Empowering new leaders to drive change
Reflecting the spirit of tikkun olam, Adler said, "LaunchPad helps set up others to create change. It equips leaders with the resources, connections, and inspiration they need to drive positive change within their communities and beyond.
LaunchPad Leadership, an initiative of Australian Jewish Funders (AJF), has recently accepted its fourth cohort and spoke to The AJN about its program from its inception to now.
LaunchPad was born in 2014, sparked by the vision of Tracie Olcha, CEO of AJF, after she attended the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies (CLSFP) annual ROI Summit in 2013, mobilising 150 innovative Jewish change makers across some 60 countries, with the aim to address complex challenges in Jewish communities, Israel and the world.
With a deep desire to create a similar dynamic and transformative experience for the Australian Jewish community, Olcha was given the opportunity to attend a five-day facilitation intensive, facilitated by CLSFP for ROI Community alumni. Participants were given the tools and mindset to imagine what may be possible for their unique contexts and just five months later the first LaunchPad immersive three-day retreat took place, engaging 54 participants from across Australia.
Director of community and innovation at AJF Rebecca Adler told The AJN that LaunchPad “equips Australian Jewish leaders with the skills and resources to lead thriving organisations”.
“Blending Jewish values with technical skills and leadership theory with experiential learning, the program is designed to nurture and develop a cohort of empowered leaders,” she said.
Adler explained that “the resulting ripple effect” of LaunchPad is “profound” and the impact of participants “resonates within the broader community”.
“The strengthened community, in turn, can collaboratively address social and environmental causes including leadership, food security, inclusion and youth engagement.”
Reflecting the spirit of tikkun olam, Adler said, “LaunchPad helps set up others to create change. It equips leaders with the resources, connections, and inspiration they need to drive positive change within their communities and beyond.
“Although the program acts as a catalyst, the enduring impact originates from the empowered leaders who apply their learnings to initiate transformative initiatives.”
Adler explained that for individuals, LaunchPad offers opportunities for personal and professional leadership development and inspires entrepreneurship and activism.
“It allows participants to expand their networks, exchange ideas, and collaborate, fostering growth and effectiveness in their roles.”
For the community, LaunchPad “strengthens the overall ecosystem by fostering a culture of leadership development and connection.”
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