The Era of the Covered Face: Erin Coakley’s Pandemic Books Trace How Medicine Relearned Intimacy When Only the Eyes Could Speak

NY Weekly Staff on March 27, 2026

The pandemic didn’t only change how hospitals functioned, it changed how people looked at one another. The face, medicine’s most underestimated instrument, was abruptly reduced to a pair of eyes above a mask. A clinician’s reassurance, usually conveyed in a half smile, a softened jaw, a practiced calm, had to be retranslated into something narrower and more deliberate. In that compressed space, patients learned to search for meaning in the smallest signals, and clinicians learned how much meaning they had been giving away without noticing.

That recalibration sits near the center of Erin Coakley’s COVID trilogy, a three-book project that approaches the crisis from bedside, moral, and leadership angles without turning it into spectacle. Heartbeats and Homecomings: A Doctor’s Pandemic Experience is the most narrative-driven of the three, rooted in the lived textures of hospital life. Empathy in Crisis: How Compassion Transformed Care During COVID-19 argues for compassion as a clinical necessity rather than a personality trait. Leading by Example During a Crisis offers a practical ethics of leadership when certainty collapses, and trust becomes a resource that must be actively protected.

Coakley’s authority comes partly from position. She is a practicing hospital physician and medical leader in a Texas community hospital, with training that spans the clinical and organizational worlds. Yet the books’ deeper credibility comes from their sensibility, patient, restrained, attentive to the emotional physics of crisis. They are written by someone who understands that a hospital is not only a site of treatment; it is also a social system, a moral environment, a place where people try to remain human under fluorescent light.

In Heartbeats and Homecomings, Coakley captures one of the pandemic’s strangest inversions: proximity became dangerous, distance became care. “Our faces were covered in PPE, muffling our voices, and patients could no longer rely on our usual facial expressions; only eye contact remained,” she writes. “In this way, eye contact became our most powerful tool for conveying concern.” The line is plain, almost understated, which is why it sticks. It names a quiet loss, and it also names a quiet adaptation. The hospital did not stop needing tenderness; it had to invent new ways to deliver it.

The trilogy’s most compelling through line is not a chronology of surges and numbers, but a study of connection under constraint. When visitors were restricted, patients were deprived of the usual advocates and comforts. Coakley describes how clinicians, by necessity, became stand-ins, not in a heroic sense, but in a practical one. Someone had to stay an extra minute, explain again, listen longer, serve as a witness. The books insist that these small relational acts were not sentimental extras. They were often the thin barrier between a patient feeling treated and feeling abandoned.

Coakley’s approach is also shaped by personal memory. She returns to formative moments that taught her what safety can feel like, including a teenage episode when she forgot her key on a winter day and waited in a backyard greenhouse until her parents came home. The image functions as more than a memoir detail. It becomes a metaphor for the kind of warmth she believes medicine must preserve, even when layers of protective gear and protocol threaten to cool the encounter into procedure.

What makes these books persuasive is their willingness to acknowledge risk without romanticizing sacrifice. Coakley does not ask for applause; she asks for attention. She is frank about fear, about moral fatigue, about the awkwardness of offering comfort from behind plastic. The prose mirrors that frankness. It is direct, uncluttered, designed to be understood, with emotional weight that accumulates through implication rather than dramatic flourish.

There is also a quiet critical edge. The trilogy suggests that if medicine wants to claim compassion as a value, it must build conditions that allow compassion to survive. That means communication systems, language access, staffing support, and leadership practices that treat transparency as respect. Coakley is not writing policy, but she is writing toward accountability, toward a clearer understanding of what a crisis reveals and what it leaves behind.

If the pandemic reduced the face to a pair of eyes, Coakley’s books expand the gaze again, outward to systems, inward to conscience, and back to the bedside where meaning is often made in seconds. Heartbeats and Homecomings: A Doctor’s Pandemic Experience, Empathy in Crisis: How Compassion Transformed Care During COVID-19, and Leading by Example During a Crisis are available online, and readers can choose a single entry point or take the full trilogy as a composite portrait. Either way, the books offer a rare thing, a careful record of how care continued when its most familiar language disappeared.

How Entrepreneurs Are Using AI to Scale Smarter and Market Better in 2026

NY Weekly Staff on March 27, 2026

Artificial intelligence is no longer just a luxury for Silicon Valley titans or Fortune 500 boardrooms. In 2026, it has emerged as the world’s most ubiquitous and potent equalizer in entrepreneurial history, and the entrepreneurs who get this are racing ahead.

Across industries and types of businesses, a new generation of entrepreneurs is using AI not only to save time but also to be able to make sharper decisions, launch better products, and build connections with customers that weren’t possible five years ago. The question is no longer if AI should be in your business. The real question is whether you’re using it well enough to stay competitive.

The AI Shift Entrepreneurs Were Never Warned About

When AI tools first became widely available, most entrepreneurs used them as novelties, a tool to draft an email on the fly or to create a social media caption. That phase is over. Entrepreneurs today are embedding AI into the core functions of their businesses: marketing strategy, customer service, financial forecasting, product development, and brand building.

What changed? The tools became orders of magnitude more powerful, cheaper and more available. A founder in Nairobi, New York, or New Delhi can now run lean operations to rival teams 10x their size because AI did the heavy lifting of analysis, execution, and iteration.

But capability is not the only reason for the shift. The entrepreneurs who are crushing it with AI have something deeper in common: an entrepreneur mindset, one that remains curious, tests new tools and makes decisions faster than their competition. That mindset is by no means no longer required with AI. It amplifies it.

How AI Is Reshaping the Marketing Playbook for Small Businesses

Marketing has traditionally belonged to big budgets and bigger teams. Not anymore. Fewer marketers today working for the same company can get by without relying on an entire marketing department; with AI, entrepreneurs of today are able to research audiences, create content (like blogs and social media posts), A/B test ads and landing pages, hyper-target email campaigns, and spend less on ad-churn.

Founders can use AI-powered tools like ChatGPT, Jasper, and Perplexity to discover exactly what their customers are searching for, the language that resonates with them, and which channels provide the best ROI. Such ad systems have integrated AI bidding and targeting into their very fabric, so that even a one-person business can compete for eyeballs with established players like Meta or Google.

Above all, AI enables entrepreneurs to iterate faster. Instead of taking months to create a single campaign, founders can now iterate in days, deploying multiple variations of landing pages, subject lines, and social posts, then letting data decide what works. The fundamentals of marketing strategy on a budget have remained the same; it’s just that, thanks to AI, they’ve become light-years more actionable for founders without corporate resources at their disposal.

Turning an Idea into a Brand: Is AI Helping Startups Fast-Track Their Development?

Perhaps the most important area where AI is changing entrepreneurship is in the pre-business building stages. Developing brand identity, positioning strategy and crafting consistent visual & verbal communication used to take months of work and a huge budget. AI has shrunk that timetable considerably.

Founders are using AI tools to generate brand names, test taglines, create logos, write brand guidelines, and outline competitive positioning, sometimes in one weekend. So, by the time a startup is ready to talk with its first customer, it already looks and talks like a professional operation.

But speed without strategy is perilous, of course. A great brand isn’t just pretty; it’s clarity, consistency, and trust. AI may speed up your execution, but the branding strategy for startups, your values, who you want to speak to, and the promise you intend to build with them still requires a human founder at the helm.

Three Real Ways That Entrepreneurs Are Adopting AI Today

Customer Research and Audience Intelligence: AI tools can analyze thousands of customer reviews, social comments, or forum threads in seconds to find the patterns human analysts would take weeks to discover. And entrepreneurs use this to learn about pain points, identify unmet needs, and hone their offerings ahead of spending a cent on ads.

Content Creation and Distribution: AI has scaled the production of content, from posts to video scripts to product descriptions. Founders who could barely keep to a content calendar now use AI to write, edit, repurpose, and distribute content on multiple channels, all in their own brand voice.

Operations and Decision-Making: AI is transforming back-end operations too. Services that automate invoicing, manage inventory predictions, process customer support tickets, and build financial summaries are providing solo founders and small teams with the same operational power as big companies.

The Kind of Risks Entrepreneurs Can’t Afford to Overlook

AI is powerful, but imperfect and overreliance on AI tools has emerged as one of the most frequent pitfalls for new entrepreneurs. Using AI-generated content without editing results in bland, incorrect, or off-brand messaging. Without the proper setup, automating customer interactions can quickly frustrate clients and damage trust. Data over-indexing for AI without entering context can lead to a misguided strategy.

Founders who succeed with AI are the ones who use it as a tool, not a crutch. They apply critical thinking to every output, confirm AI recommendations with real-world testing, and never stop humanizing customer relationships. This overconfidence in automation is one of the biggest mistakes new entrepreneurs make, and it can be wholly avoided with an appropriate mindset.

The AI-Powered Entrepreneur of 2026: What Makes Them Different

One profile unifies the most successful entrepreneurs deploying AI in 2026. They are not necessarily the most technical founders; a lot of them have no coding experience whatsoever. What differentiates them is their willingness to experiment, their propensity to learn, and their realization that AI is a value-added component, not a substitute.

They spend time figuring out which ones solve their problems. They are familiar with how platforms and algorithms progress. They split the difference between efficiency from AI and creativity, empathy, and judgment from humans. And they’re still concentrating on what counts most: building a business that genuinely provides good for real people.

In an age when the tools of that trade are increasingly democratized, access is no longer the differentiator; it’s how wisely and fearlessly you deploy what is at hand.

What AI Means for the Future of Entrepreneurship

AI has fundamentally transformed the nature of entrepreneurship, yet not what entrepreneurship is. Building something real, solving actual problems, and generating sustainable growth still takes vision, grit, and strategy.

What AI does is it clears the way. It eliminates friction, increases learning speeds, and evens the playing field between the startup founder and the corporation that has been entrenched in an industry. It will be the entrepreneurs who approach it thoughtfully who determine the next decade of business.

The question is no longer whether to use AI, if you’re building something in 2026. How smart are you at using it to stand out?

 

The Critical Role of Translational Research in Modern Medicine

NY Weekly Staff on March 27, 2026

Translational research turns lab discoveries into real treatments for patients. It bridges the gap between science and medicine to improve healthcare faster.

This approach helps create safer and more effective therapies for everyone. Read on to explore the critical role of translational research in modern medicine.

What Is Translational Research

Translational research is the process of turning scientific findings into practical medical uses. It takes knowledge from research labs and applies it to patient care. This approach helps bridge the gap between discovery and treatment.

It often involves several stages, starting from basic research and moving toward clinical trials. Each stage ensures that findings are safe and useful. This structured process makes healthcare improvements more reliable.

Clear communication between researchers and clinicians is also part of this process. It ensures that ideas are properly understood and applied. This reduces errors and improves outcomes.

It also includes feedback loops. These loops allow results from patients to inform future research. This keeps the process active and evolving.

Faster Development of Treatments

One major benefit is the speed it brings to developing treatments. Researchers can move ideas from the lab to clinical testing more quickly. This helps patients gain access to new therapies sooner.

Faster development also helps respond to urgent health issues. In times of crisis, such as disease outbreaks, speed can save lives. This makes translational research highly valuable.

Speed also supports continuous improvement. New treatments can be updated based on feedback. This keeps healthcare solutions current and effective.

Quick progress also increases public trust. 

When people see fast results, they feel more confident in science. This encourages support for research efforts.

Improved Patient Outcomes

Translational research focuses on real-world results. It aims to improve how patients feel and recover. This leads to better health outcomes and higher quality care.

Patients benefit from treatments that are tested and refined through research. This reduces risks and improves recovery times. Better care leads to greater patient satisfaction.

It also helps reduce hospital stays and complications. Patients can return to normal life sooner. This improves both physical and emotional well-being.

Better outcomes also reduce healthcare costs. Fewer complications mean fewer expenses. This benefits both patients and providers.

Better Understanding of Diseases

It helps scientists learn more about how diseases start and progress. This knowledge supports early diagnosis and prevention. It also guides the creation of targeted treatments.

Understanding diseases at a deeper level allows doctors to act sooner. Early action often leads to better results. This also reduces the burden on healthcare systems.

Research also reveals patterns and risk factors. This helps identify high-risk groups. 

Preventive steps can then be taken earlier.

It also supports the discovery of biomarkers. These markers help detect diseases early. Early detection increases chances of successful treatment.

Personalized Medicine

Translational research supports personalized care. Doctors can use patient data to choose the best treatments. This means care is more accurate and effective for each individual.

Personalized medicine reduces trial and error in treatment. Patients receive care that matches their needs. This improves both safety and success rates.

It also increases patient confidence in treatment plans. When care feels tailored, patients are more likely to follow it. This leads to better health outcomes.

It also helps reduce unwanted side effects. Treatments are chosen based on patient profiles. This improves comfort during recovery.

Stronger Collaboration

This type of research brings together experts from different fields. Scientists, doctors, and healthcare workers share ideas and skills. This teamwork leads to better solutions and faster progress.

Collaboration also encourages learning across disciplines. Each expert brings a unique view. This creates more complete and effective healthcare strategies.

It also builds strong professional networks. These networks support long-term innovation. They help sustain progress over time.

Global collaboration also becomes possible. Experts from different countries can work together. This expands knowledge and resources.

Efficient Use of Resources

It helps reduce waste in research and healthcare. By focusing on practical results, resources are used more wisely. This saves time and money in the long run.

