LEAP Into Business

In this LEAP Into Business conversation, Sean Stein Smith and Jorge Silva-Puras speak with Ron Quaranta about innovation, education, finance, and emerging technology. The discussion for Season Three, Episode Seven, frames blockchain, digital assets, and artificial intelligence as business issues that affect decision-making, risk management, and career preparation. Quaranta stresses that technology...

In Season 3 Episode 6 of LEAP Into Business, host Sean Stein Smith and special co-host Professor Andrew Gold interview Soo Kim (Chairman of Bally's Corporation) on how to think rigorously about risk in today’s business landscape. The conversation explores capital discipline, strategic patience, and how professionals can build careers by consistently applying sound judgment rather than chasing...

In Season 3, Episode 5 of LEAP Into Business, host Sean Stein Smith is joined by special co-host - Professor Alexander Nuñez-Torres, for an in-depth conversation with guest Lehman President Fernando Delgado. This episode breaks down the $50 million gift to Lehman College from MacKenzie Scott's Yield Giving Foundation, what projects are being supported by these funds, and the inner workings of...

Sean Stein Smith and Lehman College Provost Jorge Silva-Puras sit down with Jennifer Bernstein, the CEO of the New York Botanical Garden for a LEAP Into Business interview highlighting leadership, community engagement, and economic development in The Bronx. Listen to learn how cultural and scientific institutions partner with local business ecosystems to foster education, sustainability, and inclu...

Lehman College Professor Jane Cleland, author of Beat the Bots: A Writer's Guide to Surviving and Thriving in the Age of AI, joins the LEAP into Business podcast to talk about her book, how she merges her business and creative background, and the importance of of originality in battling the blandness of AI.Hosted by Lehman Business Professor Sean Stein Smith and Provost Jorge SIlva-Puras.https...

In this episode of LEAP Into Business (Season 3 Episode 2), co-hosts Provost Jorge Silva Puras and Professor Sean Stein Smith sit down with NYCPA (New York State Society of CPA's) President Kevin Matz, a Lehman alumnus! Their conversation focused on the importance of taking a curious and proactive approach to continuing education, building a well-rounded persona for both personal and business...

In the kick off episode of Season 3 of LEAP Into Business, Rob Walsh - President of the Bronx Economic Development Corporation - sits down with Lehman College Provost Jorge Silva-Puras and Associate Professor Sean Stein Smith to discuss business trends, technological innovation, and what institutions and policymakers can do to help the Bronx realize its true economic potential.lehman.edu/business

In the Season Two, Episode Three edition of the LEAP into Business podcast, hosts Lawrence Fauntleroy, Lehman Experiential Learning Director and Lehman College Professor and Digital Assets Expert Sean Stein Smith sit down with Jamiel Sheikh, founder and CEO of Modelex AI and Scifn, a leading voice at the intersection of distributed AI, blockchain, and financial innovation. With over 20 years of ex...

For Season Two, Episode Four of LEAP into Business, hosts Lawrence Fauntleroy, Lehman Experiential Learning Director and Lehman College Professor and Digital Assets Expert Sean Stein Smith speak with Jennifer Dillon, Head of Talent, Innovation & Industry Partnerships at CUNY, about her bold vision to embed career-connected learning across higher education. Jennifer shares how initiatives like...

For Season 2, Episode 2 of LEAP into Business, hosts Lawrence Fauntleroy, Lehman Experiential Learning Director and Lehman College Professor and Digital Assets Expert Sean Stein Smith are joined by Gregory Hernandez, a Bronx-born filmmaker, entrepreneur, and founder of Green Canvas Productions. Gregory shares his journey from picking up a camera in the Bronx to building a thriving creative ecosyst...

In this episode, Dr. Sean Stein-Smith, Associate Professor at CUNY Lehman College and one of the most influential voices in accounting, blockchain, and AI shares insights from his academic and industry experience, exploring how blockchain and AI intersect to reshape financial services, auditing, and compliance. We discuss the future of decentralized finance (DeFi), ethical challenges surrounding e...

On Episode 11 of LEAP into Business, we sit down with Cristina Contreras, a visionary healthcare leader and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln. Cristina, a Lehman College alumna, shares her inspiring journey from caseworker to chief executive, offering insights on leadership, mentorship, and the evolving healthcare landscape. We explore the impact of technology in healthcare, the importance of...

In episode ten of LEAP into Business, hosts Lawrence Fauntleroy, Lehman Experiential Learning Director and Lehman College Professor and Digital Assets Expert Sean Stein Smith Sean Stein Smith speak with Lauren Andersen, University Associate Provost of Careers and Industry Partnerships at CUNY, about her mission to align education with workforce opportunities. Lauren shares insights from her work l...

In episode nine of LEAP into Business, we sit down with Aiysha (AJ) Johnson, CEO and Executive Director of the New Jersey Society of CPAs, to explore her career journey and leadership insights. AJ shares how her education and experiences have shaped her success, strategies for ongoing self-development, and offers advice for students aspiring to lead. We dive into her vision for diversity and inclu...

Recorded live at the 2nd Annial Digital Asset Conference at Lehman College (https://www.lehmandigital.org/conference2024.html), watch our chat with Nami Baral, Founder & CEO of Niural, a global payments and workforce management platform. A serial entrepreneur with two successful exits, Nami shares her journey building innovative companies, including Harvest, an AI-driven finance platform acqui...

In this episode of LEAP into Business, Calvin Harris Jr., CEO of the New York State Society of CPAs, shares his 30-year journey through roles from CFO to auditor. He offers advice on the essential skills and adaptability needed in today's accounting field, the impact of technology, and the value of exploring diverse sectors. Calvin also highlights the importance of mentorship and how to leverage i...

Abby Jo Sigal, Executive Director of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development, discusses the evolving NYC workforce, emerging industries, and strategies for talent development. She highlights the importance of public/private partnerships and community-based organizations and offers advice for recent graduates entering the job market. Hosted by Lehman College Professor and Digital...

On episode five of LEAP into Business, Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, the Chancellor of the City University of New York, shares how his education laid the foundation for his career. He highlights the complexity of overseeing 25 campuses and 225,000 students and discusses the importance of keeping pace with industry advancements to prepare students for the demands of an AI-driven landscape; all with a c...

On episode four of LEAP into Business, Lisa Sorin, the dynamic and first female President of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce shares her journey of leadership and community development, including her pivotal role in transforming the Westchester Square BID and founding the Bronx Chamber of Commerce Scholarship program. Hosted by Lehman College Professor and Digital Assets Expert Sean Stein Smith and E...

The LEAP into Business podcast takes its show on the road a hosts Sean Stein Smith and Lawrence Fauntleroy travelled to WABC 770 to record this episode of LEAP Into Business to talk with Red Apple Group CEO and self-made billionaire John Catsimatidis, author of, "How Far Do You Want To Go." In March, Mr. Catsimatidis visited Lehman College, spoke to a packed room of Lehman College studen...

Hosts Sean Stein Smith and Lawrence Fauntleroy welcome Lehman College Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Student Success to the LEAP Into Business podcast to talk about entrepreneurship and his experience in marketing for a Fortune 500 company. Lehman College: ⁠https://www.lehman.edu/⁠ Provost Silva-Puras: ⁠https://lehman.edu/provost/about-provost.php Provost LinkedIn: http...

Hosts Sean Stein Smith and Lawrence Fauntleroy welcome Lehman College President Fernando Delgado for the first episode of the LEAP Into Business podcast. Lehman College: https://www.lehman.edu/ President Delgado: https://www.lehman.edu/president/presidents-biography/ School of Business: https://www.lehman.edu/business/