#ZicklinTogether
ZICKLIN TALKS Business
Webinar Series
Please join Dean Fenwick Huss, Larry Zicklin, faculty members, and special guests for these webinars, featuring business executives and faculty discussing current business topics. This webinar series is offered by the Office of Executive Programs.
Good Auditors, Good Audits, Financial Failure: How Come?
February 8, 11 am
How is it that even the best, the sharpest, and the most experienced auditors sometimes miss red flags that lead to major audit failures?
Is it that they don’t understand management’s incentives and opportunities? Do they not have the experience, training, and knowledge of the firm and its industry that is needed to anticipate the likelihood of fraud? Are they are putting more trust in management than they should? Have they not exercised the right degree of professional skepticism? Or, could it simply be that they just aren’t looking for fraud?
Larry Zicklin (BBA. ’57, left) discusses these questions with William O’Mara (top, left), retired Global Head of Audit at KPMG, and with Senior Associate Dean Paquita Davis-Friday (top, center), a Professor of Accounting who has taught auditing at Baruch and served as a KPMG National Instructor. With an introduction by Dean Fenwick Huss (right) and a Q&A session moderated by Associate Dean Gwen Webb (top, right).
Are Cryptoassets Really Cryptic?
December 14, 11 am
Some have called cryptoassets and currencies like Bitcoin the Wild West of Finance. More are being created, their uses are expanding, and businesses and even governments are adopting them. And, these innovations are taking place at an unprecedented pace.
Stepping back to basics, what, exactly, are they? Why were they created? What risks do they pose, and what should regulators charged with protecting markets and investors be doing? Do they have the potential for bringing about profound changes in how we pay for goods and services and for our traditional financial intermediaries?
Larry Zicklin (BBA ‘57; bottom, left) discusses these questions with Charles Hwang (MS, ’15; top, left), the Founder and CIO of Lightning Capital and an adjunct professor at the Zicklin School, where he teaches a course on blockchain and cryptocurrencies; and Associate Professor Nizan Geslevich Packin (top, center), who researches and writes about fintech, ethical implications of digital technologies, cybersecurity, and other topics. With an introduction by Dean Fenwick Huss (right) and a Q&A session moderated by Associate Dean Gwen Webb (top, right).
Facebook: Addiction by Design?
November 9, 11 am
In one of the most impressive exposés of Big Tech, The Wall Street Journal recently detailed how Facebook’s business model contributes to user harms, how the social media giant knew all about it, and how it consciously chose to refrain from action.
What is it about Facebook that makes it so successful? What is unique about its platforms relative to those of competitors like Snapchat and TikTok? How does Facebook use algorithms to collect and monetize user data? What does it do – or not do – with the information it collects? What should the parents of young children and teens know about their kids’ uses and exposures on these platforms?
Larry Zicklin (BBA ‘57; bottom, left) discusses these questions with Zicklin School Assistant Professor of Law Yafit Lev-Aretz (top, left), whose research spotlights tech policy issues, including information privacy, algorithmic decision-making, intrusive means of news dissemination, and personalized choice architecture. With an introduction by Dean Fenwick Huss (right) and a Q&A session moderated by Associate Dean Gwen Webb (top, right).
Business and Society:
The Challenges Facing Corporate America
October 12, 11 am
What is the role of business in addressing issues of the environment, social justice, and governance? To what extent are businesses constrained by their legal obligations to serve the needs of their owners and shareholders? How can they support societal needs that may conflict with those obligations? On the other hand, how can they not support those needs?
Larry Zicklin (BBA ‘57; bottom, left) discusses these questions with Ingrid Dyott, (top left). She is Managing Director and Co-Portfolio Manager of the Core Equity and Sustainable Equity strategies at investment management firm Neuberger Berman. They will be joined by Zicklin School Associate Professor of Finance Sonali Hazarika (top, center), whose research includes work in executive compensation and long-term corporate sustainability. With an introduction by Dean Fenwick Huss (right) and a Q&A session moderated by Associate Dean Gwen Webb (top, right).
The World of the Theater: What Lies Ahead?
September 14, 11 am
Broadway is back! One of New York City’s most iconic industries, the theater is reopening despite lingering concerns over the future course of the pandemic. How have the performers, stagehands, and all the related professionals fared during the lockdown? How are the theaters managing in the face of continued uncertainty? Perhaps most intriguing, what will the theater look like in the future?
Larry Zicklin (BBA ‘57, left) discusses these questions and more with Joseph Benincasa (top left), President and CEO of The Actors Fund, an organization that “provides a safety net for performing arts and entertainment professionals over their lifespan,” and Zicklin School Associate Prof. Stephan Dilchert (top, center), an expert in human resource management who looks at work and organizations through the lens of people and their talents. With an introduction by Dean Fenwick Huss (right) and a Q&A session moderated by Associate Dean Gwen Webb (top, right).
How the COVID-19 Pandemic Has Changed Healthcare Delivery
July 13, 11 am
The Covid-19 pandemic has changed how we live, shop, study, work — and how we experience healthcare. We have witnessed a dramatic expansion of virtual healthcare, additionally spurred by advances in science and technology. What innovations are visible in the horizon? What areas are the most promising for additional changes? Are there any potential downsides?
Larry Zicklin (BBA ‘57; bottom, left) discusses how the pandemic is changing healthcare with Dr. Kenneth A. Berkowitz (top left), MD, FCCP, Special Advisor, Veterans Health Administration National Center for Ethics in Health Care and Associate Professor of Medicine and Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, who will share insights from his frontline experience in the pandemic and from his ethics perspective, and with Zicklin School Prof. Alex Mills (top, center), whose research interests include how the healthcare system responds to disruptions. The webinar will conclude with a Q&A session moderated by Associate Dean Gwen Webb (top, right).
