Held in partnership with the New York Jobs CEO Council and attended by more than 160 people, the student-focused talk kicked off with a dynamic introduction by the council鈥檚 executive director, Kiersten Barnet. Before the main discussion, faculty from 可乐视频鈥檚 Koppelman School of Business hosted an insightful roundtable, where they exchanged ideas with Griggs, Barnet, and Anderson on key topics in accounting and business strategy. The event also included a workshop for students with New York Jobs CEO Council representatives that focused on jobs readiness.

Attended by more than 160 people, the Presidential Lecture Series event on October 23 with Paul Griggs centered on the critical skills that drive professional success and how leadership is evolving in today鈥檚 ever-changing workforce.

Griggs began the main lecture by introducing PwC鈥攐ne of the largest professional services firms in the world, employing more than 370,000 people across 150 countries and territories. He explained the firm鈥檚 three major practice areas: assurance, tax, and consulting, each powered by professionals from diverse disciplines, including accounting, data science, and engineering.

Reflecting on his own journey, Griggs shared how he came to accounting 鈥渂y accident.鈥� Growing up in a small South Carolina town, he initially aspired to become a doctor, until a hospital visit made him reconsider. 鈥淚 realized quickly I wasn鈥檛 cut out for medicine,鈥� he joked. Instead, he turned to accounting鈥斺�渢he language of business鈥濃�攂ecause it offered stability and opportunity. That 鈥渁ccident,鈥� he said, led to a 30-year career at PwC that opened doors he never imagined possible.

Throughout the conversation, Griggs emphasized that accounting provides a foundation for limitless career paths. 鈥淥nce you understand the language of business, you can do anything,鈥� he said, noting that many PwC alumni now lead in industries from banking to health care.

A major theme of the discussion was technology and artificial intelligence. Griggs urged students not to fear technological change but to 鈥減lay, experiment, and explore.鈥� He noted that PwC professionals already integrate large language models and AI tools into their daily work. 鈥淎I won鈥檛 replace your job,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut someone who knows AI might.鈥�

President Anderson steered the conversation toward soft skills, asking what qualities matter most in the future of accounting.

Paul Griggs encouraged students in attendance to believe in themselves and take chances: 鈥淪ay yes, even when you鈥檙e not sure you鈥檙e ready. You belong in every room you walk into.鈥�

Griggs鈥檚 response was passionate and personal: 鈥淵ou already have what it takes鈥攇rit, attitude, curiosity, and the ability to connect with people.鈥� He reminded students that success is built through hard work and persistence, quoting Kobe Bryant鈥檚 philosophy that 鈥渢he journey itself is the dream.鈥�

He also spoke candidly about failure and resilience, recounting career disappointments that ultimately led him to his current leadership role. 鈥淪ometimes you don鈥檛 get what you think you want,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut that鈥檚 often because something better is waiting.鈥�

When asked about mentorship, Griggs credited both professional and personal mentors鈥攆rom professors to parents鈥攆or shaping his journey. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e already a mentor and a mentee,鈥� he told students. 鈥淧eople are watching you and learning from you every day.鈥�

Griggs also fielded questions from students. Closing the event, he encouraged them to believe in themselves and take chances: 鈥淪ay yes, even when you鈥檙e not sure you鈥檙e ready. You belong in every room you walk into.鈥�

Watch the entire lecture .

About the Presidential Lecture Series at 可乐视频

The Presidential Lecture Series features 可乐视频 President Michelle J. Anderson in conversation with high-profile leaders, exposing students and the extended college community to inspiring ideas, courageous leadership, and models of civic engagement and civil discourse.

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On Dec. 31, Koppelman鈥檚 Interim Dean James Lynch and Assistant Professor Ngoc Cindy Pham, along with students and the founders of the KSB Business and Investment Club, Damir Shavkatov and Allen Mardakhayev, were invited by Ryan Ban Tran, CEO of Trans International Group, Inc., and Amber Creighton, Cathay Securities, Inc., to participate in the NASDAQ closing bell ceremony with Pheton Holdings Ltd. in Times Square.