Efficient use of resources also supports sustainability. Hospitals and research centers can do more with less. This improves overall system performance.

Better planning also comes from strong research. Resources can be directed where they are most needed. This increases the impact of every effort.

It also reduces duplication of work. Researchers can build on existing knowledge. This avoids repeating the same studies.

Bridging Lab and Clinic

One key role is connecting lab discoveries with clinical practice. It ensures that scientific findings are tested and applied in real settings. This bridge improves trust in new treatments.

Patients and doctors gain confidence when research proves effective. This trust is important for adopting new treatments. It also supports continued innovation.

This connection also allows feedback from clinics to guide research. Real-world experiences shape future studies. This makes research more relevant.

It also improves communication between teams. Clear exchanges of information reduce misunderstandings. This leads to better results.

Support for Innovation

Translational research encourages new ideas and technologies. It creates an environment where innovation can grow. This leads to advanced tools and better healthcare systems.

Innovation also drives competition and improvement. New solutions often replace older, less effective ones. This keeps healthcare systems modern and efficient.

It also inspires young researchers to explore new ideas. A strong research culture promotes creativity. This ensures a steady flow of innovation.

It also supports startups and new ventures. These groups bring fresh ideas into healthcare. This keeps progress moving forward.

Enhanced Drug Development

Drug development becomes more effective through this process. Researchers can test drugs with better data and methods. This increases the chances of success and safety.

Better testing also reduces harmful side effects. Patients receive safer medications. This builds trust in new treatments.

It also shortens the time needed for approval. Efficient processes help bring drugs to market faster. This benefits patients in need.

It also improves monitoring after approval. Researchers can track long-term effects. This ensures continued safety.

Role of Technology

Modern tools like data analysis and imaging support translational research. These technologies help researchers study diseases more closely. They also speed up testing and results.

Technology also improves accuracy in diagnosis and treatment. With better tools, doctors can make informed decisions. This leads to better patient care.

Digital systems also allow easier sharing of data. Researchers across the world can work together. This expands the reach of innovation.

Artificial intelligence also plays a role. It helps analyze large data sets quickly. This leads to faster discoveries.

Public Health Benefits

It improves public health by creating better prevention strategies. Communities benefit from faster responses to health challenges. This leads to safer and healthier populations.

Public health programs become more effective with strong research support.

Vaccines and treatments reach people faster. This reduces the spread of diseases.

It also supports health education efforts. People become more aware of risks and prevention. This leads to healthier lifestyles.

It also helps manage chronic diseases. Long-term care improves with better research. This supports healthier communities.

Education and Training

Translational research helps train future healthcare professionals. It teaches them how to apply science in real-life care. This builds a stronger and more skilled workforce.

Training also prepares professionals to adapt to new changes. Healthcare is always evolving. Skilled workers help maintain high standards.

It also promotes critical thinking and problem-solving. These skills are important in clinical practice. They help professionals make better decisions.

It also supports lifelong learning. Professionals continue to update their knowledge. This keeps them effective in their roles.

Real-World Applications

The focus is always on practical use. Research findings are tested in real settings to ensure they work. This makes healthcare more reliable and effective.

Real-world testing also highlights areas for improvement. Feedback from patients and doctors helps refine treatments. This leads to continuous progress.

It also ensures that treatments fit different populations. Diverse testing improves inclusivity. This makes healthcare fairer and more effective.

It also supports community-based care. Treatments can be adapted to local needs. This improves access and outcomes.

Industry Partnerships

Partnerships with companies help bring ideas to market. These collaborations support funding and development. One example is XenoSTART, which highlights how innovation can move forward with the right support.

Industry support also helps scale new treatments. More people can benefit from medical advances. This ensures wider access to healthcare solutions.

These partnerships also encourage investment in research. More funding leads to more discoveries. This supports long-term growth in healthcare.

They also improve supply chains. Treatments can be delivered more efficiently. This ensures timely access for patients.

Learn All About Translational Research in Modern Medicine

Translational research is a powerful force in modern medicine. It connects science, technology, and patient care in meaningful ways. By improving treatments, speeding up discoveries, and supporting innovation, it helps create a healthier future for everyone.

As healthcare continues to evolve, the role of translational research will only grow stronger. It will remain a key driver of progress and better outcomes. Investing in this approach means investing in better lives for people around the world.

Did you enjoy reading this article? If so, then be sure to check out the rest of our blog for more!

Dharan PILLA, Sound Mixer Behind Festival Film Dissolution, from the Chinese Theatre to Amazon and Tubi

NY Weekly Staff on March 27, 2026

By: Francis Javier

In today’s independent film industry, where technical precision and immersive storytelling go hand in hand, Dharan PILLA has established himself as a sound mixer known for clarity, consistency, and a disciplined approach to production audio.

That approach is reflected in Dissolution, a romance thriller directed by Kevin Stevenson and written by Dip Patel, which screened at the TCL Chinese Theatre as part of the Golden State Film Festival and is now preparing for release on Amazon and Tubi. Working closely with the film’s creative team, including producer Elena Kovalenko and the cast led by Dip Patel, Marie Tiberi, and Jamir Fletcher, PILLA contributed to shaping a soundscape that supports both the emotional intimacy and tension of the story.

Dharan PILLA, Sound Mixer Behind Festival Film Dissolution, from the Chinese Theatre to Amazon and Tubi

Photo Courtesy: Dharan Pilla / Xpansion Productions

For PILLA, the path into sound mixing was built through consistency and hands-on experience across productions of all scales.

“I started out on low-budget shorts and film school projects, often working as a boom operator or general crew member just to be close to the sound department,” he explains. “I focused on recording clean dialogue, solving problems quickly, and being someone the team could rely on under pressure.”

Dharan PILLA, Sound Mixer Behind Festival Film Dissolution, from the Chinese Theatre to Amazon and Tubi

Photo Courtesy: Dharan Pilla / Xpansion Productions

That early discipline translated into a workflow centered on preparation, technical awareness, and collaboration. Over time, he invested in his own professional equipment and built a portfolio across short films, features, and festival projects, allowing him to transition into a trusted role on independent productions.

On Dissolution, PILLA was responsible for capturing the full sonic range of the film, from quiet, intimate dialogue to tension-driven sequences. His process began well before filming, identifying potential sound challenges during location scouts and planning how to approach them on set.

“Before we rolled cameras, I identified challenging locations, potential noise issues, and key emotional beats where silence or ambience would matter,” he says. “I experimented with mic placement and perspective so the audience could feel physically inside the space.”

This level of control becomes especially important in outdoor environments, where sound conditions are unpredictable. PILLA is known for achieving clear, intelligible dialogue even in high-noise settings by combining precise boom technique, strategic microphone placement, and constant real-time monitoring.

