The headlines have been heavy. Tragedies, killings, and rising tension weigh on our nation’s spirit. It would be easy to lose faith in the Dream.
But as my friend Michael Milken said for years, intelligence is evenly distributed, but opportunity is not. When people get coaching, dignity, and access to capital, ladders appear. Dreams take root.
The challenge is that the ladders of yesterday aren’t enough for tomorrow. Capital [and by extension capitalism] still matters, but in this day and age, so does code. Finance and technology are now the twin engines of the American Dream. If we want to close gaps and open doors, we have to master both.
Finance as a Force for Good
In a recent conversation with Michael Milken, we talked about how capital, directed wisely, has the power to fund outliers, create jobs, and scale ideas that might otherwise be overlooked. His message was simple: don’t deny capital to the best ideas, no matter where they come from.
Simple right? But the key here is not the talking but, rather, it’s in the practical execution. From small business ownership to child savings accounts, when people have a stake, they see themselves differently and they act differently. Capital is more than just money. It’s belief, made tangible.
Listen to it here:
AI as a Survival Guide
On the flip side, technology is rewriting the playbook at jet speed. With Van Jones and Sheldon Gilbert, we dug into why artificial intelligence isn’t just a “tech issue”. In today’s world, it’s a survival guide for communities that have too often been last in line.
AI will automate tasks that used to feel safe. That’s scary if you sit still. But if you lean in, it can be a jetpack. Download the tools. Ask questions. Learn. As Van put it: AI can tear the floor out from under you, but it can also tear the ceiling off above you.
Watch here:
The Next Civil Rights Movement is the Silver Rights Movement
From Milken to Van and Sheldon, the through-line is clear: this generation’s fight isn’t just about access to a job or even access to capital. It’s about access to the future itself. Who owns it? Who shapes it? Who benefits from it?
As I wrote recently in TIME, darkness isn’t permanent, and the sun rises in the morning. America bends, it doesn’t break. But bending in the right direction takes intention and action.
Be in the Room
That’s why this December, leaders from around the world will gather in Atlanta for the HOPE Global Forums Annual Meeting. Our theme is “Future Proofing” — preparing people, families, and industries to adapt and thrive in the face of disruption.
If you believe finance and technology can be forces for good, don’t just watch this moment. Join it.
Request an invitation: HOPE Global Forums 2025