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Insights from a Big Four Accounting Firm
June 8, 11 am
What progress have we as a nation made in advancing the causes of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the past year? What work lies ahead? What role should the Zicklin School take in pursuing the goals of DEI? What guidance on these issues can EY provide our students as they pursue their studies and enter the workforce as business professionals?
In this webinar, Larry Zicklin (BBA ‘57; left) discusses DEI initiatives with Ken Bouyer (top, left), EY Americas Director of Inclusiveness Recruiting, who will share insights on EY’s efforts in this area, and with Senior Associate Dean Paquita Davis-Friday (top center) on work undertaken by the Zicklin DEI Task Force in their efforts to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion for students, faculty, and community. The webinar will conclude with a Q&A session moderated by Associate Dean Gwen Webb (top, right).
Caught in the Vise: Corporate Responsibility and Political Spending
May 11, 11 am
Following the storming of the US Capitol on January 6 and the new election laws in Georgia, several major corporations were criticized for supporting certain politicians financially with treasury funds. Many responded by suspending their corporate political action committee and other political spending and announcing they would re-think their programs. How are corporations likely to view and employ these programs in the future? What risks are there to the American political process?
In this webinar, Larry Zicklin (BBA, ‘57) discusses these issues with Bruce Freed, president and co-founder of the Center for Political Accountability, a nonprofit group long focused on encouraging firms to adopt disclosure and accountability policies for their political spending with corporate funds. They will be joined by Prof. Naomi Gardberg, whose research interests include the analysis of corporate governance, reputation, and social responsibility.
Leadership and Technological Innovation During and After the Pandemic
April 13, 11 am
Some firms struggled to survive during the pandemic, while others found opportunities to leverage their brands and technology. Meet Guy Kawasaki, former marketing and branding expert at Apple, Google, and now Chief Evangelist at graphic design platform Canva, which ranks #7 on the Forbes 2020 “Cloud 100” list. Larry Zicklin (BBA, ’57) and Scott Newbert, Lawrence N. Field Chair in Entrepreneurship and Academic Director of the Lawrence N. Field Programs in Entrepreneurship, will discuss with Guy his career path in marketing, how his views on entrepreneurship and innovation have evolved during the pandemic, and what he envisions for the future.
Please join this timely, informative discussion with Guy Kawasaki (top left); Scott Newbert (top center); our benefactor Larry Zicklin (BBA, ’57; left); and Dean Fenwick Huss. Followed by a Q&A with Gwen Webb (top right), Associate Dean, Zicklin School of Business.
The New York Philharmonic:
Managing in a Crisis
March 9, 11 am
The pandemic may have forced the NY Philharmonic to cancel live performances through June 2021, but this doesn’t mean the music stopped! Deborah Borda, President and CEO, and Peter May, Co-Chairman, will discuss with Mr. Zicklin the effects of the pandemic, how the organization responded, and its outlook. What has cancellation meant for artists and listeners? How successful are digital services and events? What lessons has the Philharmonic learned, and what does all this mean for the business side of the organization? And more.
Please join this timely, informative discussion with Deborah Borda (top left); Peter May (center); our benefactor Larry Zicklin (BBA, ’57; left); and Dean Fenwick Huss. Followed by a Q&A with Gwen Webb (top right), Associate Dean, Zicklin School of Business.
Virgin Atlantic Before, During, and After the Pandemic
February 9, 11 am
Since its first canceled flight in February 2020, Virgin Atlantic has survived a shutdown of the airline industry, major layoffs, and a Chapter 15 bankruptcy filing in the US — all while receiving no financial support from the British government. Meanwhile, the firm is unwavering in its commitment to becoming the world’s most loved travel company while ensuring the health, safety, and security of its employees and customers as well as promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Mr. Shai Weiss (BBA, ’95), CEO of Virgin Atlantic and Baruch College alumnus, will discuss with Mr. Zicklin the firm’s path through the pandemic so far and what he sees in its future. When will it be safe to fly internationally again? How does Mr. Weiss envision Virgin Atlantic’s return to profitability? How will the firm do this while simultaneously meeting its longstanding commitment to “opening minds to a more socially responsible, culturally aware world”?
Please join this timely, informative discussion with Mr. Weiss (top left); our benefactor Larry Zicklin (BBA, ’57; left); and Dean Fenwick Huss. Followed by a Q&A with Gwen Webb (top right), Associate Dean, Zicklin School of Business.
Crisis, Opportunity, Entrepreneurship and Innovation: One Woman’s Story
January 12, 11 am
In March 2020, with the country facing PPE shortages, Michelle Feinberg, Founder of New York Embroidery Studio, managed to pivot from high-end fashion to become the city’s largest maker of PPE gowns, winning a $79 million contract from the federal government. How did she manage this transformation? What major problems did she solve, and what forms of support were most critical to transforming her business?
Please join this timely, informative discussion with Michelle Feinberg (top, left), Founder of New York Embroidery Studio; Scott Newbert (top, center), Lawrence N. Field Chair in Entrepreneurship, Academic Director of the Lawrence N. Field Programs in Entrepreneurship, Zicklin School of Business; our benefactor Larry Zicklin (BBA, ’57; left); and Dean Fenwick Huss. Followed by a Q&A with Gwen Webb (top right), Associate Dean, Zicklin School of Business.