Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this episode of Executive Decisions, Steve Sedgwick speaks with Tim Adams, President and CEO of the Institute of International Finance and one of the most influential voices warning about the global debt crisis.
Adams shares his remarkable journey from a small Kentucky town to the forefront of international finance. A childhood spent in the local library sparked his curiosity and ambition: “Once you open your mind, it never goes back,” he says.
Tim reflects on pivotal career choices, including turning down a job at Enron that “seemed too good to be true,” joining George W. Bush’s presidential campaign and later serving at the U.S. Treasury, where he helped rebuild financial systems in Afghanistan and Iraq after 9/11.
He also discusses the origins of the IIF, founded during the Latin American debt crisis and shares insights on the challenges facing today’s global economy.
00:00 Executive Decisions with Tim Adams: A Global Debt Warning
01:37 The IIF's Origin Story and the Looming Debt Crisis
04:09 From Rural Kentucky to a World of Opportunity
07:48 Why Tim Adams Turned Down the Job of a Lifetime at Enron
09:32 Taking a Risk: Joining the George W. Bush Campaign
11:27 Witnessing 9/11 and its Aftermath at the US Treasury
13:19 Setting Up Financial Systems in Post-9/11 Afghanistan and Iraq
15:48 The Challenging Interview to Lead and Revitalize the IIF
19:37 Building Trust, Empathy and Learning from Daily Mistakes
24:33 The Crisis of Fiscal Responsibility and Short-Term Decisions
29:02 Asset Bubbles, Investment Wisdom and the Bitcoin Question
32:32 American Spirit and European Risk
35:28 Steve Sedgwick's Final Thoughts
#CNBC #CNBCPodcast #ExecutiveDecisions
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In this episode of Executive Decisions, Steve Sedgwick speaks with Tim Adams, President and CEO of the Institute of International Finance and one of the most influential voices warning about the global debt crisis.
Adams shares his remarkable journey from a small Kentucky town to the forefront of international finance. A childhood spent in the local library sparked his curiosity and ambition: “Once you open your mind, it never goes back,” he says.
Tim reflects on pivotal career choices, including turning down a job at Enron that “seemed too good to be true,” joining George W. Bush’s presidential campaign and later serving at the U.S. Treasury, where he helped rebuild financial systems in Afghanistan and Iraq after 9/11.
He also discusses the origins of the IIF, founded during the Latin American debt crisis and shares insights on the challenges facing today’s global economy.
00:00 Executive Decisions with Tim Adams: A Global Debt Warning
01:37 The IIF's Origin Story and the Looming Debt Crisis
04:09 From Rural Kentucky to a World of Opportunity
07:48 Why Tim Adams Turned Down the Job of a Lifetime at Enron
09:32 Taking a Risk: Joining the George W. Bush Campaign
11:27 Witnessing 9/11 and its Aftermath at the US Treasury
13:19 Setting Up Financial Systems in Post-9/11 Afghanistan and Iraq
15:48 The Challenging Interview to Lead and Revitalize the IIF
19:37 Building Trust, Empathy and Learning from Daily Mistakes
24:33 The Crisis of Fiscal Responsibility and Short-Term Decisions
29:02 Asset Bubbles, Investment Wisdom and the Bitcoin Question
32:32 American Spirit and European Risk
35:28 Steve Sedgwick's Final Thoughts
#CNBC #CNBCPodcast #ExecutiveDecisions
-----
Subscribe: @cnbci
CNBC International Live: @cnbcinternationalive
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/showcase/cnbc-international
TikTok: tiktok.com/@cnbci
Facebook: facebook.com/cnbcinternational
Instagram: instagram.com/cnbcinternational
Threads: threads.net/@cnbcinternational
X: twitter.com/CNBCi
Telegram: https://t.me/cnbci
WhatsApp: bit.ly/CNBCiWhatsApp