“I rely on careful mic placement, wind protection, and adapting to the environment in the moment,” he explains. “If a location is too unpredictable, I work with the team to find the cleanest practical solution rather than forcing a bad recording.”

Beyond dialogue, PILLA emphasizes capturing detailed sound elements directly during production, including natural movement, textures, and room tone. This approach helps reduce reliance on post-production fixes while preserving the authenticity of each scene.

“I try to capture as much usable natural sound as possible while we’re on set,” he notes. “Those details make the final mix feel alive and give post-production stronger material to build with.”

His pre-production process plays a critical role in maintaining sound quality, often beginning with evaluating acoustics, background noise, and environmental factors during location scouts. By addressing these variables early, he helps ensure both efficiency on set and a cleaner final result.

With Dissolution preparing for release across streaming platforms, that technical discipline carries through to final delivery.

“I make sure the dialogue is completely clean and that the mix translates across different systems,” he says. “Whether someone is watching on a TV, a soundbar, or a phone, the audio should feel balanced and clear.”

Across projects such as She Reminds Me of You, You Are Here, and short films including Watched and Morning Coffee, PILLA has maintained a consistent approach grounded in preparation, precision, and collaboration.

“I treat every project with the same level of care,” he says. “Strong preparation, clean recording, and communication with the director and crew are what keep the sound consistent from film to film.”

As independent films continue to expand from festival screens to global streaming platforms, Dharan PILLA’s work reflects the growing importance of production sound in shaping how stories are experienced. Through a combination of technical precision and consistency, he continues to contribute to films that reach both theatrical audiences and viewers worldwide.

David and Robin Swaziek Turn Grief Into Advocacy

NY Weekly Staff on March 27, 2026

By: Jaxon Lee

The Illinois couple has transformed unimaginable personal loss into a public call for accountability, transparency, and remembrance.

David and Robin Swaziek did not set out to become public voices in conversations about justice, loss, and accountability. For most of their lives, they were known first as hardworking, family-centered people who believed in the value of honesty, responsibility, and doing what was right. David grew up on a dairy farm in southwestern Wisconsin, earned a degree in Industrial Safety from the University of Wisconsin–Platteville, and spent more than four decades with the same company before retiring. Robin built her life around family and motherhood, creating the kind of home where memories were made in ordinary moments, celebrations, and the closeness of children and grandchildren.

Everything changed in June 2016, when their daughter Megan died after a boating crash. In the years since, the Swazieks have spoken openly about the devastating personal cost of that loss and the deep frustration that followed in the legal process. According to their account, the outcome of the criminal case did not reflect the seriousness of Megan’s death. That experience altered more than their view of one case. It shattered their long-held belief that the justice system would naturally protect victims, pursue truth without compromise, and treat every life with equal dignity.

For David, the transformation was especially profound. He was raised to trust institutions, respect the law, and believe that public officials would honor their duty to innocent families. After Megan’s death, that trust gave way to hard questions about fairness, consistency, and whether accountability can be influenced by power, access, or position. Robin’s journey was equally profound, but it took shape through a mother’s relentless refusal to let her daughter’s life be reduced to paperwork, procedure, or silence. Her grief became advocacy. Her mourning became testimony. Together, they made the decision that Megan’s story would not disappear into the background of a closed case.

What makes the Swazieks’ story resonate is that their advocacy does not come from ambition or public image. It comes from love. They speak as parents first. When they talk about Megan, they are not talking about a headline. They are talking about a daughter whose life mattered deeply, a woman whose absence continues to be felt every day, and a family that believes remembrance is a form of responsibility. That conviction has led them to raise awareness not only about their own experience, but also about the broader consequences of impaired operation, whether on the road or on the water, and the lasting harm done when families feel unheard by the very systems meant to serve them.

Over time, David and Robin turned private heartbreak into a sustained effort to pursue truthful transparency. They have continued to speak out for families who believe their loved ones were devalued during criminal or civil proceedings. Their message is both deeply personal and broadly relevant: accountability should not depend on status, and justice should never feel reserved for some while denied to others. In sharing their experience, they have created space for other grieving families to feel seen, understood, and encouraged to keep asking difficult but necessary questions.

Their book, Betrayed by the Justice System: What Was Done in the Dark Will Be Brought Into the Light, extends that mission, but the heart of their work is bigger than a single publication. It is the ongoing promise that Megan will be remembered with dignity and that the truth, however long it takes, still matters. Today, David and Robin Swaziek continue to stand for responsibility, transparency, and the belief that a family’s pain should never be dismissed. In honoring Megan, they have also given voice to many others who know what it means to live with loss while still refusing to surrender the search for justice.

At the center of their advocacy is a simple conviction: Megan’s life mattered, and accountability should never be optional.

About the Authors

David Swaziek grew up on a dairy farm in southwestern Wisconsin, earned a degree in Industrial Safety from the University of Wisconsin–Platteville, and spent more than 44 years with the same company before retiring. His experience after Megan’s death reshaped his view of justice and deepened his commitment to accountability.

Robin Swaziek is a devoted mother, writer, and advocate who has worked tirelessly to preserve Megan’s memory and speak for families who feel unheard in the justice process. Together, David and Robin continue to share their story in the hope that truth, responsibility, and transparency will prevail.

 

Samantha Kris: The Coach Closing the Hidden Gap Between Leadership and Impact

NY Weekly Staff on March 27, 2026

In boardrooms across North America, impact-driven CEOs are making bold decisions, navigating uncertainty, and leading organizations that shape industries and communities. Yet when many of those same leaders step onto a stage, something shifts. The clarity they command internally can feel diluted. The authority is still there. The experience is undeniable. But the impact does not always land the way it could.

Samantha Kris has built her career around closing that gap.

As an Executive Speaker Coach and Founder of Stride, Samantha works with purpose-driven leaders who are already successful, already accomplished, and already making a difference. Her work is not about teaching charisma or stage tricks. It is about translation.

For more than 15 years, Samantha has worked in communications, partnering with lifestyle brands, top thought leaders, and a range of growing organizations across North America. She has coached TEDx speakers for nearly a decade and has spent time in the executive seat herself. A former executive at Goalcast, a prominent motivational media company, she learned from Hollywood producers, world-class speakers, and high-level coaches how powerful storytelling truly moves people.

Last year, her work received significant recognition. She was named a Top Executive Coach by Real Leaders in 2025 and listed by MSN as one of the Top 10 Speakers to Follow. Her US expansion was announced on the NASDAQ billboard, marking a defining milestone in her journey from Canada to the American stage.

But accolades are not what define her approach. Perspective does.

The Translation Problem

Samantha believes that most leaders misunderstand public speaking.

They are told they are either natural speakers or they are not. Or they are told that with enough technique, anyone can master the stage. In her experience, both ideas miss the point.

