David Weisburd had a chance to witness live the conversation between Jack Kokko, Founder & CEO of AlphaSense, and Lloyd Blankfein, former Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs, during AlphaSummit 2025 in New York City.
In this wide-ranging discussion, Jack draws out Lloyd’s reflections on his early years in Brooklyn, his path to leading Goldman Sachs, and the lessons learned from steering the firm through periods of volatility and transformation. Together they explore how leadership, risk, and technology continue to shape Wall Street—and what it takes to stay adaptable in an ever-changing world.
Highlights:
- How Lloyd’s early life in Brooklyn influenced his leadership style
- Lessons from being rejected by Goldman Sachs — and eventually running it
- Guiding Goldman through the 2008 financial crisis and its aftermath
- The value of partnership culture and communication in high-performance teams
- The changing dynamics of Wall Street amid AI and automation
- Balancing risk, intuition, and data in modern decision making
- The evolving relationship between private and public markets
- Lloyd’s reflections on adaptability, market cycles, and staying ahead of change
Guest Bio:
Lloyd Blankfein served as the Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs from 2006 to 2018, leading the firm through the global financial crisis and major transitions in global markets. He remains an influential voice on economic leadership, risk management, and the future of finance.
Host Bio:
Jack Kokko is the Founder and CEO of AlphaSense, a market intelligence and search platform used by financial institutions and corporations worldwide. His work focuses on advancing decision making through AI-powered information discovery.
Learn more about AlphaSense and upcoming AlphaSummit events at: alpha-sense.com.
(0:00) Introduction
(1:46) Lloyd Blankfein's Early Career and Decision-Making Reflections
(7:13) Leadership, Communication, and Managing Teams
(10:27) Evolution of Wall Street and Technological Impacts
(15:30) Automated Trading: Risks and Trust in AI
(19:23) Investment Banking Risk Control and Balancing Innovation
(21:48) Thought Experiment: Starting a New Investment Bank
(24:12) Equity Market Evolution and the Rise of Private Markets
(31:18) Big Picture Market Changes and Future Speculations
(34:25) Advice for Investors in an Evolving Market
(36:12) Closing remarks
