2026 E-Talk Speaker Series Schedule
This year's E-Talk Speaker Series is taking place on Wednesday, March 4, and Thursday, March 5, in the Hynes Institute. Please see the full schedule below. All are welcomed to attend!
March 4, 2026
9:30 a.m.
Eddy Cruz, co-founder of Nine26
In this E-Talk, Eddy Cruz, co-founder of Nine26, shares how a simple idea hosted in his Bronx apartment turned into one of New York’s most sought-after dining experiences. Eddy will walk through how storytelling, culture, and intentional branding helped Nine26 grow a waitlist of over 8,000 people without a traditional restaurant or marketing budget. Students will learn how to build community, create demand, and turn a personal passion into a scalable brand.
11 a.m.
Jean Anne Menna-Cruz: Purpose, Care, and Building a Meaningful Side Hustle
This talk explores how a hospice nurse built a purpose-driven side hustle through writing and hospice care. Jean Anne Menna, BSN, RN shares the story behind her book, Go with Grace: A Simple Guide to Caring for Your Loved One on Hospice, and how lived experience can become meaningful work.
2 p.m.
Anne Sansevero: Trailblazing Nurse Entrepreneur and Aging Strategist Innovation Leader
Anne C. Sansevero, RN, MA, GNP, CCM is a nurse entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience building innovative healthcare ventures. She’s a national leader in aging innovation, entrepreneurship, and smart business growth.
3:30 p.m.
IBM Panel w/ Romelia Flores IBM Distinguished Engineer & Master Inventor at IBM Client Engineering: Inventing the Future | Protecting Ideas in a Rapidly Changing World
This panel discussion is designed to give students the perspective of an inventor / entrepreneur: what inspires them to create new product ideas, and how patents can help to protect their inventions, and what are the practical considerations in identifying and obtaining a patent for inventions and ideas.The event will feature a panel of IBM Master Inventors who will share their experiences and provide encouragement for potential inventors as students create their new product ideas. Panel Participants: - Romelia Flores, IBM Distinguished Engineer and Master Inventor at IBM Client Engineering - Mike Shute ‘02 ‘03MSBS, Senior Architect, Master Inventor - Governance, Risk and Compliance Tooling - Moderator Maria Tapia ‘89, IBM Retiree.
5 p.m.
Joshua Riley: From First Job to Franchise Owner| Lessons in Leadership and Growth
Joshua Riley walks through his career path from a college summer job to owning and operating a Chick-fil-A franchise. He’ll share lessons on leadership, resilience, and people development that shaped his career. This session highlights how early experiences, strong mentorship, and a commitment to growth can open doors to long-term opportunities in business and beyond.
March 5, 2026
9 a.m.
Matt Rizetta: Iona Alumnus Spotlight| Building Big Ideas Across Sports, Media, and Entertainment
Iona alumnus Matt Rizzetta returns to campus to share how his entrepreneurial path evolved from launching a startup to leading and growing ventures across sports, media, and entertainment. Matt will walk students through what it looks like to build companies, scale ideas, and step into leadership roles that create long-term impact. This E-Talk focuses on how to spot opportunity, take smart risks, build strong teams, and think beyond traditional career paths, especially for students curious about entrepreneurship, sports, media, or creating their own lane.
2 p.m.
Alena Powell: How Events Get Built and How AI Helps
Alena Powell, Event Specialist A.Powell Enterprise, shares real lessons from 25+ years of planning events and running a business, including what actually happens behind the scenes. She’ll also talk about how she uses AI as a simple, practical tool to save time, stay organized, and work more efficiently. Students will walk away with a clearer picture of how AI and entrepreneurial thinking show up in real work.
3:30 p.m.
Paul L. Gunn: How to Build a Successful Business with Compassion
Inc 5000 honoree Paul L. Gunn, Founder of KUOG Corporation, talks about his entrepreneurial journey and how he has incorporated compassion into every aspect of his business. He also talks about where he came up with the idea for KUOG Corporation and how it has become so successful. He also talks about the setbacks and hardships he has overcome along the way - specifically overcoming a traumatic brain injury to go on and start Kuog while also raising a family. He also explores how embracing fitness has helped inspire him to help propel him and his business to greater heights.
5 p.m.
Joy Malone: Beyond the Lens: Turning Creative Talent into a Sustainable Business
Being talented is one thing. Building a brand is another. Joy Malone, professional photographer, returns to the E-Talk Series to break down what it means to operate as both an artist and an entrepreneur. As the founder of Joy Malone Photography and a contributor to Reuters, Getty Entertainment, and The New York Times, she will share how she manages clients, protects her work, builds visibility, and sustains momentum in a competitive industry. Students will leave with a clearer understanding how creativity and strategy work together.
Submitted on: February 23, 2026
Submitted by: Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation