Icons and Ideas with Peter Mallouk

The following episode contains discussions about mental health and suicide. Listener discretion is advised. Please visit nami.org for more information or to connect with a mental health professional.

What does great leadership look like in today's rapidly changing world? Harvey Schwartz believes it begins with opportunity, resilience, continuous learning and investing in people. On Icons and Ideas, Peter Mallouk sits down with Harvey Schwartz, CEO of Carlyle, to discuss leadership, private markets, investing, artificial intelligence and the mindset needed to succeed in uncertain times.

Harvey shares his journey from a challenging childhood to leading one of the world's largest investment firms. He reflects on the mentors and opportunities that shaped his career, lessons from Goldman Sachs and why culture, trust and disciplined decision-making drive long-term success. Peter and Harvey also explore private equity, AI, global markets and the future of investing, offering practical insights for leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and anyone looking to build resilience and lead with purpose.

What You'll Learn

✅ The leadership lessons that helped Harvey Schwartz become CEO of Carlyle

✅ Why resilience, mentorship and continuous learning are essential for leadership

✅ How private markets, private equity and AI are reshaping the future of investing

✅ The leadership habits that help organizations succeed during uncertainty

This episode is brought to you by State Street Select Sector SPDR ETFs. Invest where you see opportunity with the 11 Select Sector SPDR ETFs. StateStreet.com

Timestamps

(00:00) Leadership, Resilience and the Future of Private Markets

(01:48) Growing up with parents battling mental illness

(05:55) The mentors and opportunities that shaped Harvey's life

(13:59) Mental health, resilience and overcoming adversity

(18:38) Harvey's journey from Wall Street to CEO of Carlyle

(28:17) The future of private markets and investing

(33:42) Private credit, diversification and long-term investing

(42:11) Geopolitics, national security and global markets

(44:19) Inflation, interest rates and portfolio strategy

(49:56) Leadership lessons and the future of private capital

Key Takeaways

🔹 Leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about building trust, making thoughtful decisions and learning through adversity.

🔹 Private markets continue to create opportunities for investors seeking diversification, innovation and long-term value.

🔹 Artificial intelligence will transform business, but human judgment, culture and leadership will remain competitive advantages.

🔹 The most successful leaders embrace lifelong learning, seek mentorship and invest in developing great teams.

About the Guest

Harvey Schwartz is the Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors at Carlyle, one of the world's leading global investment firms. Before joining Carlyle in 2023, he spent more than 20 years at Goldman Sachs, where he served as President and Co-Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Global Co-Head of the Securities Division. Harvey is also an advocate for mental health research and leadership development through his work with One Mind. He earned his BA from Rutgers University and his MBA from Columbia University.

Carlyle: carlyle.com

LinkedIn: LinkedIn Harvey Schwartz

Sponsored By: 

This episode is brought to you by State Street Select Sector SPDR ETFs. Invest where you see opportunity with the 11 Select Sector SPDR ETFs. StateStreet.com

This episode includes an advertisement by the sponsor. The advertisement does not constitute or imply an endorsement, recommendation or affiliation between the sponsor and Creative Planning.

Connect with Peter Mallouk

 Website: Peter Mallouk - President & CEO - Creative Planning

X (Twitter): @PeterMallouk 

LinkedIn: Peter Mallouk on LinkedIn 

Instagram: @peter_mallouk 

Facebook: Official Peter Mallouk

Follow Creative Planning

X (Twitter): @CPIWealth 

LinkedIn: Creative Planning on LinkedIn 

Instagram: @creativeplanning_llc

Facebook: Creative Planning Facebook Page

Browse More Icons and Ideas Episodes

YouTube Playlist: Watch the Full Icons and Ideas Playlist 

Official Website: Icons and Ideas Podcast

Check Out Peter’s Other Podcasts

Signal or Noise: Watch Signal or Noise on YouTube 

Down The Middle: Listen to Down The Middle on Spotify

World-renowned photographer Platon joins Peter Mallouk to discuss what the world's most powerful people reveal in front of the camera and what it tells us about human connection. On this episode of Icons and Ideas, Platon, one of the most celebrated portrait photographers alive and the official photographer to presidents, world leaders and cultural icons, shares how a dyslexic kid from a Greek village became the artist JFK Jr. personally brought to New York to help change American photography. The conversation explores what it takes to disarm the world's most guarded people, why vulnerability is a form of strength and how curiosity over judgment can change any room and any relationship.