She explains, “Public speaking is a new language. Executives already know how to move people, make decisions under pressure, and build trust. They rely on instinct, pattern recognition, and their experience every day. The issue is not competence. It is context. What works in a boardroom does not automatically work on a stage.”

Samantha Kris: The Coach Closing the Hidden Gap Between Leadership and Impact

Photo Courtesy: Samantha Kris

She continued, “In business, leaders are rewarded for complexity, speed, and logic. On stage, audiences need something different. They need to feel something. They need complexity distilled. They need space to process and integrate. That gap is not a flaw. It is a translation challenge.”

Samantha’s work at Stride focuses on helping leaders translate their stories and expertise into language and experiences that resonate beyond the conference room. She helps them turn strategy into story, mission into emotion, and insight into activation.

Her clients include respected voices such as Don Yaeger, longtime Associate Editor at Sports Illustrated and Hall of Fame Speaker, Kate Williams, CEO of 1% for the Planet, and Dr. Melissa Robinson-Winemiller, published author and empathy expert. Through Stride’s Founding Membership, leaders receive comprehensive support designed to help them refine, test, and strengthen their voice over time.

“You’re not going to find another coach like me,” Samantha says with a smile. It is not bravado. It is clarity born from a career that blends marketing, executive leadership, and change management with deep storytelling craft.

From Canada to California

In early 2025, Samantha spoke at an event in San Diego. What she experienced there shifted her trajectory.

With only two suitcases and a clear vision to impact one million leaders by the end of 2026, she relocated to California. The move was bold and not without risk. But it placed her at the epicenter of innovation, impact, and entertainment, closer to many of the leaders and organizations she supports.

The gamble paid off. Recognition followed. Strategic partnerships deepened. She was selected as the exclusive speaker coach for DisruptHR San Diego’s 2026 event. And her presence in the US market is strengthening Stride’s reach.

Yet her focus remains steady.

“I have the pleasure of working with some of today’s greatest purpose-driven leaders,” she says. “When I’m not on stage myself, I’m behind the scenes helping CEOs serve as catalysts for powerful change.”

Through their stories, her clients are helping end human trafficking, drive funding for environmental initiatives, support causes that protect children and animals, and more. Samantha sees her legacy in their impact.

“My greatest contribution,” she says, “is helping ordinary people share the extraordinary things they’re doing.”

Building Legacy Through Story

Samantha’s own TEDx talk on goal setting is ranked number one in its category. She holds a Certified Reinvention Practitioner credential and serves as a speaker coach within Real Leaders’ impact programming. Her résumé is impressive, but it is her philosophy that resonates most.

She does not position leaders as public speakers. She invites them to see themselves as translators.

When leaders view their role this way, the task shifts. Instead of trying to perform, they focus on connection. Instead of delivering information, they create moments. Instead of protecting authority, they lean into vulnerability.

Samantha Kris: The Coach Closing the Hidden Gap Between Leadership and Impact

Photo Courtesy: Samantha Kris

Samantha’s coaching style is both strategic and human. Corporate audiences trust her because she understands the realities executives face. At the same time, she challenges them to step into a deeper level of authenticity on stage and pull their stories through their customer, employee, and partner journeys alike.

Looking ahead, her vision is expansive. She plans to continue speaking for organizations whose missions she believes in while scaling Stride’s impact globally. Her goal is to reach one million leaders this year and ten million by 2030 through coaching, speaking, and education on storytelling.

For Samantha Kris, the spotlight is not the end goal. It is a tool.

When leaders learn to translate who they are into stories that move others, their impact multiplies. And in a world filled with noise, clarity may be the most powerful language of all.

 

Sony Just Made the PS5 More Expensive Than Ever — Here’s Why and What It Means for Gamers

NY Weekly Staff 2 on March 27, 2026

The PlayStation 5, a console that launched in 2020 at $499.99, now costs $649.99. Sony did not ask for your opinion. But here is exactly what happened, what is driving it, and what gamers need to know right now.

In a move that shocked players and frustrated communities worldwide, Sony Interactive Entertainment announced on March 27, 2026, that it is raising prices across its entire PlayStation 5 lineup — and the increases are steep. Effective April 2, 2026, all PS5 consoles will cost more in the United States. The standard PS5 with disc drive will rise from $549.99 to $649.99. The PS5 Digital Edition will jump from $499.99 to $599.99. The PS5 Pro will see the steepest increase of all, climbing $150 from $749.99 to $899.99. The PlayStation Portal will also rise by $50 to $249.99.

In a statement on the PlayStation Blog, Sony cited “continued pressures in the global economic landscape” as the driving force, framing the decision as a necessary step to “continue delivering innovative, high-quality gaming experiences to players worldwide.”

For anyone counting: the standard PS5 now costs $150 more than it did at launch. The PS5 Pro, which debuted in late 2024, is closing in on $900. The era of the affordable home console may be over — at least for now.

What Is Actually Driving the Price Hike

Sony is not alone in pointing to the “global economic landscape,” but that phrase is doing a lot of work. The real story behind the price increase involves three distinct forces converging at the worst possible moment for consumers.

The AI Memory Crisis

The company is contending with an unprecedented surge in memory prices. Memory is a key component of the PS5, and prices have jumped significantly as memory makers direct their stock to huge demand from AI data centers, while supply remains tight. The artificial intelligence build-out happening across Silicon Valley and global tech hubs is consuming memory chips at a scale that has created a genuine shortage for consumer electronics manufacturers. Sony is not the only company caught in this squeeze — the ripple effects extend across the entire technology sector.

Market research firm Gartner said in February that the memory shortage will cause PC shipments to drop 10.4% in 2026 and smartphone shipments to decline 8.4%, with prices on those products also increasing 17% and 13%, respectively, versus 2025 levels. The PS5 price hike is not an isolated event. It is part of a broader inflation wave hitting consumer electronics driven by AI’s voracious appetite for memory.

DRAM contract prices have reportedly increased by over 170% year-over-year — a figure that makes Sony’s $100 increase seem almost restrained in context, even if it does not feel that way when you are reaching for your wallet.

Tariffs and Trade Policy

Contributing factors include U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, the AI-driven demand for components that has led to a memory shortage, and global markets taking a hit from ongoing geopolitical conflicts. Sony manufactures hardware across complex global supply chains that cross multiple tariff boundaries. Every percentage point added to import duties raises the cost of bringing a finished console — or its components — into the U.S. market.

Piers Harding-Rolls, research director of games at Ampere Analysis, told CNBC that price rises were inevitable due to the increase in memory prices. “It is likely that Sony had price protections for its components for a set period and this may well have come to an end,” Harding-Rolls said. “With no sign of prices easing, Sony will have made the move to protect its slim hardware margins.”

