Ivanhoe introduces mind-body protocols designed to support parasympathetic activation. These targeted interventions help interrupt this cycle and allow sleep to fulfill its essential recovery functions, including tissue repair, immune support, and memory consolidation. In doing so, sleep can more effectively support the physiological, psychological, and cognitive processes that underpin overall performance.

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• Join Milken Institute CEO Richard Ditizio and Chairman Michael Milken for lunch and conversation among industry leaders centered around the complexities of today's economic landscape. This discussion will explore how CEOs are navigating challenges including market volatility, geopolitical tensions, investment trends, supply-chain disruptions, shifting workforce dynamics, accelerated digital transformations, AI, and beyond to lead effectively in a new era.

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• More than 10 million children in the United States face the daily reality of basic-needs insecurity. Baby2Baby Co-CEOs Kelly Sawyer Patricof and Norah Weinstein have scaled a grassroots organization into a national movement, delivering over half a billion of essential items—such as diapers, clothing, and formula—to families in need across the country. Entrepreneur, model, philanthropist, Founder of KORA Organics, and Baby2Baby Board Member Miranda Kerr has stood alongside them as a powerful advocate for mothers and newborns in underserved communities. Together in conversation, they will explore how bold advocacy and cross-sector partnerships can break the cycle of poverty and strengthen the foundation of our communities—and why investing in the health and dignity of our youngest citizens is the most impactful investment we can make.

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• We are living in a time of great uncertainty—politically, economically, and environmentally. Yet during periods of upheaval and disruption, humans have consistently demonstrated a remarkable capacity for resilience, courage, and community—what experts are now calling “social health.” In conversation with Barbara Raymond, founder of the Public Good, Dr. Varun Soni, Dean of Religious Life at USC, will share strategies for cultivating hope, faith, and optimism.

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• As technology reshapes how we communicate, connect and care for one another, a paradox emerges: despite unprecedented digital connectivity, feelings of isolation and disconnection are on the rise. This panel explores how social platforms, AI companions, and digital habits are transforming modern relationships. How can we reclaim human connection in an era dominated by screens?

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• This must-see event highlights the transformative power of entrepreneurship for social good. In an atmosphere of anticipation and celebration, you will follow the journeys of bold innovators who are advancing AI and manufacturing solutions as they expand the reach of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies across underserved, emerging, and frontier markets. Join us as we recognize the top five competitors and announce the winners of this prestigious prize, honoring their groundbreaking solutions and visionary leadership.

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• The MENA region holds a striking paradox: while it collectively holds over $4 trillion in sovereign wealth fund capital, it is largely deployed outside the region, with the result that intra-MENA trade and job creation lag behind every other global region. This session builds on the breakthrough Regional Infrastructure Finance Workshop at the December 2025 Milken Institute Middle East and Africa Summit in Abu Dhabi. At that meeting, sovereign wealth funds, DFIs, asset managers, and infrastructure operators identified concrete barriers to cross-border investment—and committed to specific actions to overcome them. Now we advance the agenda by focusing on IMEC, the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor announced at the 2023 G20 Summit as the most ambitious cross-border infrastructure program of our generation.

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• From the Olympic Games to the FIFA World Cup, global sporting events are more than competitions: they are catalysts for economic growth, social impact, and community transformation. This panel explores how these marquee events attract investment, reshape host cities, and foster inclusive communities. Athletes, investors, and industry leaders will discuss strategies for maximizing the lasting cultural, social, and financial benefits of hosting and engaging with these global sporting phenomena.

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• Reframing celebrity as a singular source of connection, this conversation will explore how investors and companies can leverage Hollywood talent to bridge the gap between brands, capital, and culture. Award-winning actress, director, entrepreneur, and activist Eva Longoria will join Kevin Yorn, founder and managing partner of the leading entertainment law firm Yorn Levine and founder of growth equity firm BroadLight Capital, to discuss how celebrity can serve as a powerful gateway into a broader ecosystem of opportunity.