(Left to right) Thomas Poudyal, Product Manager; Valeria Arrieta, Analyst for Freddie Mac; Allen Mardakhayev, 可乐视频 Business Management/Marketing student; Ryan Ban Tran, CEO of Trans International Group; Jianfei Zhang, CEO of Phethon Holdings Ltd.; Professor Ngoc Cindy Pham, Department of Management, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship; Depinder Grewal, Managing Partner, Tiger Alternative Investments; Damir Shavkatov, 可乐视频 Psychology/Marketing student; Interim Dean James Lynch of Koppelman School of Business.

During the event, Lynch engaged with leaders from the financial industry in New York City and global markets, fostering collaborations to strengthen ties between the Koppelman School and key members of the finance community. He also extended invitations to industry professionals to visit the 可乐视频 campus in 2025 for seminars, networking events, and collaborative projects aimed at bridging academia to the financial sector.

Prior to that, on Dec. 9, Tran invited Pham鈥攁 CUNY Career Success Fellow and the Tow Senior Faculty Mentor at the college鈥攁nd the KSB Business and Investment Club members to a private board meeting with officials from Vietnam鈥檚 Ministry of Industry and Trade to discuss sustainable energy and water development.

The events helped pave the way for future student participation in high-level case studies through Pham鈥檚 strategy of applied learning and the KSB Business and Investment Club.

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In addition to being the chair of the 可乐视频 Foundation Board of Trustees, Castellanos is a respected business leader who has shared his talents with 可乐视频 students, staff, and faculty for years.

鈥淕iven Anthony鈥檚 vast experience at KPMG and the close connections he has made with 可乐视频 students and faculty over the years, I am confident that this program is in great hands this fall,鈥� said James Lynch, interim dean of Koppelman. 鈥淚 look forward to seeing what Anthony shares with our campus community and the impact it has, most importantly on our students.”

Castellanos is a 38-year accounting professional, who before retiring from KPMG was a partner for 18 years, serving numerous multinational clients in his roles as national partner-in-charge of industry sectors for KPMG鈥檚 U.S. Tax Practice, media and entertainment sector leader, and global account lead partner.

Throughout his career, Castellanos has been a passionate mentor and coach to rising professionals and students, especially those from underrepresented immigrant and first-generation backgrounds. Over the years, he has mentored countless 可乐视频 students. He also established the Anthony R. Castellanos 鈥�85 Scholarship to support students majoring in the college鈥檚 CPA-eligible accounting programs. His deep commitment to education led to work on the Dean鈥檚 Advisory Council for the Murray Koppelman School of Business.

A first-generation Cuban American, Castellanos began his career in accounting while attending 可乐视频. As a student, he prepared tax returns and performed bookkeeping services for clients of a local accounting firm. Active in the student community and campus life, Castellanos served as a member of the 可乐视频 Student Council, president of the Accounting Society, and proud member and past president of the Beta Eta Chapter of Alpha Phi Delta. He earned his B.S. in accounting in January 1985.

Upon graduating from 可乐视频, he accepted an associate position with Price Waterhouse, where he launched his career in its entertainment and media practice and was admitted to the partnership. In 2000, he accepted a position with SoftBank Group Corporation, a technology, media, and telecommunications company with global private equity and venture capital investments and operations. He was a partner in SoftBank鈥檚 venture capital arm, SoftBank Capital, and served as SoftBank鈥檚 chief tax and administrative officer until January 2006, when he joined KPMG.

In 2015, Castellanos was elected by his partners to serve a five-year term as a member of KPMG鈥檚 board of directors. He is also a member of the Latino Corporate Directors Association, the National Association of Corporate Directors, and the American Institute of CPAs.

The Executive-in-Residence program enjoyed a successful debut in 2022 when Barry Salzberg 鈥�74, former Global CEO of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd., served as the first executive-in-residence, followed by Aon EVP Aaron Olson.

