The 16th GSAM Symposium took place on April 4-5 and convened a distinguished group of investors and thought leaders who discussed inflection points they believe would shape global markets and trends.
In the coming weeks, we will release a special edition of the GSAM Perspectives, featuring synthesized takeaways and key investment themes drawn from the 2017 GSAM Symposium. In the interim, the following select session highlights have been curated from this year’s event.
Michael R. Bloomberg, Founder, Bloomberg LP & Bloomberg Philanthropies, and 108th Mayor of New York City
Moderated by: Timothy J. O'Neill, Global Co-Head, Investment Management Division, Goldman Sachs
The entrepreneur, former New York mayor and longstanding climate change activist discusses top priorities for philanthropic intervention, job creation and the shifting political landscape.
Dr. Ellen Stofan, Former Chief Scientist, NASA
In this session, Ellen Stofan discussed the impact of space exploration on Earth, the progress we have made towards finding extraterrestrial life and the actions we must take to prepare for environmental change.
Arjun N. Murti, Senior Advisor, Warburg Pincus, and Board Member, Conoco Phillips and RS Energy Group
Daniel R. Revers, Managing Partner and Co-Founder, ArcLight Capital Partners, LLC
Scott D. Sheffield, Executive Chairman, Pioneer Natural Resources
Moderated by: Steve Barry, Chief Investment Officer of Fundamental Equity, Goldman Sachs
The energy sector faces a range of disruptive forces, from domestic policy uncertainty coupled with geopolitical instability, to increased competition between US producers and OPEC. The panel discusses opportunities in the energy market and the implications of shifting supply and demand trends.
Joi Ito, Venture Capitalist, Investor, Director of the MIT Media Lab
The tools of our modern existence are getting faster, cheaper and smaller at an exponential rate—but what does that mean for the future? In this session, Joi Ito discussed why innovation has been pushed away from large institutions to the edges, and what opportunities and risks this brings for society and investors.
Robert Dannenberg, Geopolitical and Security Risk Consultant, Goldman Sachs; Former Chief of Operations for the Counter Terrorism Center at the CIA
Stephen O'Flaherty, Global Co-Head, Business Intelligence Group, Goldman Sachs
Moderated by: Jessica Douieb, Global Head of Communications for the Investment Management Division, Goldman Sachs
Geopolitical risks are more prevalent than ever, presenting challenges for national security officials and international diplomacy on a range of fronts. The intelligence experts in this session discussed the most pressing threats confronting world leaders today, and possible strategies to address future risks.
Taylor Jordan, Head of AIMS Imprint, Goldman Sachs
David Klassen, Chief Investment Officer, Pension Boards United Church of Christ
Elizabeth Lewis, Head of Sustainable Investing, World Resources Institute
Moderated by: Hugh Lawson, Global Head of GSAM Institutional Client Strategy, Goldman Sachs
ESG and Impact investing is reaching an inflection point, not as a philanthropic experiment, but rather as an extension of traditional, rigorous investing with an additional focus on positive impact in the world. Panelists discussed key opportunities and challenges in ESG and Impact investing, and shared insights on practicalities around implementation.
Dan Gardner, Author, Journalist, Lecturer
What qualities of mind make a super forecaster? And why are amateurs often more successful than professionals? Dan Gardner explains, drawing on the experience of John Maynard Keynes and dragonflies.
Teresa C. Barger, Co-Founder and CEO, Cartica Capital
Anja Manuel, Co-Founder and Partner, RiceHadleyGates LL
Moderated by: Katie Koch, Global Head of Client Portfolio Management and Business Strategy for GSAM Fundamental Equity, Goldman Sachs
The Emerging Market (EM) landscape has evolved significantly over the past few decades, with favorable demographics driving rapid economic advancement and creating a broader set of opportunities for investors. The panelists discussed whether that trend will continue, or whether a global populist movement and rising rates threaten to derail future growth.
Lord Jonathan Hill, Former Commissioner for Financial Stability, EC Financial Services and Capital Markets Union
Moderated by: Andrew Wilson, Chief Executive Officer of GSAM International for EMEA and Co-Head of Global Fixed Income and Liquidity Management, Goldman Sachs
Lord Jonathan Hill, former European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union, and Andrew Wilson, Chief Executive Officer of GSAM International for EMEA, discussed the aftermath of Brexit and geopolitical developments across the EU.
Stephanie Cutter, Partner, Precision Strategies
Matt Rhoades, Founder, Definers Public Affairs
As we approach the 100-day milestone of the Trump administration, Stephanie Cutter and Matt Rhoades, influential voices of the Democratic and Republican parties, respectively, discussed timely issues in US Politics. They debated top-of-mind items, including the potential repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act, tax reform, infrastructure spending, the Supreme Court nomination and what’s on the political horizon.