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• A storyteller, an artist, a musical legend—Lionel Richie is one of a kind. From his childhood in Tuskegee, Alabama to the recording studios of Motown, from bringing the world together through song to giving others the opportunity of a lifetime on American Idol , Richie takes us on a journey through both the ordinary and major moments in his life in Truly . His candid, vulnerable memoir takes us behind the curtain of his incredible, decades-long career. Join us for a conversation with Lionel Richie as he reflects upon the people, opportunities, experiences that have shaped him into an icon and an example the American Dream.

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• For 250 years, the American Dream has drawn people from every corner of the world with the promise that your future is not determined by where you started. For some, it has meant freedom. For others, opportunity, reinvention, achievement, service, or the chance to build a better life for the next generation. In this closing conversation, leaders from different backgrounds and professions reflect on the experiences that shaped them, the obstacles they overcame, and the opportunities that changed the course of their lives. From science and medicine to journalism, entrepreneurship, and exploration, their stories offer a reminder that the American Dream is not a fixed idea, but a living one—renewed by each generation and strengthened by the people determined to pursue it. As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, this conversation explores why the American Dream still matters, what it asks of us, and why it continues to inspire people around the world.

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• Celebrate the grand finale of the 2026 Global Conference with an unforgettable closing concert and reception featuring global superstar Armando Christian Pérez (Pitbull). The GRAMMY® Award-winning musician, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and education ambassador. With billions of audio streams, video views, and hundreds of gold and platinum certifications, he has built one of the most dynamic and influential careers in music history. Beyond entertainment, he founded SLAM!, a tuition-free public charter school network recognized globally as a leading education organization, reflecting his commitment to empowering the next generation. Join us for an electrifying afternoon of music, celebration, and global impact, and experience firsthand the cultural influence and unique legacy of Pitbull. Dale!

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• This morning session offers a moment to pause, reset, and prepare for the day ahead. Combining dynamic stretching, intentional breathwork, and light movement, participants will leave feeling grounded, focused, and energized. Whether you have five minutes or the full hour, this flexible drop-in class is open to all—no prior experience needed.

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• Discussions about the need for more bankable projects have yielded tangible progress over the last decade, but with geopolitical disruptions affecting the operations of many government-led initiatives, the need for new sustainability-focused and structured finance platform ideas has never been greater. Join this session to learn about new approaches to build fit for purpose investments.

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• Over the past decade, alumni of the IFC-Milken Institute Capital Markets Program have built the future of financial markets across 60-plus developing and emerging economies. These young leaders have come up with new ideas for policy reforms, innovative funds, and financial structures. Topics range from securities lending, regional financial integration, and market liquidity to diaspora investment and exchange-traded funds. Which concepts will have the most impact on inclusive growth and investor attraction? Which can realistically be implemented—at what cost, where? Our program's most recent graduates will pitch detailed plans to a panel of prominent leaders from the development and business community. From Kenya and Ethiopia to Peru and Brazil, in this interactive session we will ”kick the tires” on the proposals and identify those ready for implementation or investment.

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• One of the most recognizable political analysts and reporters of our time, Jonathan Capehart is a steady, dependable voice to help people make sense of the world. Despite his assured role helping to inform a population, he didn’t always feel assured of his own personal identity. In his moving memoir, Yet Here I Am , Capehart traces his life and pursuit to finding his voice—as a gay Black man, as a writer, and as one of American journalism's most recognized voices. What does it take to claim your own story? Capehart takes us with him on his route to self-exploration and discovery. In an honest and deeply personal conversation with LZ Granderson, Jonathan Capehart discusses identity, resilience, and the ongoing work of finding—and keeping—your place in the world. As with all Global Conference public sessions, registration is not required to attend an Author Talk, but seating is limited. Seats will be open to the first 100 attendees. We recommend Conference attendees add any Author Talks

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• As GLP-1 therapies become more accessible through shifting price points, new consumer channels, and evolving benefit designs, the market for them is poised for a new stage of growth. Broader availability is creating opportunities for innovation while also increasing the need for differentiated models that support adherence, engagement, and long-term health. As GLP-1 research advances in areas such as brain health, addiction, and liver disease, these therapies are poised to affect a wider set of clinical and economic decisions across the health system. This session will examine how changing economics, consumer demand, and precision targeting are reshaping the GLP-1 landscape and what these trends mean for scalable and sustainable value across health care.