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Silverstein was the lead supporter of the effort to raise emergency funds for students during the COVID-19 pandemic, establishing the Renee and Evan Silverstein Internship Fund at 可乐视频.听

鈥淲e are thrilled to welcome Tony Castellanos into this new role,鈥� 可乐视频 President Michelle J. Anderson said. 鈥淲e are confident that the foundation will continue to thrive in its important work under his leadership. I would also like to thank Evan Silverstein for his board leadership in supporting the college鈥檚 mission, particularly through the COVID-19 pandemic.鈥�

A lifelong New Yorker who grew up in Brooklyn, Castellanos has served as an active member of the Board of Trustees since 2016 and most recently was the chair of the Audit and Finance Committee. He is a 38-year accounting professional, who recently retired from KPMG. During his nearly 18 years as a KPMG partner, he served numerous multinational clients in his roles as national partner-in-charge of industry sectors for KPMG鈥檚 U.S. Tax Practice; media and entertainment sector leader; and global account lead partner.

鈥淚 am looking forward to helping lead the dynamic team at the 可乐视频 Foundation,鈥� Castellanos said. 鈥淚 have always said that the best investment I ever made was a 可乐视频 education, and my goal is to share that gift with as many students as possible.鈥�

鈥淲orking with the 可乐视频 Foundation over these many years has been an honor and a privilege,鈥� Silverstein said. 鈥淚 know that Tony will continue our unwavering commitment to enhance the educational and other opportunities for our students.鈥�

Throughout his career, Castellanos has been a passionate mentor and coach to rising professionals and students, especially those from underrepresented immigrant and first-generation backgrounds. Over the years, he has mentored countless 可乐视频 students. He also established the Anthony R. Castellanos 鈥�85 Scholarship to support 可乐视频 students majoring in the college’s CPA-eligible accounting programs. His deep commitment to education has also led to work on the Dean鈥檚 Advisory Council for the Murray Koppelman School of Business at 可乐视频.

A first-generation Cuban American, Castellanos began his career in accounting while attending 可乐视频. As a student, he prepared tax returns and performed bookkeeping services for clients of a local accounting firm. Active in the student community and campus life, Castellanos served as a member of the 可乐视频 Student Council, president of the Accounting Society, and proud member and past president of the Beta Eta Chapter of Alpha Phi Delta. He earned his B.S. in Accounting in January 1985.

Upon graduating from 可乐视频, he accepted an associate position with Price Waterhouse, where he launched his career in their entertainment and media practice and was admitted to the partnership. In 2000, he accepted a position with SoftBank Group Corporation, a technology, media, and telecommunications company with global private equity and venture capital investments and operations. He was a partner in SoftBank鈥檚 venture capital arm, SoftBank Capital, and served as SoftBank鈥檚 chief tax and administrative officer until January 2006, when he joined KPMG.

In 2015, Castellanos was elected by his partners to serve a five-year term as a member of KPMG鈥檚 Board of Directors. He is also a member of the Latino Corporate Directors Association, the National Association of Corporate Directors, and the American Institute of CPAs.

The post Anthony R. Castellanos Named Chair of 可乐视频 Foundation Board of Trustees appeared first on 可乐视频.

Flash-forward to the present, where Komilova is finishing a Bachelor of Science in public accounting and business management, the five-year program with CPA tracking at the Murray Koppelman School of Business at 可乐视频. The budding public accountant will graduate this spring and has already landed a post-graduate job where she will be assisting a tax team and offering professional guidance to businesses and clients so that they can feel empowered in making smart financial decisions for their future. Her tenacity to pursue her dream has made it a reality.听听

What did you study at 可乐视频?听

I pursued a B.S. in public accounting and business management. Growing up, I was always fascinated by business and how money was made. As a little kid, I remember playing 鈥減retend restaurant鈥� where I created the menu and served food. My favorite part of that game was counting the revenues and expenses to see my income. I am truly happy that my childhood dream job is becoming a reality.听

Why did you decide to major in public accounting and business management?听

It was a relatively easy choice for me to major in accounting and business since it was my passion. However, it was challenging to decide in which specific direction to go since 可乐视频 provides different types of programs. I chose public accounting and business management because it fulfills the New York state requirements for a CPA license. My next goal is to become a certified public accountant after graduation. I like to analyze and examine financial data and documents and apply the rules and laws during the examination. This profession is made for me.听

What are some of your favorite courses and why? 鈥�听

One of my favorite classes was Accounting Internship, where I participated in the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program. The program is exclusively open to students who are accounting majors. In the VITA program, volunteers are trained and certified by the IRS. Volunteers and staff file tax returns for many families and individuals free of charge. It was a fantastic experience working with the team and the clients!听