This Is the Second Hike in Less Than a Year

It is worth putting today’s announcement in historical context. Sony had previously increased PS5 prices by $50 in August 2025. This is the most significant price jump since the console’s launch, with each version of the PS5 now going up by a whopping $100 following that previous increase. Combined, those two rounds of hikes mean the standard disc edition has increased $150 above where it was before August 2025 — and significantly above its original launch price.

This sort of price hiking is unprecedented within games hardware. In every other generation, the cost of a console has always gone down over time. For PS5, it has been the opposite.

The GTA 6 Problem Nobody Is Talking About

Sony Just Made the PS5 More Expensive Than Ever — Here's Why and What It Means for Gamers

Photo Credit: Unsplash.com

The timing of this announcement is not incidental. The price increases arrive approximately eight months before the expected launch of GTA 6, one of the most anticipated games in console history. With the PS5 now starting at $600 and the Pro approaching $900, the cost of getting into the GTA 6 launch window just went up in a way that will matter to a significant portion of the intended audience. Sony has not announced any plans to bundle discounts or promotional pricing around the GTA 6 release period.

Anyone who was waiting to pick up a console alongside GTA 6 — a completely reasonable strategy for millions of players — now faces a significantly higher entry point. The economics of gaming are shifting in ways that cut hardest against the middle- and lower-income buyers who represent a substantial portion of PlayStation’s global fanbase.

Is Microsoft Next?

Harding-Rolls added: “It wouldn’t be a surprise if Microsoft and Nintendo followed suit in the not-too-distant future.” Nintendo has so far held prices steady for the Switch 2, which launched last year at $449.99, but the same memory pressures are acting on the entire industry.

Prices for the PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S all went up in 2025, and reports indicate that lower-income households — those making under $50,000 a year — only made up 19% of gaming hardware buyers in recent quarters. That statistic alone tells the story of where the gaming industry is heading: hardware that is increasingly accessible only to higher-income consumers.

What Should Buyers Do Right Now

The window to buy a PS5 at current prices is extraordinarily short. The updated recommended retail prices are effective starting April 2, 2026. That means anyone considering a purchase has only days left to act at existing price points — assuming stock is available, which may be a significant assumption given how quickly shelves tend to clear after announcements like this.

Sony has not indicated further immediate increases, but analysts caution that sustained economic pressures could lead to additional adjustments. In an environment where memory prices are still climbing and tariff uncertainty has not resolved, holding the line on price for an extended period looks increasingly difficult for all console manufacturers.

The PlayStation 5 launched five and a half years ago. Today, it costs more than it ever has. If the forces driving that trend do not reverse — and there is no current indication they will — the conversation about what a gaming console should cost is about to get considerably more uncomfortable.

Toronto Expert Rong Zhuang Unveils Data-Driven Marketing Framework to Modernize Real Estate Industry

NY Weekly Staff on March 27, 2026

TORONTO — Rong Zhuang, a Canada-based real estate professional and researcher affiliated with the University of Toronto Scarborough, has published new research examining how big data technologies are reshaping real estate marketing through customer lifecycle–based models, offering both theoretical frameworks and practical tools for an increasingly data-driven industry.

In her recent paper, “Research on the Construction of a Big Data-Based Real Estate Marketing Model Based on the Customer Life Cycle,” Zhuang proposes an integrated marketing model that applies data analytics across every stage of the customer lifecycle, from initial prospect identification to long-term client retention. The study argues that traditional real estate marketing approaches often fail to respond to evolving consumer behavior and fragmented data environments, limiting their effectiveness in competitive markets.

Zhuang’s model emphasizes full-cycle customer management enabled by large-scale data collection, behavioral analysis, and predictive modeling. By aligning marketing strategies with distinct lifecycle stages, the research demonstrates how real estate enterprises can deliver more precise, personalized services while improving resource allocation and decision-making accuracy.

The findings build on interdisciplinary research in marketing science and digital transformation, drawing on lifecycle theory, service-dominant logic, and data-driven decision systems. Zhuang positions big data not as a standalone technological tool, but as an organizing infrastructure that connects customer insights, pricing strategy, and long-term relationship management.

In a related theoretical study, “Evolutionary Logic and Theoretical Construction of Real Estate Marketing Strategies under Digital Transformation,” Zhuang further examines how emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and the Internet of Things are reshaping marketing strategy formation in the real estate sector. The paper outlines a conceptual framework that explains the industry’s shift from product-centric promotion to customer-centric engagement, highlighting digital transformation as a key driver of strategic evolution.

Beyond academic publication, Zhuang’s research reflects more than a decade of applied professional experience in real estate marketing and investment advisory. She has led regional market data modeling initiatives, developed pricing strategies based on comparable property analysis, and implemented volatility monitoring systems to support risk-aware decision-making. These methods directly inform the analytical models discussed in her academic work, reinforcing the practical relevance of her research.

Zhuang has also contributed to the development of multiple proprietary real estate software systems, including intelligent marketing planning platforms and customer relationship depth maintenance systems. These tools integrate data analytics with operational workflows, translating theoretical research into scalable industry applications.

Her professional achievements have been recognized within the real estate sector, including multiple brokerage awards for performance and client service excellence. In 2021, she was awarded the Fellow of the Real Estate Institute designation, a distinction granted to professionals demonstrating advanced expertise and leadership in the field.

Zhuang holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Toronto Scarborough, where her academic training in management and data analysis continues to inform her research on digital transformation and customer-centric strategy design. She is an active member of Canada’s national real estate professional community, engaging with industry standards, compliance systems, and market research initiatives through professional associations.

Her work contributes to ongoing discussions at the intersection of data science, marketing strategy, and real estate economics, offering frameworks that address both scholarly inquiry and real-world implementation challenges. As digital transformation accelerates across property markets globally, Zhuang’s research positions customer lifecycle analytics as a foundational component of next-generation real estate marketing strategy.

Four Ways to Experience China: Why Global Travelers Are Touring, Dining, Drinking, and Shopping Across the Country

NY Weekly Staff on March 27, 2026

At a RT-Mart supermarket in Shanghai, crowds of tourists from South Korea push carts filled with Chinese snacks, sunflower seeds, instant noodles, sesame cakes, and GUOLIFANG Fruit Liqueur.

Scenes like this are becoming increasingly common across cities in China.

As China continues to optimize its inbound travel policies, a growing number of visitors are traveling to the country. Unlike traditional sightseeing-focused trips, many are now seeking to live like locals.

Traveling in China: Smaller Cities Draw Growing Interest 

Major gateway cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou are no longer the only entry points for foreign travelers to China, as more visitors venture to smaller and lesser-known destinations.

 During the 2026 Chinese New Year holiday, inbound tourism to China’s second-tier and smaller cities rose by an average of 12% year-on-year, according to industry data. Flight bookings by foreign travelers covered 107 cities, with places such as Chongqing, Datong emerging as popular destinations.

