In this special edition of The Inside Brief recorded live on stage at the Abu Dhabi Finance Week, host Manus Cranny sits down with Dmitry Balyasny, managing partner and chief investment officer Balyasny Asset Management, which oversees more than $30 billion across multi-strategy portfolios.

In a wide-ranging conversation, Mr Balyasny discusses why his firm is expanding in Abu Dhabi and what makes it an emerging global financial centre. He also explained how technology, AI and collaboration are reshaping the future of asset management.

Mr Balyasny breaks down how his team has built 2,000 AI agents running 5,000 daily tasks, transforming productivity. He explains why AI will not replace human judgment, but will redefine how markets are analysed and decisions are made.

The conversation covers Abu Dhabi’s rise as a global financial centre, the next generation of traders and how Mr Balyasny’s team selects talent from 30,000 applicants each year. It also explores the outlook for markets in 2026, and the biggest tail risks ahead for investors.

The Inside Brief with Manus Cranny is available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other major platforms.

In this episode of The Inside Brief, Manus Cranny sits down with Helima Croft, RBC Capital Markets' managing director and global head of commodity strategy, and a former CIA economic analyst, for a rare, deeply informed conversation on geopolitics, oil markets and leadership.

Ms Croft decodes the Opec+ pause and Saudi oil strategy, offering a grounded forecast for 2026 oil prices under different policy paths, and explores what renewed attention on Venezuela, Guyana and US shale could mean for global supply.

She assesses the tightening grip of US sanctions on Russian exports, the shifting stance on Ukrainian strikes and the complex endgame Russia's President Vladimir Putin may seek in Europe.

Reflecting on her time at the CIA, Ms Croft reveals what she learnt from briefing US presidents and how analytic discipline shapes her scenario work on Wall Street.

The conversation also explores the realities of balancing high-pressure careers with family while mentoring the next generation.

In this episode of The Inside Brief, Manus Cranny sits down at Emirates headquarters with company president Sir Tim Clark for a candid conversation about growth, negotiation, and the future of global aviation.

Sir Tim traces Emirates from its 1985 regional beginnings to a 270-aircraft super-connector that now contributes meaningfully to Dubai’s economy and identity.

The conversation turns to supply constraints and the delayed Boeing 777x. Sir Tim says Emirates had planned to take delivery of the new aircraft this year, but now faces uncertainty that will run into 2027.

He also reflects on the enduring value of the A380 and laments a cooler appetite among manufacturers and boards for bold, large-gauge innovation, citing two decades of industry trauma and risk aversion.

On demand and pricing, Sir Clark discusses the structural shift that has taken place since the pandemic, with higher yields and travellers flying more often.

The episode closes on leadership. Giving his advice on the art of negotiating, he says: “Prepare thoroughly, anticipate the other side’s position, stay calm, be firm and fair, and always cut through the froth to the real issues.”

Asked about his legacy, Sir Clark says he wants the next generation of Emirates leaders to inherit a clear path for the next 15 to 20 years, with fleets, networks, products and the new hub laid out. He would urge them to stay focused on the model that made the company successful.

The Inside Brief with Manus Cranny is available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other major platforms.