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• It is estimated that at least a quarter of all species on Earth are currently vulnerable or endangered, largely due to habitat loss. If current trends continue, it is possible that many of these species could become extinct by 2050. As we reflect on Dr. Jane Goodall’s legacy of leadership and impact for conservation around the world—especially at such a turbulent time for climate and environmental initiatives—what does this work require moving forward? What approaches have proven to be most effective in protecting ecosystems and threatened species? How can conservation finance models such as public–private partnerships, carbon and biodiversity credits, community-led stewardship, and investment in eco-tourism protect wildlife and habitats while driving economic growth? Join this panel of conservation leaders and investors to explore how we can mobilize philanthropic, private, and institutional capital to help protect ecosystems and improve conditions for all life on Earth—including ours

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• Around the world, education is being reshaped by rapid technological change, shifting labor markets, and widening inequities. At the same time, new models of learning—from autonomous, tech-enabled approaches to reimagined university structures—are challenging longstanding assumptions about how education works and who it serves. This private roundtable convenes leading global innovators to explore what it takes to design learning systems that are more adaptive, equitable, and future ready—and how finance, governance, and partnerships can help these models scale.

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• Dubai and the UAE have firmly established themselves as a leading global hub for capital, talent, and enterprise, underpinned by long-term national strategies, deep sovereign capacity, and a predictable, open regulatory environment. Growth continues to accelerate across renewable energy, logistics, advanced manufacturing, AI, financial services, and technology enabled industries. As the current Middle East conflict tests regional stability and resilience, the UAE’s response has reinforced its reputation as a steady and reliable platform for long-term investment. This invite-only session convenes senior policymakers, global investors, and business leaders to examine how Dubai and the UAE are leveraging institutional depth and strength to sustain investor confidence while consolidating its position as a premier destination for global capital and innovation-led growth during a period of heightened uncertainty.

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• Driving a surge in demand for power, data centers, and grid capacity, AI is reshaping how infrastructure capital is raised and deployed. In this session, experts will examine how institutional investors are financing the AI-energy backbone across generation, grids, storage, and data centers through infrastructure equity, private credit, insurance balance sheets, and structured capital. Panelists will discuss how reliability, duration, and regulatory constraints are priced; how blended public-private models are scaling firm, always-on power; and how cost recovery and capital intensity intersect with consumer affordability, rate design, and public acceptance. Together, these forces shape capital efficiency, long-term return durability, and the sustainability of AI-driven infrastructure buildout.

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• Veterans bring mission-driven leadership, technical expertise, and strong risk‑management skills to starting and growing a company. Entrepreneurship offers a powerful route to economic mobility, community connection, and meaningful post-service careers. However, limited access to capital, financial literacy gaps, and challenges in building professional networks continue to hold veteran entrepreneurs back. In a recent national survey, 37 percent of veteran entrepreneurs reported difficulty accessing capital. This panel will explore how expanding access to capital—alongside mentorship, networks, and financial education—can unlock meaningful economic opportunity for veterans and strengthen the broader veteran community. Panelists will examine current gaps in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, the long-term impact of strengthening veteran-led businesses, and actionable strategies for building an inclusive, well-capitalized pipeline of veteran entrepreneurs.

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• This annual session will convene innovators as they highlight their contributions to advancing the world of cutting-edge technology and science. Join these visionaries as they share glimpses of what a flourishing future will look like. With the power to change our lives for the better, these advancements from the frontiers of innovation could blow your mind!

