NY Professional Spotlight

Roman Kirzhner

NY Professional Spotlight is the show where host Roman Kirzhner sits down with accomplished professionals from across New York to uncover the stories, strategies, and expertise behind their success. From doctors and lawyers to engineers, financial professionals, business owners, and industry leaders, each episode features candid conversations about career growth, leadership, business, investing, overcoming challenges, and building a lasting legacy. Whether you're a professional looking to elevate your career, a business owner seeking new insights, or someone who enjoys learning from successful people, NY Professional Spotlight delivers practical wisdom and real-world experience from some of New York's most accomplished professionals. Success. Strategy. Legacy.

  1. 8m ago

    Building Trust, Using AI, and Growing Nonprofits with Sharon Doctor

    What does it take to help nonprofit organizations grow, improve performance, and better serve their communities? In this episode of the NY Professional Spotlight Podcast, host Roman Kirzhner welcomes Sharon Doctor, Founder and CEO of Valentius LLC, to discuss the importance of strong leadership, better systems, and building trust within organizations. With more than 20 years of experience working with nonprofit and healthcare organizations, Sharon shares practical lessons about organizational change, responsible technology use, and creating long-term financial stability. From the Peace Corps to Nonprofit Leadership Sharon's career was shaped by her experience as a Peace Corps volunteer in Africa, where she helped bring healthcare services to rural communities. She saw firsthand how people with the greatest healthcare needs often waited until their conditions became serious before seeking help. That experience inspired her to focus on making services easier to access. In 2019, she founded Valentius LLC, a New York State-certified minority-owned consulting company that helps nonprofits improve their operations, develop strategies, and grow their impact. Building Trust and Stronger Organizations Sharon believes many nonprofits face challenges because of inefficient systems rather than a lack of talented employees. She explains why organizations need to break down barriers between departments, improve communication, and ensure everyone works toward shared goals. She also shares an example from her career in which she helped improve organizational performance from approximately 70% to 85%. Through better performance tracking, staff training, and leadership development, the organization improved its operations and expanded its ability to serve clients. Using AI Responsibly Artificial intelligence is changing how organizations operate, but Sharon believes technology must be introduced thoughtfully. She discusses why leaders should first understand how employees feel about AI, identify opportunities to improve workflows, and establish clear guidelines for responsible use. She also emphasizes the importance of checking AI-generated information and keeping people involved in important decisions.

    Building Trust, Using AI, and Growing Nonprofits with Sharon Doctor

  2. 1d ago

    Making AI Accessible to Everyone: Abhishek Malvankar on Open Source Innovation

    Artificial intelligence is changing how we work, learn, and solve problems. But what does it take to make AI technology available to more people around the world? In this episode of the NY Professional Spotlight Podcast, host Roman Kirzhner welcomes Abhishek Malvankar, Senior Software Engineer and Master Inventor at IBM Research, to discuss the future of artificial intelligence, open source innovation, and the importance of collaboration in technology. Abhishek has built his career around optimizing large-scale computing systems, managing resources, and improving how technology operates in cloud environments. Today, his work focuses on making AI systems more efficient and accessible. As one of the founding contributors and special interest group leads for the open source LLMD project, Abhishek is helping develop technology that allows organizations to run large AI models more efficiently.

    Making AI Accessible to Everyone: Abhishek Malvankar on Open Source Innovation

  3. 2d ago

    Beyond Traditional Medicine: Building Trust, Overcoming Fear, and Transforming Patient Care with Dr. Robert Kornfeld

    What happens when a doctor realizes that the traditional healthcare system isn't allowing him to provide the kind of care his patients deserve? For Dr. Robert Kornfeld, the answer was to change the way he practiced medicine. In this episode of the NY Professional Spotlight Podcast, host Roman Kirzhner welcomes Dr. Robert Kornfeld, an experienced New York podiatrist specializing in functional and regenerative medicine. With 44 years in practice, Dr. Kornfeld has built his career around understanding the underlying factors that contribute to chronic pain rather than focusing only on symptoms. He shares why he moved away from conventional podiatric medicine, how he transitioned to a direct-care practice, and why spending more time with patients has become one of the most important parts of his work. The conversation goes beyond healthcare to explore the challenges of running a professional practice, overcoming fear, recognizing opportunities, and building a meaningful career. Dr. Kornfeld also discusses how he is sharing his knowledge with other healthcare professionals through the Institute for Functional Podiatric Medicine.

    Beyond Traditional Medicine: Building Trust, Overcoming Fear, and Transforming Patient Care with Dr. Robert Kornfeld

  4. 2d ago

    Beyond the Smile: Building a Patient-Centered Dental Practice with Dr. Parul Makkar

    Running a successful dental practice takes more than clinical skills. It requires compassion, trust, business knowledge, and the ability to adapt to a changing healthcare industry. In this episode of the NY Professional Spotlight Podcast, host Roman Kirzhner welcomes Dr. Parul Makkar, a general dentist and private practice owner based in Jericho, Long Island. Dr. Makkar shares her journey of building a patient-centered dental practice, the challenges of running a small healthcare business, and why she believes treating the person behind the smile is just as important as treating their teeth. From navigating dental insurance frustrations to exploring artificial intelligence in dentistry, Dr. Makkar offers valuable insights into the business and human sides of healthcare.

