In Reality: Lessons from Leaders and Entrepreneurs

Hosted by New York Institute of Technology’s School of Management

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Jul 2026

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New York Institute of Technology’s School of Management Presents: In Reality: Lessons from Leaders and Entrepreneurs

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July 20, 2026Episode 9139 min

The New Power of Soft Skills in the AI World

Andrew Woods, a consultant, trainer, and entrepreneur with 25 years of experience across the UK, China, and Canada, joins the MBA Club at New York Institute of Technology to explore how business students and young professionals can thrive alongside AI. Drawing on his book on the six essential soft skills for the AI era — legendary customer service, sales and negotiation, presentation, cross-cultural communication, creativity, and emotional intelligence — Woods argues that while AI will outpace humans on logical, repetitive tasks, it can't replicate the human connection that builds trust, closes deals, and drives careers forward. He shares candid stories from his own entrepreneurial journey, from an impromptu chef gig in an Irish pub to building and rebuilding his training company across three countries, offering hard-won lessons on networking, resilience, execution over analysis paralysis, and knowing when to pull the plug on a failing idea. The conversation closes with practical advice for international students and aspiring entrepreneurs alike: keep sharpening your human skills, don't wait for permission to start, and remember that in an AI-driven world, the personal touch is what will always set you apart.

July 7, 2026Episode 9048 min

The Art of Reinvention: Josh Bersin on Work, AI, and What Really Drives a Career

What does artificial intelligence actually mean for your career, your company, and the way work gets done? In this episode, global HR and workforce analyst Josh Bersin cuts through the noise to offer a grounded, optimistic view of where we're headed — and what professionals at every stage can do to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

June 15, 2026Episode 8837 min

The Long Game of Entrepreneurship

In this episode of In Reality: Lessons from Leaders and Entrepreneurs, host Nikithan Karnanndi sits down with Justin Chen, a Vancouver-based marketing and sales professional with over a decade of experience supporting small businesses, now working in partnership development at Merchant Growth. Justin shares his journey from direct sales to helping small businesses access financing, and offers practical wisdom on entrepreneurship: start in an industry you know, embrace the health and wellness sector's unlimited growth ceiling, use AI as a tool to compress timelines rather than chase it as a trend, and build trust through both competence and character. He emphasizes that success — whether in content creation, sales, or business — demands consistency over time, a willingness to "suck at the beginning," and the courage to take action rather than endlessly consume knowledge. The episode closes with a reminder that community, human connection, and showing up consistently are the real foundations of lasting business success.

June 1, 2026Episode 8729 min

Leading through Crisis Communication - Part Two

Nathan Miller has spent 25 years helping organizations survive their worst moments — and in this episode, he gets into exactly how. From a retailer being extorted by an influencer to executives freezing under pressure, he breaks down why transparency almost always wins, why the cover-up destroys you faster than the original mistake, and what most leaders get dangerously wrong about communication. If you're in business, manage people, or ever have to speak under pressure — which is everyone — this one's worth your time.

May 26, 2026Episode 116 min

Leading through Crisis Communication Part One

When a crisis hits, most leaders get it wrong. In this episode, Nathan Miller — crisis communications veteran and founder of Miller InK— breaks down exactly what to do instead. With real stories, hard-won lessons, and a no-nonsense framework for communicating under pressure, this conversation will change how you think about leadership, trust, and the power of your words. Don't miss it.

May 19, 2026Episode 892 min

Welcome to Season 12

Dr. Deborah Y. Cohn introduces season 12

November 17, 2025Episode 8523 min

Cybersecurity Strategy and the Human Element

This episode explores how effective cybersecurity is not just about technology but about cultivating a human-centered culture of security. Host John Rebecchi introduces insights from Douglas London (former CIA operations officer), Perry Carpenter (cybersecurity and human risk expert), and Linda Rust (founder of Secure Think), with the discussion framed as an AI-generated compendium of expert perspectives

November 10, 2025Episode 8420 min

The Entrepreneurial Spark: Culture, Creativity, and Passion

Host John Rebecchi explores how culture, creativity, and passion ignite the drive to start and sustain new ventures. Using Google’s Notebook LLM, this episode synthesizes interviews with three founders to illuminate diverse paths to entrepreneurial success. The featured entrepreneurs are: Snigdha Sur, founder of The Juggernaut Thulani Ngazimbi, creator of The Rad Black Kids Sue Wilkowski, founder of Casa de Spin and serial entrepreneur

October 27, 2025Episode 8321 min

What Drives Innovation?

In this episode, host John Rebecki explores how innovators identify opportunities, build strategies, and sustain passion through challenges. Drawing from expert insights by Craig Dubitsky (Hello Products, Colgate-Palmolive), Lorraine Marchand (The Innovation Mindset), Joe Batista (Dell, HP), and Golan Shaked (Kiwi.com, Deezer), the discussion highlights that successful innovation stems from empathy, curiosity, and disciplined execution.

October 13, 2025Episode 8223 min

Season 11.2: The Intersection of Data Analytics and AI

Hosted by John Rebecchi, this episode explores how AI and data analytics are transforming business, education, and society. The conversation blends insights from four experts — Josh Nafman, Dr. Amir Gefen, Jonah Lopin, and Sarah Nagy — into an AI-generated discussion on innovation, strategy, and human-AI collaboration. Across all perspectives, the episode stresses that the defining skills of the AI era are curiosity, adaptability, communication, and continuous learning. Leaders are urged to define problems clearly, avoid technological hype, and focus on building strong teams and customer trust. Ultimately, the future belongs to those who can ask smarter questions, interpret data creatively, and harness AI to augment human ingenuity—not replace it.