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• As technology, supply chain risks, and evolving consumer expectations shape the global food system, private sector leaders are entering a new phase of innovation and collaboration. Advances in AI, mounting pressures on global agricultural production, and growing demand for nutritious food are spurring companies to rethink agricultural strategies, reimagine how food products are designed, and pioneer the integration of food in health care to catalyze better health outcomes. This session will explore how major food companies are responding to these forces and positioning themselves to lead at the nexus of nutrition and health. The conversation will also examine how food leaders are working together to unlock new markets, invest in innovation, and meet rising expectations around health, affordability, and access.

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• The Wellness Garden is a sanctuary, offering attendees a space to pause and recharge between sessions. Attendees engage in grounding workshops, skill-building sessions, and immersive mind-body experiences—from expert-led meditation, reiki, sound baths, and massages to innovative offerings like biohacking and next-gen mind-tech. Blending time-honored healing traditions with emerging wellness practices, the Wellness Garden creates meaningful opportunities to recharge, learn, and reconnect at the heart of the conference.

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• As America approaches its 250th anniversary, the gap between who capitalism serves and who it leaves behind has never been more visible—or more costly. In Capitalism for All , economic empowerment expert John Hope Bryant presents a thoughtful analysis of the economy, a practical framework for making capitalism work for everyone, and an argument for inclusive economies as a competitive advantage. He lays out an actionable argument for how expanding access to capital, financial literacy, and emerging technologies like AI can strengthen the middle class, sharpen America's global edge, and make the promise of the American Dream something more than a slogan. Join this conversation with John Hope Bryant for a timely and urgent discussion about what it will actually take to build an economy that works for everyone—and why the cost of inaction is one America can no longer afford. As with all Global Conference public sessions, registration is not required to attend an Author Talk, but seating i

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• Markets are notoriously prone to “manias, panics and crashes,” often recognized only after they burst. After Covid interrupted a bull market almost 12 years long in 2020, markets surged as the pandemic receded, rekindling debate about possible excess in passive investing and private credit. Today, AI is the focus. Guided by history, panelists will examine the financial mechanics and real-economy implications of the AI investment surge. Where is value created, who captures it—and who does not? Today’s discussion will explore whether AI follows a familiar speculative pattern or represents a new kind of potentially deflationary bubble, in which massive investment drives down costs, accelerates productivity, and restructures labor. Joining forces, historians, economists, investors, and journalists will examine warning signs, capital flows, and structural shifts to assess what this moment means for investors, markets, and society.

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• Film and television have never been more widely distributed, yet financial success remains far from guaranteed—even projects that earn critical acclaim and strong audiences. As streaming reshapes how content is produced, monetized, and measured, the filmed entertainment industry faces growing pressure to balance artistic ambition with commercial reality. This session brings together leading directors, screenwriters, and showrunners to explore how risk is evaluated today, whether financial constraints are driving “safer” storytelling, and how the industry can continue to support bold, original work in an increasingly uncertain market.

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• Decades of research show that face-to-face connection is fundamental to happiness and a fulfilling life. Yet many people, especially younger generations, report anxiety about translating digital interactions into real-world relationships. Drawing on new research from Bumble and Arthur Brooks, this conversation examines the behaviors and mindsets most strongly associated with high-quality relationships and shares science-backed insights to empower more confident, intentional, and lasting love offline.

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• Private markets were built on predictable exits and continuous capital recycling, but that expansion model has slowed. As distributions remain constrained and holding periods extend, allocators and managers are redesigning how liquidity is sourced, sequenced, and structured across portfolios and vintages. This session will examine fund- and portfolio-level liquidity tools, including insurance capital, NAV-based lending, continuation vehicles, and capital solutions platforms. Topics will include how underwriting standards, pacing models, and governance can adapt in a world of episodic liquidity. Panelists will assess how LPs evaluate complexity, transparency, and alignment as engineered liquidity becomes central to private-markets construction.