    Beyond the Smile: Building a Patient-Centered Dental Practice with Dr. Parul Makkar

  5. Oct 15

    Building Wealth With Purpose: Kathy Entwistle on Trust, Financial Planning, and the Human Side of Wealth

    In this episode of the NY Professional Spotlight Podcast with Roman Kirzhner, Roman sits down with Kathy Entwistle, Managing Director and Private Wealth Advisor at Morgan Stanley with the True North 360 Group. Kathy helps clients who have worked hard to build wealth understand how their financial resources can support the next phase of their lives.   Kathy explains why great wealth management starts with listening. Rather than focusing only on numbers, she takes time to understand each client's goals, values, priorities, and what matters most to them. From there, she works to create a financial path that connects their resources with the life they want to build.   Roman and Kathy also discuss the importance of trust in professional relationships. Kathy shares why trust is earned over time by showing up, following through, and being there when clients need support. She also explains why communicating financial concepts in clear, understandable language can help clients feel more comfortable and confident. Kathy shares her unusual path into wealth management after spending 12 years as a stay-at-home mom. Despite entering a demanding training program with nearly 400 participants, she was one of only three who remained after three years. Her story highlights persistence, flexibility, and the value of recognizing the strengths people bring from different life experiences. Pasted markdown Kathy shares her unusual path into wealth management after spending 12 years as a stay-at-home mom. Despite entering a demanding training program with nearly 400 participants, she was one of only three who remained after three years. Her story highlights persistence, flexibility, and the value of recognizing the strengths people bring from different life experiences. Pasted markdown

    Building Wealth With Purpose: Kathy Entwistle on Trust, Financial Planning, and the Human Side of Wealth

  6. Oct 13

    From Engineer to AI Leader: Deepika Sidana on Leadership, Mentorship, and Responsible AI

    In this episode of the NY Professional Spotlight Podcast, Roman Kirzhner sits down with Deepika Sidana, a Senior Engineering Manager at American Express with around 15 years of experience in software engineering. Deepika shares how she began her career as a Java developer and gradually moved into engineering leadership. One of the biggest lessons from that transition was learning that leadership is not about being the person who solves every problem. Instead, strong leaders empower their teams to think independently, challenge assumptions, make decisions, and learn from mistakes.   Roman and Deepika also explore the rapidly changing world of artificial intelligence. Deepika discusses her work with AI agents and knowledge-assistant initiatives, along with her personal interest in using AI as a tool for learning rather than simply an “answering machine.” She created a custom GPT for her daughter designed to encourage critical thinking by guiding her toward answers instead of providing them directly.   Deepika also shares her efforts to help the next generation become more confident with technology. She has delivered coding and AI workshops to nearly 100 Girl Scouts and hopes to expand the initiative so more volunteers can help young people develop foundational AI and technology skills   The conversation also touches on career growth and the importance of becoming comfortable with uncomfortable situations. Deepika explains why failure has been an important part of her own development and why professionals shouldn't allow fear of failure to prevent them from taking on new challenges

    From Engineer to AI Leader: Deepika Sidana on Leadership, Mentorship, and Responsible AI

  7. Oct 9

    AI, Leadership, and the Power of Continuous Learning with Arindam Mukhopadhyay

    AI, Leadership, and the Power of Continuous Learning with Arindam Mukhopadhyay What does it take to lead through decades of change in finance, technology, and now artificial intelligence? In this episode of the NY Professional Spotlight Podcast, Roman Kirzhner sits down with Arindam Mukhopadhyay, founder of Inflection Advisory and a seasoned finance and technology executive with more than 25 years of experience, including two decades at Citigroup. Arindam shares how curiosity and a commitment to continuous learning have helped him move into new roles, master unfamiliar areas, and lead large global teams. He explains why there is no shortcut to developing real knowledge and why professionals need the discipline to focus on a few important priorities at a time. Roman and Arindam also explore the growing role of artificial intelligence in business. Arindam discusses how AI can improve enterprise operations, why understanding the technology requires ongoing learning, and why trust will play such an important role as people give AI greater responsibility in everyday decisions. The conversation goes beyond technology. Arindam shares lessons from managing teams around the world and explains why understanding history, culture, and society can make someone a more effective global leader. For him, technology may be a powerful enabler, but business and leadership ultimately remain deeply human. The episode also touches on creating income outside a traditional career. Arindam emphasizes understanding the risks and the field before putting money into alternative investments and reminds listeners that investing in their own skills and creativity can open opportunities too.

    AI, Leadership, and the Power of Continuous Learning with Arindam Mukhopadhyay

  8. Oct 7

    Building Smarter Websites for the AI Era with Tom Belknap

    What does a business website really need to tell people? In this episode of the NY Professional Spotlight Podcast, Roman Kirzhner talks with Tom Belknap about websites, business information, artificial intelligence, and the lessons that come from years of solving technology problems. The conversation explores a simple but important idea: a website should start with the truth about the business. Customers need to understand who the business is, how to contact it, what it sells, how to buy, and how the product or service will be delivered. The episode also looks at the growing role of AI. They discuss why AI should be treated as a tool, why its results still need to be checked, and how developers can use AI to complete work that once took much longer. The conversation also covers the challenges of building a business, the value of working on many different projects, and why experience can help professionals recognize problems that appear again and again. You’ll also hear about a practical AI project discussed in the interview called Menu Goblin. The idea is to take information from a paper menu and turn it into a digital menu in just minutes.

    Building Smarter Websites for the AI Era with Tom Belknap
See All (34)

Trailer

About

NY Professional Spotlight is the show where host Roman Kirzhner sits down with accomplished professionals from across New York to uncover the stories, strategies, and expertise behind their success. From doctors and lawyers to engineers, financial professionals, business owners, and industry leaders, each episode features candid conversations about career growth, leadership, business, investing, overcoming challenges, and building a lasting legacy. Whether you're a professional looking to elevate your career, a business owner seeking new insights, or someone who enjoys learning from successful people, NY Professional Spotlight delivers practical wisdom and real-world experience from some of New York's most accomplished professionals. Success. Strategy. Legacy.

Information

  • Creator
    Roman Kirzhner
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    34
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    NY Professional Spotlight