In this episode of PNC C-Speak, Saskia Epstein, senior vice president for client and community relations at PNC Bank, discusses her journey from the nonprofit sector to banking. She shares her focus on employee engagement, social impact, business development and brand communications. Epstein also highlights PNC’s long-standing commitment to early childhood education as a core community focus and the work she helps advance through her leadership in community relations.

“There is an incredible need for a wide diversity of opportunity for early learning and family-based care is providing an expansion to the options. [In-home childcare] also creates self- sustaining business opportunities for individual entrepreneurs,” Epstein said.

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In this episode of PNC C-Speak, Dr. Kirk Taylor, CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, discusses his path from neurology and more than 25 years in global drug development to public-sector leadership. He highlights trends shaping the life sciences sector, including AI and machine learning, talent competition, speed to commercialization and the importance of federal and state funding.

“The concept that everyone’s talking about is AI,” Taylor says. “Taking control of it, as opposed to it taking control of us, will help with drug development and job creation. It will impact everything, but I hope in a positive way.”

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In this episode of PNC C-Speak, Demond Martin, CEO and co-founder of WellWithAll, shares his career and leadership journey, including stops at the Clinton White House, Harvard Business School and Adage Capital. He discusses how his experiences led to WellWithAll, a health and wellness company that donates 20% of profits to health equity initiatives.

“WellWithAll, it’s a Newman’s Own 2.0, if you will, where we take 20% of our profits of everything that we sell and use it to help society in those areas around health equity that are so desperately needed in the moment,” says Martin.

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In this episode of PNC C-Speak, Stephen Kramer, CEO of Bright Horizons Family Solutions, discusses the mission and growth of Bright Horizons as the largest provider of employer-sponsored childcare. He shares insights into the challenges employers face with childcare, the impact of COVID-19 on early childhood education and his journey with entrepreneurship.

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In this episode of PNC C-Speak, Jon Bernstein, regional president for PNC Bank New England, turns from host to guest as he’s interviewed by Boston Business Journal Market President and Publisher Carolyn Jones. They discuss Bernstein’s career journey at PNC Bank, as well as his commitment to furthering early childhood education.

Bernstein also provided advice for the next generation of leaders.

“The best in the world are the best at something because they’re always finding ways to get better. No matter where you are or what you’re doing, there are ways to get better. You need to maintain that curiosity and that exploration and that passion,” Bernstein says.

Listen to hear more about:

- PNC’s growth in the New England region (0:45)

- The bank’s efforts to improve early childhood education (6:38)

- Bernstein’s appointment as chair of the Mass Business Roundtable (11:37)

- What Bernstein wishes for Boston (18:14)

In this episode of PNC C-Speak, Ming Min Hui, executive director of the Boston Ballet, shares her journey from a ballet-loving child to a Wall Street banker and ultimately to Boston Ballet. She discusses the importance of merging business acumen with arts management, the mission-driven aspects of her work, and how the Boston Ballet influences the community through education and accessibility.

“Because it is a nonprofit and it’s a mission-fulfilling organization, we can keep at the center of everything we do a real focus on pushing the boundaries of dance forward,” Hui says. “Really taking the risks of innovating and investing in these large-scale artistic works that are not necessarily commercially driven.”

Listen to hear more about:

• How Hui’s career went from Wall Street to ballet (0:53)
• The involvement of Boston Ballet in the community (7:58)
• The ways the Boston Ballet is shaping Boston’s cultural landscape (15:10) What’s next for the Boston Ballet (21:47)

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In this episode of PNC C-Speak, Christophe Weber, president and CEO of Takeda Pharmaceuticals, discusses the company’s global footprint and its mission to deliver life-transforming medicines worldwide.

Weber shares his leadership perspective, emphasizing the importance of cultural agility and value-driven operations.

“Our mission is to deliver life-transforming medicines. When we develop new medicines — which is a very hard mission — we really aim for that medicine to be made available across the world for all patients,” Weber says.

Listen to hear more about:

- Takeda’s approach to ‘caring leadership’ (4:33)

- How Takeda’s corporate social responsibility program unites all employees (8:46)

- Where Takeda believes AI can make a difference (12:10)

- Why Takeda moved its headquarters to Massachusetts (15:00)

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In this episode of PNC C-Speak, Justin Pasquariello, president and CEO of East Boston Social Centers, and Sarah Siegel Muncey, co-president of Neighborhood Villages, delve into the missions of their organizations and their impactful partnership.

Muncey highlights Neighborhood Villages’ mission to establish a structured child care system and details their collaborative approach to support schools and care providers. Pasquariello shares his journey into early childhood and community work, emphasizing the importance of addressing foundational social issues and building resilient, joy-filled communities.

Listen to hear more about:

· Why Sarah Siegel Munsey started Neighborhood Villages (00:32)

· The partnership between East Boston Social Centers and Neighborhood Villages (4:09)

· How Pasquariello leads successful programs while working to change the early childhood system (11:17)

· Key accomplishments of each organization (22:34)