Connecting the Dots

A Podcast Series for the Next Generation of Professionals Who Aim to Tackle Global Challenges.

About These Podcasts

The Center for Global Affairs Connecting the Dots podcast series is designed for the next generation of global professionals, and will tackle key global challenges by turning ideas into action. Each podcast is hosted by Dr. Christian Busch (@ChrisSerendip), a clinical assistant professor at CGA, the director of its Global Economy concentration, and author of The Serendipity Mindset, who teaches classes on purpose-driven leadership, impact entrepreneurship, social innovation, and emerging markets.

These podcasts are designed to make sense out of the exciting whirlwind of global activity that surrounds us every day. They bring together some of the world’s leading experts on areas related to global challenges. In each episode we tackle new and pressing global issues, stemming from areas such as human rights, sustainable development, and international business.

Conversations are geared to inspire those of you who aim to create a more just, equal, and sustainable world, and we look forward to connecting the dots with you. Our participants also share their personal stories—how did they get to where they are? What has surprised them along their journey? What would they advise young professionals to do if they were in their shoes?

Tune in for a lively exchange of ideas and deep discussions about what matters most.

@NYUCGA     @NYUSPS

Episode 1

Nicholas Kristof: A winner of two Pulitzer Prizes, Kristof is an American journalist who writes for The New York Times, and is a bestselling author who is focused on highlighting social injustices. His areas of interest and expertise include human rights, women’s rights, health, and global affairs. In this podcast, Kristof will discuss effective ways to confront societal inequality.

Nicholas Kristof
Yaël Eisenstat

Episode 2

Yaël Eisenstat: Eisenstat is a thought leader and strategist working with governments, tech companies, and investors focused on the intersection of ethics, tech, society, and policy. She has spent 18 years utilizing her expertise around the globe as: a CIA officer, a national security advisor to Vice President Joe Biden, the global head of elections integrity operations in Facebook's business integrity org, a diplomat, a corporate social responsibility strategist, and the head of a global risk firmThis podcast will focus on the nexus of technology, policy, and business.

Episode 3

Joe Colombano: As the economic adviser to former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, Colombano played a key role in orchestrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are a collection of 17 global goals designed to be a "blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all." The SDGs, set in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly are intended to be achieved by the year 2030. In this podcast, Colombano will discuss the inside story of the SDGs and his exciting journey as director of the related UN Office.

Joe Colombano
Sylvana Q. Sinha

Episode 4

Sylvana Q. Sinha: Founder and CEO of Praava Health, this Bangladeshi-American attorney and entrepreneur redesigned the way healthcare is delivered in developing countries. Spending over a decade in international law and development, pursuing her long-time intent to do work that leveraged her American education to make an impact in the world, she has held positions at the World Bank, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), and several law firms. Sinha will discuss how to build an impactful organization from the ground up, even in the most challenging environment.

Episode 5

Michael Fraccaro: As chief people officer at MasterCard, Fraccaro is responsible for all human resources (HR) functions globally, including driving cultural transformation, building leadership capability, and creating a company that is “most valued to work for.” He has played a crucial role in guiding the company in bringing 300 million “unbanked” individuals into the financial system. Fraccaro will discuss how MasterCard is reinventing itself to play a larger role in solving global problems.

Michael Fraccaro
Debra Jones

Episode 6

Debra Jones: Jones runs major campaigns that focus on human rights. She currently serves as the global advocacy director at Lumos, an organization that works around the world to help the millions of children in orphanages regain their right to a family. Prior to her position at Lumos, she served as president, director, and United Nations representative of Save the Children International. In addition, she was the former director of global advocacy at Family Care International. Jones will discuss how to protect human rights—especially those of children—in a fast-changing and unpredictable world.

Special thanks to John Kane (music), Brian Feeney and Mark Parsia (production), and Carolyn Kissane, Chris Ankerson, Vera Jelinek, and John Kane (faculty and administrative support).