Aspen Ideas Festival 2010 Blog: Innovative Voices from Aspen

 

Mike McConnell explained how past waves of innovation—in railroads, in automobiles—have led periods of increased economic activity, and his view was reinforced by scientists, economists, and academicians from across the country. And participants on the panel “Energy Solutions for an Environmentally Sustainable World,” which was moderated by Jimmy Henry, described how new technologies for energy production and storage, when coupled with appropriate governmental policy, will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also help create jobs.

Executive Vice President Rich Wilhelm says he’s always surprised by something at the Aspen Ideas Festival. This year, a discussion by David Brooks on the impact of emotions on the policymaking process caught his attention.

 

Booz Allen Executive Vice President Lloyd Howell led a thoughtful and thought-provoking panel discussion titled “Is the Financial Crisis Really Over?” on July 9^th at the Aspen Ideas Festival. Joining Howell on the panel were Roger Ferguson, Christopher Hyzy, and David Stockman. During the discussion, the panel explored ways to drive innovation, spur investment, bolster confidence, and restore the integrity and transparency of our global markets. The lively debate between Stockman, Ferguson, and Hyzy about the social, policy, and structural steps that must be taken to bolster recovery is captured in the front-page article from The Aspen Times.

Booz Allen Hamilton Senior Vice President Don Pressley moderated a panel titled “Who Will Lead the Next Global Economy?” on July 10, 2010, at the Aspen Institute’s Aspen Ideas Festival. Pressley is the firm’s principal manager and strategist for diplomacy and international development. He led a discussion with David Hale, an advisor to the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and owner of an asset management consultancy that bears his name; Hikmet Ersek, soon to become the president and CEO of The Western Union Company; Robert Hormats, U.S. undersecretary of state for economic, energy, and government affairs; and Klaus Scharioth, the German ambassador to the United States. Pressley shared these insights after the panel.

 

When we were doing research around the question of who will lead the global economy, it became clear that innovation really is the driver that everyone is starting to look to. Certainly from the U.S. economy’s perspective that is paramount.

Executive Vice President Rich Wilhelm reinforces a point that Mike McConnell made during his discussion with James Fallows titled “Cyberpower and Cybersecurity” – namely that corporate intellectual capital is at risk.