Chongqing: A Real-Life ‘Cyberpunk’ City 

The southwestern city of Chongqing has drawn increasing international interest for its mountainous terrain and dense urban landscape.

Travel platform Expedia ranked Chongqing second on its “Destinations of the Year” list, behind Big Sky in the U.S. state of Montana.

The city has also gained visibility through social media and international coverage. A report by CNN described Chongqing as a “mind-bending cyberpunk city,” while videos by international content creators showcasing its skyline, transport system, and food culture have attracted large audiences online.

Datong: A Tourism Boom Driven by Gaming

The northern city of Datong recorded one of the fastest increases in inbound tourism.

Data from Chinese travel platform Qunar showed that inbound travel interest in Datong rose by 735% during the Chinese New Year period, the highest growth rate nationwide. 

The surge has been partly attributed to the global popularity of the video game Black Myth: Wukong, which drew inspiration from locations in the region. Social media posts and travel guides shared by visitors have further boosted the city’s profile.

Eating in China: Unlock Hidden Culinary Gems

Once in China, travelers find that while Peking duck, hotpot, and dumplings remain crowd-pleasers, there is a wealth of lesser-known dishes far more distinctive than Kung Pao chicken or fortune cookies.

Hidden Regional Delicacies

In the southeastern Chaoshan region, recognized for preserving traditional Chinese culture, many visitors travel specifically during the Chinese New Year to experience its rich heritage. Participating in folk dances and ritual ceremonies, they live like locals while seeking out authentic local cuisine. On January 17, 2026, Pearl published “Over 100 International Influencers Celebrate Chinese New Year in Shantou,” reporting that over 100 tourists from 30 countries, including the U.K., U.S., Germany, and Russia, sampled traditional Cantonese dishes and discovered hidden local specialties such as kway teow (rice noodles) and stuffed tofu.

In other cities, travelers are similarly uncovering local delicacies: Xi’an’s golden-thread oil towers, Tianjin’s jianbing pancakes, and Inner Mongolia’s dairy snacks are increasingly gaining attention.

Heritage Feasts

Long-table banquets, a traditional communal dining format shared across multiple Chinese ethnic groups, have become one of the most immersive culinary experiences for international visitors. During the Chinese New Year, provinces such as Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Fujian host these grand feasts. On February 10, 2026, a historic street in Ningbo, Zhejiang, featured a 200-meter-long New Year banquet with over 350 regional dishes, bringing together visitors from 26 countries alongside locals to share reunion meals and celebrate the Chinese New Year.

Some visitors go beyond tasting, learning the craft behind heritage foods. In Guilin, Guangxi, Yao ethnic oil tea, a nationally recognized intangible cultural heritage, has drawn attention from enthusiasts such as U.S. visitor Tang Guo, who apprenticed under a heritage master to learn the tea-making techniques firsthand.

Drinking in China: Mixue and Guolifang Fruit Liqueur Spark a Global Wave

In the past, when Western consumers thought of Chinese beverages, oolong tea and baijiu typically came to mind. Today, however, new tea and alcohol brands, represented by Mixue Ice City and Guolifang (under Bottled Planet Group), are reshaping how international consumers perceive Chinese drinks.

MIXUE Ice Cream & Tea, A First Taste of Chinese Milk Tea

In Chengdu’s Kuan-Zhai alleys, tourists still follow local customs, sitting on bamboo chairs with a gaiwan (covered tea bowl), sipping tea in the sun, or watching a kung fu tea performance. Yet long queues outside milk tea shops increasingly feature foreign visitors, especially at chains like ‌MIXUE Ice Cream & Tea and Cha Bai Dao. On TikTok, X, and Instagram, users share experiences of buying a lemonade or ice cream cone for less than $3, praising the affordability.

MIXUE is creating a “sweet storm” worldwide. According to global market research firm Technomic, by the end of 2025, Mixue had 45,000 stores globally, surpassing McDonald’s to become the largest fast-food chain in the world by store count.

GUOLIFANG Fruit Liqueur: The Chinese liquor that Koreans like to buy the most

China’s alcoholic beverage market is diverse, including baijiu, rice wine, and plum wine. Traditionally, foreign visitors found baijiu too strong or harsh, but in recent years, product innovations and lower alcohol options have made it more approachable. For instance, Wuliangye introduced a 29° low-alcohol variant, along with creative products such as Wuliangye coffee and Wuliangye ice cream drinks.

Among new alcoholic beverages, GUOLIFANG Fruit Liqueur from Bottled Planet Group has become particularly popular with South Korean tourists. On June 20, 2025, South Korean financial media reported that GUOLIFANG is a low-alcohol, smooth, refreshing, fruit-flavored liquor, highly appealing to young Koreans. Benefiting from visa-free travel and convenient access, sales at the Shanghai Zhengan District Daluem Pa Pingxingguan store surged compared with the previous year. In China, Guolifang has become the top fruit wine brand and the first choice for young people’s social gatherings.

Bottled Planet Group is considered China’s most innovative new beverage company. Beyond GUOLIFANG, its JIANGXIAOBAI brand is also popular in South Korea. In 2019, Korean media reported that Jiangxiaobai challenged the perception that baijiu is a drink for officials and conservative elites, quickly emerging as a dark horse in China’s baijiu industry.

Shopping in China:  Meijian Green Plum Wine and Huawei Smartphones Emerge as “New Local Specialties”

On overseas social media, “China Shopping” has become a trending topic. 

Meijian Green Plum Wine and Horse-Face Skirts: Tourists’ Favorite Cultural Gifts

Cultural products serve as the most direct way for international visitors to experience Chinese culture. Items like fridge magnets shaped like ancient architecture, panda-themed merchandise, and plush toys inspired by local foods are popular across China. 

 Beyond cultural souvenirs, some lifestyle products are also favored as gifts, including plum wine and horse-face skirts.

Originating in China, green plum wine has become a globally recognized product, particularly the Meijian Green Plum Wine brand under Bottled Planet Group. On February 10, 2026, the Associated Press published, noting that Meijian Green Plum Wine ranks first in China’s new plum wine segment and second worldwide. 

International tourists favor Meijian Green Plum Wine for several reasons: it is low in alcohol with a sweet-and-sour taste appealing to both Chinese and Western palates, and it embodies distinct Chinese cultural characteristics. Its brand symbol, the plum blossom, China’s historic national flower, is the source of the wine’s primary ingredient. The evolution of green plum wine reflects contemporary interpretations of Chinese culture. Meijian Green Plum Wine also replicates the ancient Chinese “meiping” used to hold wine. According to Jingdezhen Ceramics (January 2026, Issue 1), the brand’s reproduction of a Northern Song Ru kiln celadon meiping preserves traditional aesthetic features while adapting to modern tastes, making it a collectible item.