 

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

✅ How Platon's Greek village childhood and dyslexia shaped his fearless approach to people

✅ What Clinton, Obama, Bush, Trump and Putin are really like behind closed doors

✅ The technique Platon uses to disarm even the most powerful people in the world

✅ Why business leaders, not politicians, are the real champions of our time

This episode includes a paid advertisement purchased by a sponsor for placement on a Creative Planning podcast. The advertisement does not constitute or imply an endorsement, recommendation or affiliation between the sponsor and Creative Planning

 

Timestamps

(00:00) Platon on growing up between London and a Greek village

(02:20) Dyslexia, running away from school and the corridor of no man's land

(05:30) Art school, contour drawing and discovering photography

(10:10) How a camera changes the dynamic in any room

(14:40) JFK Jr., George Magazine and the deal that launched a career

(19:48) Photographing President Clinton — and the moment that divided a nation

(28:34) Politics as the new religion and the crisis of polarization

(31:36) Why business leaders are the champions of our time

(33:39) Dustin Hoffman, 200 white roses and people power

(39:37) Photographing Putin — intimidation, the Beatles and a subliminal message

(45:20) Egypt, the Arab Spring and building a studio in Tahrir Square

(49:27) The Little Rock Nine and the photograph that hangs in the Smithsonian

(52:47) Clinton, Obama, Bush, Carter and Trump — the presidents compared

(1:02:20) The very first shoot: Anthony Hopkins, a panic attack and the lesson that changed everything

 

Key Takeaways

💎 True human connection requires going first — with honesty, openness and courage — regardless of who’s in the room.

💎 Power is a social construct, and the ability to see through it is what allows Platon to capture truth on film.

💎 Vulnerability isn’t weakness — it’s the only currency that creates real trust between people.

💎 Business leaders, not politicians, are the force most capable of pulling a polarized society back together.

 

About the Guest

Platon is one of the world's most celebrated portrait photographers, known for his iconic images of presidents, world leaders, activists and cultural figures. Born in London and raised between England and a small Greek village, Platon studied at Central Saint Martins before being discovered by John F. Kennedy Jr. for George Magazine. His work has appeared on the covers of TIME, The New Yorker, Esquire and Rolling Stone. His portrait of Putin is classified as extremist material in Russia — and sits on Putin's desk. He’s a passionate advocate for human rights, authentic connection and the power of curiosity over judgment.

Connect With Platon

Instagram: @platonphoto

Website: platonphoto.com

RESOURCES

Follow Peter on his social media accounts: X | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

Follow Creative Planning’s social media accounts: X | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

Browse through all our episodes here.

Like the Icons and Ideas podcast? Check out Peter’s other podcasts!

Signal or Noise

Down the Middle

Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice joins Peter Mallouk to discuss leadership, global politics, China, Russia, NATO, 9/11, artificial intelligence and the future of world power.

On this episode of Icons and Ideas, Condoleezza Rice, the 66th U.S. Secretary of State and current Tad and Dianne Taube Director of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, shares how growing up during the Civil Rights Movement shaped her leadership philosophy and reflects on the high-pressure decisions made during 9/11, Iraq, Afghanistan and the evolving Russia-Ukraine conflict. The conversation also explores globalization, China’s rise, artificial intelligence, democracy and the future of international relations in a rapidly changing world.

What You Will Learn in This Episode:

✅ How Secretary Condoleezza Rice’s childhood in segregated Birmingham shaped her leadership mindset

✅ The behind-the-scenes decisions made during the first hours of 9/11

✅ Why China, Russia, NATO and global power dynamics are rapidly changing

✅ How globalization, AI, and populism are reshaping the future economy and workforce

This episode is brought to you by BlackRock. What if your portfolio could do more than invest for returns — what if it could help you keep more of what you earn? BlackRock’s Aperio tax-managed solutions are designed to help do just that. Learn more.

 

Timestamps

00:00 Secretary Condoleezza Rice on growing up in segregated Birmingham

02:20 Faith, family, education and overcoming adversity

03:38 Inside the first moments of the 9/11 attacks

07:48 Lessons learned from 9/11 and Homeland Security

09:20 Secretary Condoleezza Rice reflects on Iraq and weapons of mass destruction

12:18 Vladimir Putin, NATO and the Russia-Ukraine conflict

17:13 Trump, Putin and the Russia-Ukraine War: Condoleezza Rice on global conflict, NATO tensions and why Putin refuses to back down

19:14 National security, intelligence and understanding global threats

21:05 Leadership as a Black woman in government and diplomacy

26:50 Israel, Palestine and the challenges of peace negotiations

27:25 China, globalization and the future of world power

35:20 Globalization, populism and the changing world order

39:54 Artificial intelligence, jobs and the future workforce

40:10 President George W. Bush and leadership during crisis

 

Key Takeaways

💎 Secretary Condoleezza Rice believes leadership starts with resilience, personal responsibility and refusing to see yourself as limited by circumstances.

💎 The aftermath of 9/11 fundamentally changed America’s national security infrastructure, intelligence coordination and global strategy. 

💎 China’s rise, Russia’s aggression and the breakdown of globalization are reshaping international politics and economic systems. 

💎 Rice believes the future of leadership will require balancing military strength, innovation, diplomacy and global cooperation.  

 

This episode includes a paid advertisement purchased by a sponsor for placement on a Creative Planning podcast. The advertisement does not constitute or imply an endorsement, recommendation or affiliation between the sponsor and Creative Planning.

