For nearly a decade, I've covered the Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles each spring and am heading there again. The Milken Institute has been convening an impressive list of panelists and attendees annually since 1998 to broaden understanding of global issues. Panelists represent a wide range of expertise: finance, politics, health, social media. It's a terrific opportunity to hear from some of the smartest people in the room—when they're all in the same room.
Stay tuned to Closing Bell each afternoon, where we'll bring you this insight and analysis. We'll have high-level guests such as House Minority Leader Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.), venture capitalist Peter Thiel and others.
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I'll be moderating two panels at the 2013 Global Conference. "New Directions in Private Equity" will address the corporate deal-making landscape in 2013 with a roster of heavy-hitters: Apollo Global Management's Leon Black—his firm has $100 billion in assets under management as well as the recently bankrupt Hostess brands—David Bonderman of TPG Capital, Jonathan Nelson of Providence Equity Partners, Jonathan Sokoloff of Leonard Green & Partners and Scott Sperling of Thomas H. Lee. I'll be looking forward to hearing their thoughts on how changes in regulation and fiscal policy impact the private equity industry.
The other panel I'm pleased to moderate focuses on giving back. "Big Goals, New Strategies and the Future of High-Level Philanthropy" will bring together Jean Case of the Case Foundation, Aurec Group founder Shmuel Meitar, Yuri Milner of DST Global, David Rubenstein of The Carlyle Group and Center for the Next Generation director Tom Steyer. Truly a global mix of backgrounds and approaches. As governments around the world face budget tightening, philanthropists from the private sector are stepping up with big ideas. Are these innovations potentially world-changing?
I'm looking forward to connecting with these important global leaders and bringing it to you, on air on CNBC and online on CNBC.com.