Horse-face skirts represent another cultural product category and rank among the world’s most popular Hanfu garments. Caoxian County in Shandong province serves as a major production hub; in 2025, Hanfu sales exceeded 13 billion yuan, with horse-face skirts exported to 32 countries, including Japan, Italy, and Australia.

Tech Products in High Demand: Huawei as a “Hard-Core” Souvenir

During the 2026 inbound tourism boom, tech products such as foldable smartphones, AI glasses, robot vacuums, and AI translators have become sought-after “new souvenirs.”

Among these, Huawei’s foldable phones are the most popular. “Light, thin, and high-tech,” said a Malaysian tourist while livestreaming his purchase at a Huawei store. Globally, Huawei foldable phones have performed strongly: according to the Associated Press report “Huawei’s tri-foldable phone hits global markets in a show of defiance amid US curbs”, Huawei held a 49% share of China’s foldable phone market in 2025 and 23% globally.

Smart robots are also attracting foreign attention. From smartphones and smart glasses to robots, China is entering a new era of intelligent consumer technology.

In Summary

Global tourism in China is no longer about simply sightseeing; it has become about “living like a local.” Visitors are also driving international sales of Chinese consumer brands.

In December 2025, MIXUE entered the U.S. market, with three stores averaging nearly 2,000 cups sold per day and daily revenue of $6,000–$7,000 per store, marking a key step for a “Chinese brand conquering the world.” GUOLIFANG Fruit Liqueur has also become a top choice for foreign visitors looking to experience Chinese alcoholic beverages. It reflects China’s shift toward a high-quality, consumption-driven economy.

Even more importantly, China’s global tourism boom is underpinned by a systematic policy framework. To date, China has implemented unilateral visa-free entry for 50 countries, mutual visa exemptions with 29 countries, and a 240-hour transit visa-free policy covering 55 countries. In February 2026, 11 government departments, including the Cyberspace Administration of China, jointly issued the Implementation Opinions on Enhancing Digital Services for Foreign Visitors, outlining 14 measures, covering digital payments, tourism services, transportation, and more, aimed at achieving world-leading digital entry services by 2030.

These policies provide convenience for travelers and have made “China travel” an increasingly popular choice worldwide.

Devin Mazzara On Beauty With Integrity and Authenticity Over Trends

NY Weekly Staff on March 27, 2026

By: Matt Emma

On most mornings, before she heads to her clinic, Devin Mazzara does the same thing millions of people do: she checks the news. Lately, it hasn’t been easy. War, uncertainty, and a steady stream of difficult headlines can make the world feel heavy before the day even begins. There are moments, she admits, when that weight makes her pause.

“Sometimes I think, ‘Should I really be promoting beauty treatments when so many people are struggling?’”

But the thought never lasts long.

“People still deserve to feel good about themselves,” she says. “That matters.”

For Mazzara, Nurse Practitioner, injector, and founder of Face by Devin, that belief has quietly shaped nearly a decade in medical aesthetics. Known among clients and colleagues as the “NYC Lip Queen,” she’s built a reputation in New York City for subtle, precise work on lips, cheeks, chin, and jawline. Yet the real story behind her growing practice is less about cosmetic treatments and more about the human relationships that form around them.

Mazzara didn’t originally imagine herself in aesthetics. Like many nurses, she began in traditional medical environments, working inside hospital systems where the pace was relentless. Over time, she found the structure increasingly frustrating.

“The demands were difficult to meet,” she says. “It often felt like patient care was compromised just to keep everything moving.”

Eventually, she transitioned into private practice plastic surgery, where she held several roles, including operating room nurse and director of nursing. The work was more aligned with her personality, focused, detailed, and patient-centered, but it still left her feeling constrained.

Devin Mazzara On Beauty With Integrity and Authenticity Over Trends

Photo Courtesy: Devin Mazzara

After years spent mastering injection techniques and learning the nuances of facial anatomy, she reached a realization: if she wanted to practice medicine the way she believed it should be practiced, she would have to build it herself.

Five years ago, she launched Face by Devin.

The early days were far from glamorous. Building a patient base in New York City, one of the most competitive aesthetics markets in the world, took patience.

“Getting consistently booked probably took more than two years,” she says. “It was a slow process.”

Gradually, word spread. Clients began recommending her to friends, colleagues, and family members. Today, her practice stays busy, though Mazzara now finds herself navigating a different challenge: maintaining balance.

“I’m always trying to stay busy without working myself into the ground,” she says.

Part of what draws patients to her practice is the level of care she brings to the details. While aesthetic medicine is often associated with dramatic transformations, Mazzara’s approach leans in the opposite direction.

“I care far more about what’s best for my patients than I care about making money,” she says. “Sometimes that means telling someone not to do something.”

Devin Mazzara On Beauty With Integrity and Authenticity Over Trends

Photo Courtesy: Devin Mazzara

She spends significant time educating clients about procedures, encouraging them to think carefully before committing to treatments they might later regret. In an industry where trends can move quickly, that restraint has earned her trust.

“I want people to be informed consumers,” she explains.

Over time, those relationships have evolved into something that feels less transactional and more communal. Clients often share personal updates during appointments, career changes, breakups, and new relationships. Mazzara has even helped connect people within her network for jobs, apartments, legal advice, and social opportunities.

“I’ve introduced patients to new friends, new careers, even significant others,” she says with a laugh. “And they’ve helped me just as much.”

That sense of connection reflects her deep ties to the city itself. Born and raised in New York, Mazzara speaks about the local professional network with admiration.

Within the aesthetics community, her reputation has grown steadily. Colleagues often refer to her as the “NYC Lip Queen,” a nickname that speaks to her ability to create balanced, natural-looking lip enhancements. Still, she’s quick to downplay the title.

“It’s flattering,” she says. “But my real focus is harmony across the whole face.”

Recognition has followed. Mazzara has appeared in major publications like Rolling Stone and Harper’s Bazaar, featured among international figures shaping modern culture and lifestyle. For someone who describes herself as unconventional within her industry, the attention can feel surreal.

“My peers are incredibly talented,” she says. “So when they say I’m someone they’d trust with their face, it means everything.”

Sometimes, a treatment appointment becomes more than just a cosmetic procedure. It’s a conversation, a pause in the middle of a busy week, a chance for someone to reconnect with themselves.

“Helping people feel more confident can have a ripple effect in their lives,” Mazzara says.

Looking ahead, she hopes to expand her work beyond New York, eventually bringing her practice to other cities and possibly other countries. She’s also exploring ways to grow her personal brand in a way that reflects her broader lifestyle and interests.

In a world that often feels chaotic, Mazzara believes small acts of care still matter.

“Empathy,” she says simply, “is what makes us human.”

 

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article reflects the personal experiences and opinions of Devin Mazzara. It is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Readers should consult a licensed healthcare professional for any questions regarding medical procedures or treatments.

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