Humanity is in a perilous phase, and the existential challenges we now face may hold the answer to the age-old question of whether there is
Alien Life and Humanity’s Future
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Alex is the co-founder of Jackson Hole Economics, a non-profit research organization which provides analysis of key topics in the political economy, and develops actionable ideas for how sustainable growth can be achieved
Alex is also the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Novata, a mission-driven and technology-powered public benefit corporation designed to improve the process of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) diligence in the private markets. Backed by a unique consortium, which includes the Ford Foundation, S&P Global, Hamilton Lane and Omidyar Network, Novata has created an independent, unbiased and flexible platform for the private markets to more consistently measure, analyze and report on relevant ESG data.
With two decades of experience in the financial and non-profit spaces, Alex has led a number of sustainable growth and transformation efforts. He is a former CEO of GAM Holdings and Chief Investment Officer of UBS, and also served as the Chief Financial Officer of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where he created the foundation's strategic investment fund.
Alex was a White House Fellow and an assistant to the Secretary of Defense. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Franklin Resources, Inc. (Franklin Templeton), a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Chair of the Advisory Board of Project Syndicate and a board member of the American Alpine Club. Alex also writes regularly for various news outlets and is the author of Babu's Bindi and The Big Thing: Brave Bea, both children's books.
Alex holds a JD from Columbia Law School, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, an MBA from Columbia Business School, and a BA from Princeton University.
Hurricanes and the US Presidency
Two years ago, Asheville NC was viewed as a climate haven. Two weeks ago it was almost washed away from Hurricane Helene. No one seeking the
You Can Do This
When despair, fear and helplessness set in, it is important to recall the skills and experiences that calm our minds and allow us to persevere.
The US and China Are Not Destined for War
Given the rising tension between the United States and China, the Jackson Hole Economics editors felt it was worth re-visiting this piece,
Trump, Avalanches, and Character
Sometimes, an avalanche is triggered by one final snowflake weighting a slope beyond what it can take. Could Trump’s growing litany of legal
Private Jets, Climate and Taxes
In a world beset by inequality, private jets represent the tip of the spear. It is time to do something about it.
Dogs and Economics
Dogs demonstrably make their owners happier. As a result, dog-owners are likely to be more productive. Doggone it!
The ESG Debate Will be Solved by Data
ESG will become less political when stakeholders have confidence in the data that a company collects, and context for how to interpret the
Trump’s Indictment is Just the Beginning
The New York indictment will unleash forces in American politics whose direction and implications are difficult to comprehend.
The United States Marine Corps, Quo Vadis?
After almost 250 years, the US Marine Corps is facing what may be its biggest threat — from within.
Germany: Tanks are Moral
The 20th century was defined, in many ways, by the worst of Germany. The 21st can yet be defined by its best moral self.
Tangled Up in Blue
Last month, scientists at Trinity College Dublin published research that the human brain may be a kind of quantum computer, rather than a classical one. This is a big, big deal. Good science requires cautious and critical thinking. So it is no surprise that the...