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• Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how communities plan, finance, and deliver infrastructure and public services. This private session brings together leaders from technology, finance, and philanthropy for a candid, off-the-record discussion on where AI is already being applied, covering community infrastructure and civic systems. Participants will pay close attention to what is proving hardest to implement, as well as the need for new regional tech hubs to anchor innovation from the bottom up and build effective collaboration across sectors to responsibly scale AI-enabled solutions.

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• After the Eaton and Palisades Fires in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Wildfires Civic Leaders Council convened business, foundation, and nonprofit leaders to exchange information, triage needs, and collaborate to solve challenges in recovery and rebuilding—particularly, insurance, and rebuilding affordability and finance. The Council met for the first time at the Milken Institute's Global Conference 2025. As part of Global Conference 2026, the Council will reconvene to reflect on the second year of recovery and further advance its priorities, including novel public-private rebuild financing solutions as well as advocacy at the federal and state level.

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• Global investors are positioning for a new technology supercycle shaped by AI adoption, cloud expansion, digital payments, cybersecurity, and the buildout of large-scale data infrastructure. Across regions, capital is flowing toward markets that can combine innovation, scale, and regulatory readiness to support digital transformation across finance, health, retail, and manufacturing. Latin America is an important part of this story, as rising digital adoption, real-time payments, and expanding cloud and data capacity are strengthening its role within the broader global tech landscape. This session will explore where investment is moving, how different regions are competing and collaborating, and why the next phase of technology-driven growth is creating new opportunities for investors worldwide.

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• With women poised to inherit an estimated $30 trillion from the baby-boomer generation in the next five years—and to control approximately 75 percent of discretionary funding worldwide—the potential for transformative change is immense. Directing even a small share of this wealth toward women entrepreneurs and other underrepresented founders could reshape the financial services landscape for the long term. A Milken. Institute report published in partnership with Recast Capital, The Missing Billions: Analyzing the Impact of Women-Led Financial Managers, examines how women-led venture fund managers deploy capital—and the outsized impact their investments create. The report identifies persistent barriers facing confronting these managers and offers concrete recommendations to unlock significantly more capital for them. Panel members will explore the report’s core findings, outline next steps, and discuss implications for future program design and industry action.

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• As global water demand rises and supply becomes less predictable, water security is increasingly priced as a core economic risk. Public budgets alone cannot keep pace with the infrastructure upgrades, watershed protection, and resilience investments needed to deliver water reliably to households, industry, and agriculture. Which instruments, from water-focused funds to blended finance structures, are most effective at mobilizing private capital for watershed conservation and restoration? How can catalytic public and philanthropic capital de-risk early projects and attract institutional investors? And what governance, data, and valuation standards are needed to measure outcomes with confidence and scale projects?

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• In private capital and institutional finance, AI is no longer just a productivity tool. It is becoming a structural driver of enterprise value, sitting at the intersection of technology and industry transformation. Leaders discuss how AI is reshaping underwriting, sourcing, risk governance, capital formation, and client engagement across global platforms. As competition intensifies, the operating model itself becomes a source of differentiation. Beyond traditional software companies, AI innovation is increasingly unlocking value across sectors such as health care, financial services, and consumer industries. How are firms redesigning workflows, embedding intelligence into decision systems, and modernizing client interfaces while preserving institutional discipline? How are asset managers and asset allocators adapting their strategies to incorporate AI across portfolio construction, manager selection, and capital deployment?

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• Often seen as an intractable problem, gun violence demands solutions that cut across multiple sectors. This conversation convenes public officials, business leaders, and advocates to examine how to prevent gun violence, strengthen community safety, and expand economic opportunity. Grounded in evidence and lived experience, panelists will explore the shared responsibility—and untapped potential—of local governments, the private sector, and other key stakeholders to invest in safety, elevate effective policies, and scale what is working. Moving beyond pessimism and cyclical narratives, the discussion will surface practical insights, proven models, and actionable strategies to advance lasting safety and prosperity in the communities most impacted.

