The 29th Milken Institute Global Conference returned to Beverly Hills yesterday and will run through Wednesday, offering more than 200 sessions for participants and more than 900 speakers.
Focusing on health, finance, business, technology, philanthropy and public policy, the think tank’s annual flagship event will feature industry leaders under the banner of “translating recent disruption and innovation into practical solutions for a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient future.”
The theme of this year’s conference is “leading in a new era,” said Conrad Kiechel, executive director of global programming and events at the Milken Institute.
“In any new era, especially in this one, the importance of wise and smart leadership is truly important, and we believe that we collect and bring together in Los Angeles for our global conference a really unique set of leaders,” Kiechel told the Business Journal. “So that when (participants) leave the global conference, they’re able to have new insight, and we hope purpose as they go into the rest of their year.”
Kiechel highlighted that this year’s key discussion will surround the technological challenges of artificial intelligence, with Nvidia Corp. Chief Executive Jensen Huang as a keynote speaker.
“In the last three years, ever since the launch of ChatGPT, AI has been a really important thread of our conference,” Kiechel said. “I expect that people will come away from the conference with a lot of insight, especially on the role of AI for their own jobs in their own centers and their own industries.”
‘A great affirmation’
Southern California-based speakers will include Amgen Inc. Chief Executive Robert Bradway, Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. Chief Executive Ravi Ahuja and UCLA Rothman Family Institute for Food Studies director Jack Bobo. Past conferences have featured Bill Clinton, Joe Biden and Rania Al Abdullah. More than 4,000 participants have signed up for this year’s conference, as well as local business leaders such as Katie Koch with TCW Group and Jonathan Sokoloff with Leonard Green & Partners.
Approaching its 30th anniversary next year, Kiechel shared that the conference has grown in impact and importance. It also allowed the organization to reach more people and build a larger international footprint.
Founded in Santa Monica in 1991, Kiechel said the think tank’s California identity still gives it a unique perspective in approaching the conference with boldness and a willingness to ask why.
“It’s a great affirmation,” said Kiechel, “for (participants coming from outside the state) to come see (that) Los Angeles is still an amazing creative place.”
The Business Journal will have coverage of key events during the course of the four-day conference.