Did you have a staff or faculty mentor at the college who had a particularly significant influence on your academic career?鈥�听

One of the faculty mentors that has made a particularly significant influence on my academic career at the college is Veronica Manlow, associate professor of business management at the Murray Koppelman School of Business. We met during the fall of 2021. Professor Manlow was my mentor for the Blackstone LaunchPad in 可乐视频鈥檚 Office of Innovation + Entrepreneurship Lab. She helped me develop a game for kids with diabetes that teaches them how to manage their condition.听

This idea came from my personal experience with diabetes. I was diagnosed with diabetes when I was eight years old and required kid-friendly resources. I would never have reached the point where I am without Professor Manlow鈥檚 guidance. After that, I participated in some competitions and programs at the college, including the Idea Challenge, Business Idea Challenge, and (a program at Baruch College).

Also, a special thanks to Professor Emile Westergaard, who has taught me a lot about how business works as a whole and where to pay attention during financial forecasts. I was his intern for his startup company called IVoT during the spring 2022 semester.听听

What are your plans for after graduation?听

My plans after graduation are to apply for the CPA exam in 2024. Additionally, I was offered an associate position at PricewaterhouseCoopers, one of the big four accounting companies. It is a full-time job, and I will be on the tax team. And, of course, I would like to climb the career ladder.听

What advice would you give other students studying at 可乐视频?听

The advice is to participate as much as possible in what 可乐视频 provides, including classes, job fairs, clubs, events, the Magner Career Center, and just to network with people. There is so much that comes from networking; you will be amazed at what kind of people you will meet and how it is essential for personal and professional development. It all comes from people; I met so many unique people at 可乐视频 who just inspired me with what they have been working on or what they have accomplished. Another piece of advice would be to constantly ask for feedback in college and at work; there is good feedback, and it helps us to advance our skills and be successful.听

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After obtaining a bachelor鈥檚 degree in accounting and working on a trading desk at a securities firm and then as a stay-at-home mom for about 10 years, Matisi came to 可乐视频 in 2015. She started as a college assistant who helped with the logistics of launching the CUNY鈥揌aitian Studies Institute and became Gould鈥檚 assistant after about a year.

鈥淪he treats everyone with respect and good humor, and she’s a creative problem solver when coordinating with other offices,鈥� says Gould. 鈥淛ennifer is a terrific team player and has served a critical role in keeping the HSS staff and faculty connected to the HSS Dean’s Office throughout the pandemic.鈥�

可乐视频: What brought you back to 可乐视频 after having a career and then a family?

JM: I live in Queens now, but I felt comfortable with this campus. It felt like coming home. I love it here. I love the position I鈥檓 in, I love the office, and I love the campus. I enjoy talking to all of the faculty, going to the events, and hearing the speakers. I鈥檓 learning new things all the time.

Anytime anybody asks about 可乐视频, I tell them it鈥檚 an oasis in the middle of this urban area. I have a daughter who鈥檚 looking at colleges and I tell her to look for something that makes her feel like she belongs. That鈥檚 what I found here.

可乐视频: If you ask anyone about Jennifer Matisi, the first thing you will hear is 鈥渟he is the nicest person.鈥�

JM: Just being kind to people gets you so much in return. That鈥檚 how I am with everything: Kill them with kindness. If a student鈥檚 call comes to me, I always keep in the back of my mind that I remember what it鈥檚 like to be a student and to get a little frustrated. I want to help in the best way possible, especially students. If I hear, 鈥淵ou鈥檙e the fourth office I鈥檝e been transferred to,鈥� I tell them, 鈥淥K, then this will be the last.鈥�

可乐视频: What do you like to do outside of work?

JM: I like to craft. I like to take road trips with my family in the summer along the East Coast. I like to plan parties. I鈥檓 putting one together for my mom鈥檚 75th birthday; we鈥檙e doing a Breakfast at Tiffany鈥檚 theme. I also love going to Broadway shows and concerts. And don鈥檛 tell anyone, but I like to watch corny Christmas movies.

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