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Lenny Mendonca

Lenny Mendonca

52 commentaries
1 videos & podcasts

Lenny Mendonca, Senior Partner Emeritus at McKinsey & Company, is a former chief economic and business adviser to Governor Gavin Newsom of California and chair of the California High-Speed Rail Authority.

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  1. Harnessing AI for the Common Good
    mendonca52_Constanza Hevia H. for The Washington Post via Getty Images_aieducation Constanza Hevia H. for The Washington Post via Getty Images

    Harnessing AI for the Common Good

    Jun 20, 2024 Lenny Mendonca urges policymakers to play a more active role in shaping the future of emerging technologies.

  2. What Critics of American Higher Education Get Wrong
    tyson117_Eros HoaglandGetty Images_UScollege Eros Hoagland/Getty Images

    What Critics of American Higher Education Get Wrong

    Mar 19, 2024 Laura Tyson & Lenny Mendonca show that a college degree is still a wise investment and a key driver of economic mobility in America.

  3. California Leads the Way on Climate
    tyson116_Kevork DjansezianGetty Images_california Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

    California Leads the Way on Climate

    Dec 28, 2023 Laura Tyson & Lenny Mendonca show how the Golden State has made meaningful progress within and beyond its borders by testing new ideas.

  4. To Protect Democracy, Revive Local Journalism
    tyson115_ Chip SomodevillaGetty Images_local reporters Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

    To Protect Democracy, Revive Local Journalism

    Sep 20, 2023 Laura Tyson & Lenny Mendonca identify promising new models and philanthropic initiatives geared toward supporting independent media.

  5. The Local Threat to American Democracy
    tyson114_MARK FELIXAFP via Getty Images_voting Mark Felix/AFP via Getty Images

    The Local Threat to American Democracy

    Jul 18, 2023 Laura Tyson & Lenny Mendonca document widening efforts by Republicans and their allies to stifle the will of voters.

  1. surui1_ Juancho TorresAnadolu Agency via Getty Images)_biodiversity Juancho Torres/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

    Making Biodiversity Credits Work

    Almir Narayamoga Suruí & Simon Zadek suggest how to realize the potential of this innovative mechanism for financing nature conservation.
  2. sierakowski111_Omar MarquesGetty Images_donaldtusk Omar Marques/Getty Images

    Polish Democracy’s Winter of Discontent

    Sławomir Sierakowski explains why enthusiasm for the country’s ruling coalition has waned over the past year.
  3. cferguson2_Uwe Anspachpicture alliance via Getty Images_remote work Uwe Anspach/picture alliance via Getty Images

    What Remote Work Can Do for Global Development

    Charles Ferguson points out that the decoupling of economic activity from geographic location has only just begun.
  4. zizek38_HANNAH MCKAYPOOLAFP via Getty Images_macron HANNAH MCKAY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

    Saving Democracy from Itself

    Slavoj Žižek applauds French President Emmanuel Macron’s maneuvering to keep the far right at bay.
  5. khrushcheva186_ CHANDAN KHANNAAFP via Getty Images_border patrol Office of Inspector General/Department of Homeland Security via Getty Images

    First Trump Came for the Immigrants

    Nina L. Khrushcheva warns that mass deportations will carry high costs, not just for the economy, but for America’s soul.
  6. op_batista1_BRENDAN SMIALOWSKIAFP via Getty Images_georgievaIMF Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

    Will the IMF Survive to 100?

    Paulo Nogueira Batista, Jr. & Robert H. Wade

    The World Trade Organization's precipitous decline into irrelevance should serve as a warning to the International Monetary Fund's shareholder governments, its management, and everyone who values multilateral economic cooperation. In a rapidly changing world, global institutions must reform or die.

    propose incremental changes to keep developing and emerging economies on board and engaged.
  7. merz1_Chris Emil Janßen - PoolGetty Images_biden eu Chris Emil Janßen - Pool/Getty Images

    European Security Cannot Be Found in the Past

    Friedrich Merz

    The old Europe of the Cold War sought comfort in the past and confidence in the solitary US leadership that defined the era. Unfortunately, when it comes to its own security, Europe seemingly remains in a time warp, stuck somewhere before 1989.

    laments that nostalgia for US leadership unites a continent that must define the decisive action needed now.
  8. desalegn2_Gabriel AponteGetty Images_cop16 Gabriel Aponte/Getty Images

    The Biodiversity Crisis Is a Security Crisis

    Hailemariam Desalegn urges governments to recognize that the degradation of ecosystems poses a major threat to global stability.
  9. campanella29_ John MooreGetty Images_voting John Moore/Getty Images

    The US Election and the Crisis of Whiteness

    Edoardo Campanella sees long-term demographic trends driving the country’s increasingly divisive politics.

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