In Reality: Lessons from Leaders and Entrepreneurs

Season 13 of In Reality: Lessons from Leaders and Entrepreneurs kicks off on International Podcast Day with a special episode unlike anything we have done before. For this special first episode, we are taking a moment to look back at the people and stories that have been part of the podcast over the past seven years.

Hear from Deborah Y. Cohn (M.B.A.'89), Ph.D., Professor of Marketing and Executive Producer; John Rebecchi (M.B.A. ’83), Ph.D., founder, host, and Executive Producer; Patthara Chandaragga (B.P.S.'11, M.A.'13), Producer; and Priscilla Araba Hagan (M.B.A.’26), and Niketan Karunanidhi (M.B.A.’26), who made their debut as student hosts last season and are ready to take the podcast into its next chapter.

Together, we will look back at where the In Reality began, how it has changed over the years, the people who have been part of its journey and where we are going next. We hope you enjoy this reflective episode and the stories behind the podcast.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Dr. Deborah Y. Cohn introduces season 12

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

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

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.