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: TikTok: @cnbci Facebook: Instagram: Threads: @cnbcinternational X: Telegram: WhatsApp: