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Global Perspectives with Hank Paulson

Dallas Fed

In a conversation on March 16, Robert S. Kaplan, president and CEO of the Dallas Fed, and Hank Paulson, chairman of the Paulson Institute, discussed the transformation of China, the challenges of being a CEO in the 21st century and the fiscal challenges confronting the U.S.

 

About Hank Paulson

Paulson is a businessman, China expert, conservationist and author. He is the founder and chairman of the Paulson Institute and co-chairman of the Latin American Conservation Council of The Nature Conservancy and the Risky Business Project.

Paulson served as the 74th Secretary of the Treasury under President George W. Bush, from July 2006 to January 2009. Prior to that, he had a 32-year career at Goldman Sachs, serving as chairman and chief executive officer beginning in 1999. Earlier in his career, he was a member of the White House Domestic Council as well as a staff assistant at the Pentagon.

Today, he serves as chairman of the Paulson Institute at the University of Chicago, which aims to advance sustainable economic growth, a cleaner environment and cross-border investments in the United States and China. The institute’s work consists of programs, advocacy and research with partners around the globe.

A lifelong conservationist, Paulson is founder and co-chair of the Latin American Conservation Council. He previously served as chairman of The Nature Conservancy board of directors and, prior to that, founded and co-chaired the organization’s Asia-Pacific Council.

Paulson also co-chairs the Risky Business Project, with former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former hedge fund manager Tom Steyer. The nonpartisan initiative aims to spur action to mitigate the effects of climate change before the worst potential outcomes occur. He is author of two books, On the Brink and Dealing with China.

Paulson graduated from Dartmouth College and earned an MBA from Harvard University.