In this episode of Inside the Z-Suite, we speak with Douglas L. Maine about one of the most remarkable business transformations in modern history—and what it reveals about today’s AI revolution. From helping lead MCI’s rise againstAT&T to advising CEOs navigating artificial intelligence, Maine shares lessons on disruption, innovation, and leadership in times of profound change.

In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the business of Broadway with Tony Award-winning producer Ken Davenport. From financing and marketing to the creative risks behind a hit show, Davenport shares how artistry and entrepreneurship intersect on the world’s biggest stage. With credits including Kinky Boots, Once On This Island, and A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical, Ken offers an insider’s look at what it takes to turn vision into standing ovations.

Private equity and digital assets are transforming the way capital flows and how investors approach investment. Nicholas Tsafos, CPA and Partner at Eisner Advisory Group and EisnerAmper LLP, joins us to talk about how private equity has evolved, why blockchain matters, and what strong leadership looks like in today’s fast-changing financial world.

In this episode, we delve into what it takes to drive performance improvement at scale with expert Neil Smith, Senior Advisor at McKinsey & Company, who has over 30 years of experience leading global transformations for companies like Bank of America and is the author of the New York Times bestseller How Excellent Companies Avoid Dumb Things.

Corporate governance is the foundation of strong leadership—yet it’s often overlooked. In this episode, we sit down with Debra Sandler, a seasoned executive, board director, and Hofstra Trustee, to explore how effective governance shapes organizational integrity, resilience, and long-term success.

In this episode, we examine a topic that impacts everyone: supply chain management. What is it, and why has it become such a significant issue? To help us unpack it all, recognized expert Kaushik Sengupta, PhD, Associate Dean of Business Graduate Programs and Chair of the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship at the Zarb School of Business, will share insights into how businesses and customers can adapt to the growing web of tariffs, trade tensions, and disruptions that test the supply chain limits.

In this episode, we chat with Zarb alumnus and former Chair and CEO of Marcum LLP (now CBIZ), Jeffrey Weiner, one of the most influential leaders in the accounting industry. He'll share his career trajectory and insights into current issues in the profession, including the talent shortage, the CPA exam and requirements, the impact of AI in practice, mergers and monetization, and the future of accountancy.

Are there any signs of a more buyer-friendly housing market on the horizon? Join us as we explore the challenges and potential shifts in the American housing finance industry with investment expert and Hofstra Board of Trustees Member Edward Watson, who will discuss the impact of soaring interest rates, a shortage of affordable homes, and related issues impacting buyers, sellers, and homebuilders.

What is the difference between active and passive investing? Learn more about the current shifts in the US public equity market and how it will impact businesses and individual investors with industry expert and Hofstra alumnus Richard Gray, Chief Client Officer at Engaged Capital, a constructive activist fund where he is responsible for managing client relationships and new business development.

Entrepreneurs and business owners from all industries and sizes will want to take time for the 'Inside the Z-Suite' talk with labor and employment attorney Domenique Moran, a partner at Farrell Fritz, P.C., who will share insights on how to stay current with constant changes in employment law compliance. From workplace safety and equal pay issues to employment discrimination and disputes, Moran will cover the legal bases you need to know to manage your business effectively amid shifts in labor laws.