An abstract graphic of rounded lines forming a circle on a dark blue background. The lines are pink and blend into purple in an ombre circle, with just a portion of the circle showing on the screen. The graphic signifies the design of The Milken Institute's Global Conference 2025, an annual forum that brings together leaders from business, finance, and other fields to discuss economic and social issues.

Power of Ideas

About the Global Conference 2025 Power of Ideas

In this collection of Power of Ideas essays, thought leaders across sectors explore how to create a flourishing future for all, from investment to innovation and from climate to collaboration.

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Investing in the World’s Health Is Good for Business

The collapse of US foreign assistance is an opportunity to build a more prosperous world. Once the world’s largest donor, the United States has slashed funding for the US Agency for International Development, President’s Emergency Plan for...
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An image of a woman named Vanessa Kerry. She is standing against an ambiguous background with her hands on her hips and smiling at the camera. She has long blonde hair, white skin, and is wearing gold stud earrings and a dark blue long-sleeved shirt with two gold long-length necklaces.

Vanessa Kerry

CEO, Seed Global Health; Special Envoy for Climate Change and Health, World Health Organization
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I Found a ‘Chinese Bug’—and Learned a Life Lesson

One of my most important lessons in life, one particularly useful at a time when America is so polarized and tempers are so high, came when my wife and I moved to China to be correspondents of The New York Times. We moved into the official...
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An image of a man named Nicholas Kristof. He has white skin, short brown hair, and is wearing a blue button-up shirt, smiling at the camera with an ambiguous outdoor background.

Nicholas Kristof

Op-Ed Columnist and Political Commentator; Author, “Chasing Hope: A Reporter’s Life”
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Harnessing AI to Build a More Prosperous Future for All

Throughout history, transformative technologies have reshaped economies, industries, and societies. Today, artificial intelligence (AI)—namely generative AI and agentic AI—represents the next great frontier. This technology has the...
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An image of a man named Robert F. Smith, who is smiling at the camera against a gray background. He has light brown skin, and grey-ish black short hair along with a beard. He is wearing a blue suit with a collared shirt and a patterned blue tie.

Robert F. Smith

Founder, Chairman, and CEO, Vista Equity Partners
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Reimagining Retirement for People Around the World

Over the past several years, I’ve had the opportunity to hear from our customers, employees, and financial advisors around the world about the unique challenges and opportunities they face at work, at home, and in their communities.
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A headshot of a man named Andrew Sullivan. He has white skin, a bald head, and is wearing a blue suit with an orange tie while smiling at the camera against a white background.

Andrew Sullivan

CEO, Prudential Financial, Inc.