Financial Leaders Join Hank Paulson on New Podcast

In August 2020, the Paulson Institute launched  Straight Talk with Hank Paulson  welcoming today's finance industry leaders for in-depth conversations on the most important issues facing the global economy. Throughout the first and second seasons, the conversations focused on addressing the economic fallout from COVID-19, economic solutions to environmental issues, and advancements in technology. Hank's guests also provided a behind-the-scenes look at how financial crises around the globe were managed. Take a listen as today's prominent voices in the finance industry share the lessons learned from past financial crises and look toward a greener, more equitable global economy.

Sir Partha Dasgupta, Economist and Frank Ramsey Professor Emeritus of Economics, University of Cambridge | August 5, 2021

 Sir Partha Dasgupta  (Economist and Frank Ramsey Professor Emeritus of Economics, University of Cambridge) joins Hank on Straight Talk to discuss economics, the biodiversity crisis, and valuing nature. He shares insights on embedding the human economy in the biosphere, the usefulness of GDP, the concept and practice of inclusive wealth, and generational equity.

Gillian Tett, Moral Money Co-Founder and Chair of the Editorial Board and Editor-at-Large, US of the Financial Times | July 29, 2001

Hank Paulson welcomes  Gillian Tett  ( Moral Money  Co-Founder and Chair of the Editorial Board and Editor-at-Large, US of the  Financial Times ) to the podcast to talk about what drew her to anthropology, her transition to journalism and economics, covering climate change and green finance, and her  new book .

Deborah Lehr, Vice Chairman and Executive Director, Paulson Institute and CEO, Basilinna | June 21, 2021

 Deborah Lehr , Paulson Institute Vice Chairman and Executive Director, joins Straight Talk with Hank Paulson to discuss her experience studying in China in the 80s, working on economic relations with China and the country’s accession to the WTO, combatting global looting via the  Antiquities Coalition , and her advocacy for a career of service. She shares insights on US-China competition, China’s expanding role in the Middle East, and how green finance is key to fighting climate change.

Ernest Moniz, 13th US Secretary of Energy and President and CEO of Energy Futures Initiative | June 7, 2021

Hank welcomes  Ernest Moniz  (13th US Secretary of Energy and President and CEO of  Energy Futures Initiative ) to Straight Talk to discuss the intersection of energy, climate, science, and policy. Moniz shares insights on mentorship and STEM education, what it takes to succeed in Washington, how carbon capture can help the world reach net zero emissions, nuclear energy’s potential, serving as a key architect of the Paris Agreement, the upcoming Glasgow climate summit, and his case for climate optimism.

Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Managing Director and Group CEO of Mubadala | May 28, 2021

 Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak , Managing Director and Group CEO of  Mubadala , joins Hank on Straight Talk to discuss how UAE has developed over its first 50 years and where the country is headed in the next 50, investing in the future of the UAE through Mubadala, how UAE is working to meet the climate change threat, the strength of the US-UAE relationship and how UAE is approaching its relationship with China, and what he's learned while leading Manchester City Football Club.

Melissa Kearney, Director of The Aspen Economic Strategy Group and Economics Professor at University of Maryland | April 6, 2021

 Melissa Kearney  (Director of The Aspen Economic Strategy Group and Economics Professor at University of Maryland) joins Hank Paulson to discuss how she got involved in economics, the economic impact of the pandemic on women, the importance of policy that recognizes children as the future of our country, the mission of the  Aspen Institute Economic Strategy Group , and how the US can ensure better economic literacy.

Ben Bernanke, Economist and 14th Chair of the Federal Reserve | January 25, 2021

 Ben Bernanke  (Economist and 14th Chair of the Federal Reserve) joins Hank Paulson to discuss his experience leading the Federal Reserve through the Great Recession, what's needed to overcome the COVID economic crisis, how economic principles apply to baseball, and his advice for aspiring economists.

Tim Geithner, President of Warburg Pincus and 75th United States Secretary of the Treasury | January 8, 2021

 Tim Geithner  (President, Warburg Pincus and 75th United States Secretary of the Treasury) joins Hank to discuss his experience as US Treasury Secretary, lessons learned from prior financial crises, his efforts to combat the global refugee crisis, and his advice for the incoming Biden Administration.

Robert Zoellick, 11th President of the World Bank and Senior Counselor, Brunswick Group | December 26, 2020

 Robert Zoellick  (11th President of the World Bank and Senior Counselor, Brunswick Group) shares insights on how the United States can lead on international trade, the importance of the World Bank in addressing pressing global issues such as climate change, what is needed for an effective US policy toward a rising China, and his recommendations for the incoming Treasury Secretary.

Jen Zhu Scott, Executive Chairman of The Commons Project and Founding Principal of Radian Partners, and Paul Triolo, Geotechnology Head of Eurasia Group and Senior Advisor at MacroPolo | December 14, 2020

 Jen Zhu Scott  (Executive Chairman of The Commons Project and Founding Principal of Radian Partners) and  Paul Triolo  (Geotechnology Head, Eurasia Group and Senior Advisor, MacroPolo) join Hank Paulson to discuss the state of the US-China tech competition, what it means for the future of national security, and what to expect from a Biden administration on technology policy.

Erskine Bowles, Co-Chair of the Aspen Economic Strategy Group and President Emeritus of the University of North Carolina | December 14, 2020

Hank speaks with  Erskine Bowles , Co-Chair of the Aspen Economic Strategy Group and President Emeritus of the University of North Carolina. Bowles details how he built a successful boutique investment bank, ended up as White House Chief of Staff, and worked across the aisle to balance the budget. He also shares insights on how we can move the US economy forward and delves into what he learned about higher education, drawing from his six years leading the University of North Carolina system.

Mario Draghi, Economist and former President of the European Central Bank | December 1, 2020

 Mario Draghi , Economist and former President of the European Central Bank, joins Hank to discuss how his upbringing shaped his future in economics, his experience managing the ECB through the financial crisis, and how central banks should approach pandemic recovery.

Ray Dalio, Founder of Bridgewater Associates | November 9, 2020

 Ray Dalio , Founder of Bridgewater Associates, joins Hank to discuss how he got started in finance, finding opportunity amidst setbacks, his new book— The Changing World Order , and monetary policy in the wake of COVID-19.

Luis Alberto Moreno, Former President, Inter-American Development Bank | October 27, 2020

Luis Alberto Moreno (Former President, Inter-American Development Bank) talks about his time leading the IDB and the global importance of Latin America—including opportunities for green growth in the area, how COVID is affecting the region, and its role in fighting climate change.

Ruth Porat, Chief Financial Officer of Alphabet and Google | October 13, 2020

 Ruth Porat  (Chief Financial Officer, Alphabet and Google) joins Hank Paulson to discuss tech's role in sustainability, how Google has responded to COVID and the challenges facing minority-owned businesses, the power of AI to democratize health care, and lessons learned during the 2008 financial crisis.

Lloyd Blankfein, Senior Chairman at Goldman Sachs | September 1, 2020

Hank is joined by his friend & former colleague  Lloyd Blankfein  (Senior Chairman, Goldman Sachs) to discuss impostor syndrome, the past, present, and future of markets, as well as economic changes due to the COVID pandemic.