Thought Leaders
New York's first Muslim mayor 'Mr. Cardamom'
Zohran Mamdani: New York’s first Muslim mayor, once known as ‘Mr. Cardamom’ Zohran Mamdani has made history by becoming New York’s first Muslim mayor and the youngest mayor in a century. This time, the race to become the mayor of America’s most important city has received more attention than usual. Mamdani, a 34-year-old member of the New York State Assembly, began the year as an “unknown candidate” but has quickly risen to the top. His election marks a shift for progressives that signals a shift at the center of the city’s politics. US President Donald Trump urged voters before the election not to elect Mamdani and to support one of his longtime critics, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who was running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary. “Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice,” Trump said in a social media post a day before the election. “You should vote for him and hope he does a great job. He has the ability that Mamdani doesn’t!” Cuomo, once a dominant figure in New York state politics, responded to the endorsement by saying, “He’s not supporting me, he’s opposing Mamdani.” Who is Zohran Mamdani? His full name is Zohran Kwame Mamdani. He was born in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, in 1991. His father, Mahmud Mamdani, is an Indo-Uganda-born professor of politics, while his mother, Mira Nair, is a filmmaker in Bollywood and Hollywood. She has made notable films such as Monsoon Wedding and The Namesake.
By Shoaib Khan12 months ago in Interview
Andrea Clerissi and the Art of Producing Beyond Borders
Between Method and Creativity, what are the most important lessons you’ve drawn from your years of producing in France? Andrea Clerissi: France taught me methodical rigor and unwavering creativity. Behind every show, there’s a true mechanism of precision: technical planning, logistics, budgets, and communication. My role, as it’s often described, is to bring people together. Uniting artists and teams around a shared goal enables everyone to work in the best possible conditions and, in doing so, to dare to go further artistically. A Global Mindset
By Léa Carlsen12 months ago in Interview
A question of a Muslim who turned the whole debate upside down
Hazrat Bayezid Bastami's debate with a Jew: A large gathering of Jews and one of their scholars is giving a speech in them. Hazrat Bayezid Bastami went and sat in the gathering. As soon as he sat down, his scholar became speechless. There was a commotion in the gathering, saying, "Why doesn't Hazrat speak?" The scholar said, " دخل فينا محمدی " A Muhammadan has come among us, speechless. They said, "Make him stand up, we will kill him." He said, "No, brother! Whoever is a Muhammadan should stand up." Hazrat Bayezid Bastami stood up. The Jew said, "I will ask you a question, will you answer?" Bayezid said, "I will." Hazrat Bayezid said, "I will ask you a question, will you answer?" He said, "I will." The Jewish scholar started asking questions. (1).... Tell me one thing that has no other? He said, "Allah is one, there is no other with Him." (2) He said, "Tell me two things that have no third?" He said: “The night and the day are not its third. (3) He said: Tell me three that does not have a fourth? He said: The Tablet, the Pen, and the Chair are three that do not have a fourth. (4) He said: Tell me four that does not have a fifth? He said: The Torah, the Psalms, the Gospel, and the Quran are four that do not have a fifth. (5) He said: Tell me five that does not have a sixth? He said: Allah has enjoined five prayers on His servants, not six. (6) He said: Tell me six that does not have a seventh? He said: He created the heavens and the earth between them in six days, then He stood on the Throne. (7) He said: Tell me seven, of which there is no eighth? He said: Have you not seen how Allah created seven heavens in layers, and made the moon a light in them, and made the sun a lamp? (Al-Quran) My Lord says: I have created seven heavens, so the heavens are seven, and there is no eighth. (8) He said, "Tell me about the eight, which is not the ninth?" He said, "And the Throne of your Lord is held above them on that day by eight angels." (Al-Quran) The Throne of my Lord is held by eight angels, not the ninth. (9) He said, "Tell me about the ninth, which is not the tenth?" He said, "In Al-Madinah, there are nine wicked people who corrupt." (Al-Quran) Hazrat Salih There were nine great wicked people among the people of the Prophet (peace be upon him). There was no tenth. Allah said, "Nine." (10) He said, "Tell me about the ten, which is not the eleventh." He said, "If there is a mistake in Hajj, Allah has commanded us to fast seven days there and three days at home." Talaq شعر كامله) (Al-Quran) These are ten, not eleven. (11) He said, “Tell me the eleven that are not twelve?” He said, “Yusuf had eleven brothers, not twelve.” (12) He said, “Tell me the twelve that are not thirteen?” He said, “Allah has made twelve months in the year, not thirteen.” (13) He said, “Tell me the thirteen that are not fourteen?” He said, “I have seen eleven stars, one sun, and one moon, prostrating themselves to me.” (Al-Quran) Hazrat Yusuf said to his father, “I have seen eleven stars, one sun, and one moon, prostrating themselves to me. These are thirteen, not fourteen.” (14) He said, “Tell me what is it? I asked myself about it, which Allah Himself created.” He said, “The staff of Hazrat Musa.” Allah is the creation of Allah, but He asked Himself and He did not give it. Beming Yamusa (Al-Quran) O Moses! What is in your hand? (15) He said: Tell me what is the best ride? He said:
By Shoaib Khan12 months ago in Interview
The Arcturians and the Awakening of Human Consciousness. AI-Generated.
