Macrocast: The mega banks leap into action

This week on What's At Stake, our host Bryan DeAngelis, partner at Penta and head of the Washington, D.C. office, is joined by Oliver Edelmann, director at Penta, and Ananya Kumar, the associate director for digital currencies at the Atlantic Council's GeoEconomics Center, to discuss Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). Just a few years ago, less than 30 countries were exploring a CBDC—as of this week, over 130 countries are doing so. Ananya, Bryan, and Oliver break down this trend and discuss the increasing digitization of payments and services and highlight the CBDC projects we should be paying attention to.More broadly, Ananya, Bryan, and Oliver discuss U.S. power projection through the dollar in geopolitical conflicts, the role that the Fed should play in CBDCs, and the future of the global financial system. Tune in!

This week on What's at Stake, Kevin Madden, Senior Partner at Penta, hosts Wes Turbeville, Senior Vice President at ID.me, to discuss how ID.me is tackling the evolving challenge of digital identity fraud and making it easier for Americans to access services online.Digital technology has redefined how Americans interact with the government, from veterans managing benefits online to citizens filing taxes electronically. Wes and Kevin start the conversation on the urgent need to protect our identities online. Wes stresses the value of public-private partnerships in fighting fraud – it takes a network of companies like ID.me and government partners to combat the risk posed by increasingly coordinated identity thieves. Wes also delves into how ID.me is closing the digital divide and making it easier for Americans of all backgrounds to access the services they need, showing there need not be a tradeoff between security and accessibility. Listen to the full conversation below!

This week on What's At Stake, our host Penta Managing Director Ylan Mui is joined by CNBC's Senior Media & Tech Correspondent Julia Boorstin to discuss her new book, "When Women Lead." In a world where only around 10% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women and less than 2% of venture capital dollars go to startups with female founders, Julia and Ylan break down what the book can teach us about what women achieve, why they succeed, and what we can learn from them. Beyond recapping some of the stories of successful women in the book, Ylan and Julia discuss what skills, attributes, and attitudes all leaders can implement to progress in their careers and live better. All business leaders can benefit from this episode's conversation on changing the corporate culture, reinventing markets to fit new demographics, and rethinking what success looks like. Listen now! 

This week's episode of "What's At Stake" dives deep into the high-stakes dynamics of the 2024 presidential election. Hosts Bryan DeAngelis and Ylan Mui are joined by Leigh Ann Caldwell, co-author of The Washington Post's Early 202 newsletter and political correspondent for The Washington Post. The crew explores the rematch between former President Trump and incumbent President Biden.Beyond the horse-race coverage, the group scrutinizes the complex policy challenges facing both candidates. Leigh Ann sheds light on the obstacles Biden must overcome, including a narrowly divided Congress and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The discussion also examines Trump's enduring base of support and the pivotal role of swing voters in key battleground states.Stepping back, the group engages in a candid examination of the media's role in covering this high-stakes political landscape. Leigh Ann shares insights into the challenges of reporting objectively in an era marked by deep partisan divides and a pervasive sense of distrust in institutions.The episode also delves into the broader implications of the election, including the shadow of a lame-duck presidency and the potential impact of presidential appointments on the balance of power in Washington. Throughout, Ylan, Bryan, and Leigh Ann provide a nuanced and thought-provoking exploration of the critical issues at stake in the 2024 race.

This week on What's At Stake, Penta Partner Andrea Christianson is joined by two executives from Cognizant Technologies: Senior Vice President of Legal and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Tobi Young and Chief Technology Officer for AI Babak Hodjat. The group discusses AI in the context of the workforce and how it could help companies operate more dynamically. Additionally, they highlight how tools like generative AI are bridging knowledge gaps and democratizing tech use.Tobi and Babak also spotlight Cognizant's Synapse Initiative, a global AI upskilling pilot program. Cognizant launched the Synapse Initiative last October with the goal of preparing one million people worldwide over the next three years to become the workforce for the high-tech, AI age. Whether you're an AI skeptic or optimist, this episode promises to offer a fresh perspective on how AI is reshaping industries and empowering the workforce.

In celebration of International Women's Month and support of Penta's global DE&I efforts, join Senior Associate Lizzie Johnson as she speaks with Penta Managing Directors Ylan Mui from D.C., Louise Ford from London, and Deborah Giam from Singapore about their career experiences and advice for young women in the workforce.The group discusses how companies can support women (and all of their employees) to build a stronger workforce with opportunities including mentorship, flexibility, and paid leave for caregiving. Deborah, Ylan, and Louise also share stories about impactful mentors they've worked with over the years, and provide tips for authentic and professional networking.Tune in to hear more from some of Penta's wonderful female leaders.

This week on What's at Stake, hosts Penta Partner Bryan DeAngelis and Managing Director Ylan Mui are joined by Senior Vice President of Strategic Communications for the American Gaming Association Joe Maloney for a special March Madness episode on the American gaming industry. They discuss the contributions of the industry including its impact on  jobs, wages, and tax revenues, as well as how casinos are becoming institutions for economic revival in communities seeking economic growth. Bryan, Ylan, and Joe also dive into gaming regulation. Beyond legalization, they look at policy advocacy and bipartisan legislation ensuring responsible growth that prioritizes consumer safety. They also address some big questions, including: How has the industry changed over the years? Who are the main stakeholders in the game now? And what does the future look like for this industry? 

This week on What's at Stake, hosts Penta Partner Bryan DeAngelis and Managing Director Ylan Mui are joined by John Fagan and Brendan Walsh from Markets Policy Partners. In the wake of the March Federal Reserve Open Market Committee meeting, the group dissects the potential for upcoming rate cuts and implications for financial markets. Amidst election year tensions, they also explore the nuanced interplay between monetary policy and politics. Will a June or July rate cut signal the start of an easing cycle?  What could this mean for the political landscape? Additionally, Bryan, Ylan, John, and Brendan spotlight the broader implications of governing with a divided Congress.Beyond U.S. borders, they highlight parallels with international economic scenarios, including the Bank of Japan's surprising interest rate hike and discuss how global economic policies might influence domestic financial markets. Listen now!

This week on What's at Stake, hosts Penta Partner Bryan DeAngelis and Managing Director Ylan Mui are joined by Penta Senior Partner Kevin Madden for a special episode on President Biden's impassioned State of the Union address. They assess Biden's performance delivering a speech that spanned many different policy areas, including healthcare, the economy, and immigration—pivotal issues given this year's election. Bryan, Ylan, and Kevin also discuss how the President's adept handling of disruptors potentially temporality quelled age-related concerns as well as Katie Britt's rebuttal to Biden's speech. But more than just recapping last night's speech, the group discusses an important consideration: Does the State of the Union actually move the needle on approval ratings? As the memory of last night fades, will voters remember Biden's fiery disposition, or will his age continue to worry voters on both sides of the political spectrum? Listen now!

On this week's episode of What's At Stake, Penta Managing Partner Andy Whitehouse sits down with journalist and author Josie Cox to celebrate the launch of her new book, "Women Money Power." During their discussion, Josie recounts the journey of completing her new book, detailing the book's inspiration, research, and drafting process. Josie also shares some of her most fascinating findings, detailing pivotal moments in history that have shaped women's financial autonomy including women's entry into the workforce during WWII and the advent of the contraceptive pill.Andy and Josie also dissect contemporary gender equity concerns such as the financial intricacies of remote work, biases in promotion and compensation, and the imperative of genuine gender equity in fostering business' success. The two also emphasize the significance of diversity as a driver of innovation and organizational resilience. Josie's book "Women Money Power" is now available wherever you buy books!Join Andy and Josie as they unpack the history of female empowerment and reveal opportunities for progress in current and future workplace gender dynamics.