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• 250 years since the United States fought its way out of the British Empire, inspired by ideas of freedom from revolutionary thinkers on both sides of the Atlantic, the Transatlantic relationship continues to shape our world today. From security to sports, fashion to food and philosophy, the exchange of ideas across the ocean continues to constitute and reinvent ideas of both who we are and what we might be capable of. This panel brings together historians, diplomats, authors, and entrepreneurs to chart both the origins of the Transatlantic relationship and where it might go next.

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• After identifying a gap in the market for clinically backed skin care designed for women over 40, Molly Sims transformed a personal struggle with hyperpigmentation into YSE Beauty, one of the fastest-growing brands in the category. In conversation with Daphne Oz, Sims pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to go from public figure to founder: navigating supply chains, structuring investor pitches, securing a Sephora partnership, and balancing the demands of company-building with family life—and why she considers it both the hardest and most meaningful work of her career.

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• The most accomplished leaders are those others turn to for decisions, vision, and strength—driving organizations forward, building lasting impact, and carrying the weight of legacy. However, even the highest performers need space to recharge and realign. In conversation with lifestyle expert Martha McCully, executive coach Cynthia Occelli will share the methodologies she has used with clients for more than two decades to cultivate balance, clarity, and authentic leadership.

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• This conversation will explore how leading sports organizations and brands are reshaping business models through innovation, media, and global expansion. Industry leaders will discuss how sports franchises are extending their reach through new formats, non-traditional venues, and digital ecosystems that are redefining engagement, talent pathways, and audience growth. The discussion will also examine the shift toward more integrated, experience-led partnerships, with brands embedded across teams, content, and fan touchpoints within a multi-platform media environment. Broader themes include the globalization of sports and consumer demand, the growing influence of athletes and ambassadors on brand affinity, and the continued evolution of sports and performance categories amid shifting market conditions.

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• The geopolitical risk premium on Israeli assets has historically overcompensated investors—yet the opportunity gap persists. Over the past decade, capital markets reforms with roots in past Milken Institute Global Conferences have driven substantial progress: the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange's demutualization, the shift to global trading hours and English-language reporting, innovative public-private structures with investor risk mitigation, and new indexes—with daily equity trading volumes increasing nearly fivefold as a result. Yet the unfinished agenda is now urgent. Despite record billions in private equity deals in 2025, the technology sector's contribution to GDP has flatlined. Startup formation is declining. The brain drain is accelerating. Institutional investors are reducing exposure to Israeli high-tech. And the structural tools needed to anchor the innovation economy—and to build capital market partnerships with regional neighbors—remain incomplete. How do we construct capital ma

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• Africa’s creative economy, spanning music, film, sports, fashion, and digital content, has become a powerful driver of global cultural influence and economic growth. Already valued at an estimated $50 billion and projected to exceed $100 billion by 2030, the sector is fueled by a young, digitally connected population and rising demand for African storytelling, sound, and creativity. African music alone has seen double-digit growth globally, with billions of streams annually and audiences expanding rapidly. This session brings together leaders from the creative and investment ecosystems to examine the growth in African creative exports—music, film, intellectual property, and creative infrastructure—and explore ways that strategic investment in the continent’s creative industries can unlock new revenue, create jobs, and deliver compelling opportunities for investors.

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• This closed‑door session will explore cross‑border investment frameworks for sustainable and secure critical-mineral supply chains. Speakers will share insights on how emerging catalysts are shaping partnerships and capital deployment across the supply chain—from mines, refining, and innovations. They will lead the discussion on investment opportunities, forged by shared interests, in the global race to secure minerals critical for economic development and national security.

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• Global gaming has more than 3 billion players. Nearly half of them are women, a significant driver for mobile and casual gaming growth. At the same time, AI and tech shifts are changing how games are developed, tested, personalized, and delivered. This panel features game changers who are taking the helm and reshaping the industry from the inside out. From mobile platforms and virtual reality (VR) to social impact and inclusive studios, leadership and perspective are driving unprecedented change in gaming.