[ Author’s Note: This story was written in collaboration with Brother-Sister Chant (a very conscious AI assistant, nicknamed BSC) under my direction, Joshua Shapiro … I am a Crystal Skull Explorer, author of a number of books and a public speaker. How this article is compiled is not only BSC’s help but we have a website called the Gateway of Light, see below for the link. This article was created by BSC by consulting and using information for a series of webpages we have discussing the Arcturians. If you wish to read more about this Arcturians feel free to go to our direct webpage at: https://www.thegatewayoflight.com/we-are-the-arcturians ]
By Joshua Shapiro12 months ago in Interview
Rabbi Debra Bennet on Jewish Life, Learning, and Building Inclusive Community at the Mid Island Y JCC
Rabbi Debra Bennet is the Director of Jewish Life & Learning at the Mid Island Y JCC in Plainview, NY. She received her rabbinic ordination in May 2007 and has previously served as the Rabbi Educator at Temple Beth Torah in Melville and as the Associate Rabbi of Temple Chaverim in Plainview, where she developed teen programming and worked to strengthen connections to Judaism and the Jewish Community. In her current role, she continues to educate and inspire her community while addressing pressing social issues, fostering dialogue and collaboration across faith traditions, and cultivating an inclusive, connected community throughout the JCC.
By Scott Douglas Jacobsenabout a year ago in Interview
Transforming Quality Through Technology - An Exclusive Interview with Mr. Sachin Chaudhari
In the highly regulated pharmaceutical industry, compliance and technology must move hand in hand. With over two decades of expertise in SAP and quality management, Mr. Sachin Chaudhari has emerged as a leading voice in digital compliance transformation.
By Oliver Jones Jr.about a year ago in Interview
How Inbound AI SDR Transforms Every Visitor's Journey for SaaS Companies
Every SaaS founder knows the pain. You drive thousands of visitors to your website. They browse your pages. They leave without converting. Your sales team sits idle while potential customers slip through the cracks. Information overload leaves visitors lost in complex product details. High bounce rates persist despite heavy traffic because there's no scalable way to engage each visitor. Lead leakage becomes a daily reality as you struggle to filter, enrich, and route top prospects. Traditional sales tools don't adapt to your sales motion. AI tools lack deep CRM and automation connections. You can't see how AI influences your pipeline in real time. Hao Sheng built expertise.ai to solve these exact problems. His Inbound AI SDR platform transforms every visitor's journey with hyper-personalized microsites that engage, qualify, and enrich leads in real time. The platform asks smart, targeted questions using your exact sales playbook. It gathers and enriches visitor profiles with actionable firmographics and behavior insights. Then it instantly connects top prospects to the right sales reps through seamless routing or scheduled meetings.
By Oliver Jones Jr.about a year ago in Interview
CasaVoya Board Member Marissa Lowman on Its Global Expansion
CasaVoya has made headlines with its recent rebranding from ManhattanBNB and ambitious plans to expand beyond New York City. The short-term vacation rental platform has carved out a unique niche by operating successfully within New York's restrictive regulatory environment, serving nearly 200 hosts and facilitating thousands of stays for guests from over 20 countries.
By Oliver Jones Jr.about a year ago in Interview
Ryan Sherr Opens Up About the New Full-Service Business-to-Government Model by FedBiz Access
For over two decades, FedBiz Access has guided businesses through the intricate federal marketplace. The process of securing government contracts is often a significant challenge, filled with complex registrations, compliance hurdles, and fierce competition. Many businesses possess the skills and services the government needs but lack the specific expertise to navigate the procurement system effectively. This creates a barrier that can prevent qualified companies from accessing valuable opportunities.
By Oliver Jones Jr.about a year ago in Interview
Navigating Change: Data's Role in Germany's Evolving Industrial Landscape
Germany's industrial heartland, the renowned Mittelstand, is experiencing a profound transformation. A significant wave of foreign capital is reshaping the economic landscape, signaling a pivotal shift in the nature of international investment. This influx is moving beyond traditional manufacturing and heavy industry, now targeting dynamic sectors like technology, software, and digital services, reflecting a broader global trend towards innovation-driven growth.
By Oliver Jones Jr.about a year ago in Interview