 

About the Guest

Condoleezza Rice, the 66th U.S. Secretary of State and current Tad and Dianne Taube Director of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, is a political scientist, diplomat, professor and author who previously served as both United States Secretary of State and National Security Advisor under President George W. Bush. With decades of experience in foreign policy, global security, democracy and international relations, she remains one of the most influential voices in global leadership and world affairs.

Connect with Condoleezza Rice

LinkedIn: Condoleezza Rice on LinkedIn
Condoleezza Rice at Hoover Institution 

Instagram: @condoleezzarice
 Condoleezza Rice on Facebook

Resources & Links

Sponsored By:

This episode is brought to you by BlackRock. What if your portfolio could do more than invest for returns — what if it could help you keep more of what you earn? BlackRock’s Aperio tax-managed solutions are designed to help do just that. Learn more.

Connect with Peter Mallouk

• X (Twitter): @PeterMallouk 

• LinkedIn: Peter Mallouk on LinkedIn 

• Instagram: @peter_mallouk 

• Facebook: Official Peter Mallouk

Follow Creative Planning

• X (Twitter): @CPIWealth 

• Creative Planning on LinkedIn 

• Instagram: @creativeplanning_llc

• Creative Planning Facebook Page

Browse More Icons and Ideas Episodes

• Watch the Full Icons and Ideas Playlist

• Official Website: Icons and Ideas Podcast

Check Out Peter’s Other Podcasts

• Watch Signal or Noise on YouTube

• Listen to Down The Middle on Spotify

In this episode of Icons and Ideas, Peter Mallouk talks with Franklin Templeton CEO Jenny Johnson about the current forces reshaping investing and asset management.

 

Johnson shares her journey from working summer jobs in the firm’s mail room to leading a $1.7 trillion global investment firm. She discusses how artificial intelligence is changing the workplace, why access to private markets is expanding beyond institutions, and what investors should understand about private equity and private credit.

 

They also explore leadership lessons from decades in financial services, how firms evaluate acquisitions, and why culture and collaboration matter when building successful teams.

 

This episode includes a paid advertisement purchased by a sponsor for placement on a Creative Planning podcast. The advertisement does not constitute or imply an endorsement, recommendation or affiliation between the sponsor and Creative Planning.

 

(00:47) Jenny Johnson’s path from the mail room to CEO of Franklin Templeton

(03:00) Career lessons from working across operations, technology and multiple parts of the business

(05:47) AI, workplace change and why companies struggle to adopt new technology

(08:58) Why private markets have grown so quickly and what’s driving the shift

(13:11) Expanding access to private markets and what it could mean for investors

(16:53) Private credit risks and what investors should understand

(21:30) Enterprise software, AI disruption and the future of major platforms

(24:04) AI, blockchain and tokenization: the next wave of financial innovation

(26:09) How leaders evaluate when to acquire and when to build organically

(28:43) The “3 C’s” Jenny looks for in acquisitions: client focus, collaboration and continuous improvement

(32:52) Creating opportunities for women in leadership roles

(35:59) What success looks like for Franklin Templeton in the next decade

(36:45) The challenges and benefits of being a public-facing CEO and representing a global firm

RESOURCES

Follow Peter on his social media accounts: X | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

Follow Creative Planning’s social media accounts: X | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

Browse through all our episodes here.

Like the Icons and Ideas podcast? Check out Peter’s other podcasts!

Signal or Noise

Down the Middle

What’s really changing in investing — and what’s just hype? Peter Mallouk sits down with Charles Schwab CEO Rick Wurster to talk through the trends that matter most right now: the rise of convenience as a competitive advantage, what prediction markets actually tell us (and what they don’t), Schwab’s evolving view on digital assets, and whether AI will make financial advice faster and more personal or just harder to trust. They also dig into why the human side of planning still wins when the stakes are high and the decisions are emotional. It’s a candid look at how one of the industry’s biggest players is thinking about your money.

(00:00) Schwab’s client-first approach and what it means for everyday investors

(02:16) The big shifts Rick thinks will shape investors’ decisions

(04:13) Prediction markets: useful signals vs. sports gambling

(08:21) Digital assets: speculation, crypto and what clients are asking for

(11:08) Wurster explains fee increases for its advisor referral program

(15:55) Why Schwab disrupts itself and how “convenience” is changing the industry

(18:03) Blockchain and stablecoins: what might actually be useful

(21:34) AI and financial advice: what may get faster and more personal (and what won’t)

(26:43) What Schwab is building next and why it matters for your money

(27:54) Staying calm and rational as things change

RESOURCES

Follow Peter on his social media accounts: X | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

Follow Creative Planning’s social media accounts: X | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

Browse through all our episodes here.

Like the Icons and Ideas podcast? Check out Peter’s other podcasts!

Signal or Noise

Down the Middle