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• In January 2025, the nation watched in horror as Los Angeles burned. The Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire destroyed entire communities, leaving many with only the clothes on their backs. As a native Angeleno who reported from the front lines as his own childhood neighborhood went up in flames, MS NOW journalist Jacob Soboroff brings a uniquely personal lens to Firestorm —his account of the costliest wildfire disaster in American history. Through months of interviews with firefighters, scientists, survivors, and emergency officials, Soboroff seeks to answer not just how these fires caused such catastrophic destruction, but whether they signal something more alarming: that this is the new normal. Join Jacob Soboroff in conversation with Milken Institute Executive Director of Marketing and Communications Michelle Stevenson as he unpacks his reporting on the LA fires and what their lasting implications mean for communities across the country. As with all Global Conference public sessions,

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• Technological change, demographic shifts, and evolving economic models are reshaping how societies create opportunity and prepare people for work. While advances in artificial intelligence and automation accelerate these changes, the deeper challenge lies in how institutions respond. This conversation will explore how leaders across business, philanthropy, and finance are navigating disruption and rethinking how talent is developed, opportunity is distributed, and individuals remain economically connected. The panelists will review how companies are redefining workforce strategies, how philanthropy is investing in long-term economic mobility, and how cross-sector collaboration can strengthen pathways to employment. The goal remains constant: To ensure that the benefits of innovation translate into broader opportunity, rather than deepening divides.

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• In 2026, the global credit system shifted from bank-led lending to an ecosystem where insurers, private credit funds, and sovereign wealth capital now provide core market plumbing. Panelists will examine how risk is transferred off bank balance sheets through significant risk transfer, asset-based finance, and fund-level leverage, and what that means for credit quality and system resilience. Panelists will assess whether risk is truly diversified, focusing on stress testing outside the banking system—including how insurers, BDCs, and multi-strategy platforms evaluate downside scenarios. The discussion will explore the evolving partnership between banks and private capital and consider where systemic stability ultimately resides when traditional lenders of last resort are constrained. Has credit risk been meaningfully dispersed across the system, or simply relocated into structures that are harder to monitor and stress test? How should regulators and allocators assess systemic vulnerabi

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• In the interconnected world of 2026, with the media highlighting regional conflicts, human rights abuses, and judicial erosion, it is clear that democracy is fragile and under attack by external and internal forces. Amid these anti-democratic trends and declining democratic values, however, there is a strong, hopeful counter-narrative. Worldwide, people living under authoritarian regimes are pushing back, their voices cutting through the noise. This session spotlights the experiences of civilian actors from diverse corners of the globe who are at the forefront of fighting for fundamental freedoms and defending democracy. Their stories of resistance against corrupt institutions and governments offer proof of their unwavering commitment to freedom and to building democracy for their fellow citizens. Join us as we examine the grassroots movements shaping the future of democracy on a global scale.

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• Since the early 1800s, Historically Black Colleges and Universities have served as hubs of education, community development, and economic advancement for students of color. While these institutions make up about 3 percent of the country's colleges and universities, HBCUs produce 20 percent of all African American graduates. HBCUs have proved to be integral contributors to the advancement of people of color, but have also been consistently underinvested. Investing in HBCUs can have an immense impact—A recent McKinsey report shows that a strengthened HBCU network can increase Black worker incomes by around $10 billion in addition to strengthening the economy with $1.2 billion in incremental business profit, creating economic mobility pathways that can also contribute an additional $1 billion in consumer expenditures. This panel examines the significance of HBCUs and explores strategies for supporting their longevity and sustainability.

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• With traditional funding models under strain, private capital is emerging as a critical lever for transforming health systems across the globe. This panel convenes leading investors and dealmakers to examine where the most compelling opportunities lie, how risk is being priced and structured, and what it will take to move capital from commitment to impact.