Washington Welcomes

Today, The Honorable Paul S. Atkins of the Security Exchange Commission provided remarks at The Economic Club of Washington, D.C. and then spoke with Economic Club Chairman David Rubenstein.

Charlie Scharf, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Wells Fargo joined Economic Club Chairman David M Rubenstein to explore Wells Fargo's transformation in the past decade and how major financial institutions are adapting to technological change, regulatory shifts, and the demands of an evolving global economy.

Adena T. Friedman, Chair and CEO of Nasdaq, Inc., spoke with Economic Club Chairman David M. Rubenstein on the outlook of global capital markets, and how technology and data are shaping transparency, integrity, and trust across the financial system.

The Economic Club of Washington, D.C. welcomed The Honorable J. Kevin Stitt, Governor of Oklahoma and Chair of the National Governors Association (NGA), and The Honorable Gov. Wes Moore, Governor of Maryland and Vice-Chair of the NGA. As Chair and Vice Chair of the NGA, Governors Stitt and Moore discussed the NGA’s initiative, Reigniting the American Dream, a bipartisan effort to expand economic opportunity, reimagine education, and prepare our energy systems for the future.

Last week, Economic Club Chairman David M. Rubenstein spoke with Jeremy Allaire, Co-Founder, CEO & Chairman of Circle. Allaire shared insights into the infrastructure behind internet-native financial systems, including Circle’s regulated stablecoin network and the work required to build trusted rails for global payments at scale.

Michael Arougheti, Co-Owner, Baltimore Orioles; Director, Co-Founder, and Chief Executive Officer, Ares Management Corporation; Cal Ripken, Jr., Minority Owner, Baltimore Orioles and Hall of Famer; Catie Griggs, President of Business Operations, Baltimore Orioles; Mike Elias, President of Baseball Operations & General Manager, Baltimore Orioles; and Craig Albernaz, Manager, Baltimore Orioles spoke with Economic Club Chairman David M. Rubenstein about the Baltimore Orioles and the future of the franchise.

The Honorable Kevin A. Hassett, PhD, Director, National Economic Council spoke with David M. Rubenstein, Chairman of The Economic Club of Washington, D.C. Their conversation, among other things, touched upon the economic issues shaping our future, from the Federal Reserve to inflation to tariffs and the transformative impact of aritificial intelligence.

David M. Solomon, Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs, joined #EconClubDC for a Signature Event conversation with David M. Rubenstein, Chairman of The Economic Club of Washington, D.C. Solomon reflected on leadership, market resilience, and the power of adaptability in a changing global economy. He discussed Goldman Sachs’s 10,000 Small Businesses initiative, the importance of central bank independence, and the transformative potential of AI across industries. The conversation offered candid insights into fiscal policy, long-term growth, and how technology and innovation will continue to shape the future of global finance.

H.E. Kirsten Hillman, Ambassador of Canada to the United States, spoke with Economic Club of Washington, D.C.'s Barbara Humpton, Chair of the Economic Club Global Initiative and CEO of Siemens USA.

Ed Bastian, Chief Executive Officer of Delta Air Lines, joined #EconClubDC for a wide-ranging conversation with Barbara Humpton, Chair of the Global Initiative and CEO of Siemens USA. As Delta marks its 100th anniversary, the dialogue honored the airline’s legacy of leadership and examined how it is shaping the future of global aviation. Bastian spoke about the modernization of air traffic control, the role of AI and new technologies, and Delta’s focus on safety, customer experience, and global connectivity. He emphasized how innovation and partnerships will shape the airline’s next century of flight.

H.E. Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of Public Investment Fund (PIF) & Chairman of Saudi Aramco, spoke with Economic Club Chairman David M. Rubenstein and discussed the impact of PIF's investments in the U.S. as well as its role in advancing Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and more!

Chairman David Rubenstein sat down with Vicki Hollub, President and CEO of Occidental, for a timely and thought-provoking conversation on the future of energy. Hollub shared insights on how the U.S. can lead in both traditional and emerging energy sectors, the evolving role of carbon capture and climate innovation, and what energy security looks like in a rapidly shifting global landscape.

Following the recently announced plans for a new Washington Commanders stadium, Mark Clouse, President of the Washington Commanders, was interviewed by Economic Club Board Officer, Lawrence Di Rita, Head of Global Public Policy & President, Greater Washington, D.C., Bank of America. They are discussed among other topics, the revitalization of the Washington Commanders’ brand through deepening community involvement, navigating the evolving business landscape of professional sports in the nation’s capital, and the future of the franchise.

As President Trump’s tax policies begin to take shape and the details emerge, Economic Club Chairman David Rubenstein interviewed The Honorable Jason Smith, Chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means. They discussed, among other things, federal tax policy, international trade, and the broader economic direction of the United States.

Tom Barkin, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, spoke with Economic Club Board member Barbara Humpton, President and CEO, Siemens USA on the state of the economy. Barkin discussed the impact of tariffs on the 2025 economic outlook, current labor trends, and speculated on the current market volatility's impact on unemployment and inflation. During these uncertain times, he especially emphasized the role businesses play in providing input into their analysis, as well as his direct involvement in gathering feedback from local businesses in his region to understand economic trends and challenges they face.

David Cordani, Chairman and CEO of The Cigna Group, spoke with Economic Club Chairman David Rubenstein the evolution of sustainable healthcare models, emphasizing the importance of value-based care over fee-for-service models Looking toward the future, Cordani stressed the need for a healthcare system that prioritizes affordability, accessibility, and efficiency. He highlighted policy and industry shifts that will enable better collaboration between insurers, providers, and technology companies to enhance patient care. The conversation also touched on the challenges of managing rising healthcare costs while maintaining high-quality service and innovation.

Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group spoke with Economic Club Chairman David Rubenstein on the current state of the global economy, the challenges and opportunities in emerging markets, and strengthening economic resilience in the face of ongoing geopolitical and financial uncertainties.

Brian Moynihan, Chair of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Bank of America spoke with Economic Club Chairman David Rubenstein on the current state of the economy, markets, the health of the US consumer, and the global economic outlook for 2025. Moynihan also shared insights into his career journey at Bank of America and how technology is reshaping banking, and more.

David A. Ricks, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Eli Lilly and Company, spoke with Economic Club Chairman David Rubenstein the future of global health, advancements in medical innovation, and the current dynamics of the pharmaceutical landscape. During the interview, Ricks shared insights into his career journey at Lilly and discussed the company's ongoing efforts to address healthcare challenges such as improving patient outcomes through innovative solutions.

With Election Day quickly approaching, Economic Club Chairman David Rubenstein hosted a conversation with top political analysts featuring: The panelists covered, among other things, the upcoming presidential and congressional races based on recent poll results, key voter issues, expected voter turnout, and mail-in ballots and early voting. They also shared their opinions and predictions on the potential outcomes of the election in terms of popular and electoral totals, and balance of power in the House and Senate.