How to Succeed in Business? Some Advice.

At this time of year, when the College graduates new professionals and veteran professionals are making transitions, it is helpful to get some advice from others who have succeeded professionally.

Several weeks ago Advancing Women Professionals held a first of its kind professional development day for women working professionally in the Jewish community. In a show of the importance of networking and mentorship, over a dozen leading Jewish figures briefly shared pieces of wisdom that they had learned along their professional journeys. While their words were meant for this female audience, the advice they shared can be helpful for all Jewish professional

Adene Sacks, Program Director at the Jim Joseph Foundation, spoke of the importance of networks both in helping organizations chart courses and for personal professional advancement; a point that was demonstrated throughout the day as people connected with each other on both levels. Deborah Pinsky, Peninsula JCC went on to highlight the importance of those networks for organizations. Her advice after a career working running major organizations on both coasts is that one should “work with partners, even if they do nothing.” Ultimately these connections bring good will and broaden your influence.

Sacks also spoke of the importance of mentors in her own life and the shift to being a mentor herself. Her sentiments were echoed by Connie Wolf Director of the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco, who stressed that whenever taking a job, she has looked to see if their would be mentors for her in that job. At the same time, she has also had to learn when to ignore the advice of mentors and go with her own sense of self.

That sense of self is important, especially when you work for the community and others are continually judging the work you do. Jennifer Gorovitz, CEO of San Francisco Jewish Community Federation has learned to withstand that judgment by having a laser focus on mission, being compassionate and finding a group with whom she can laugh at her mistakes.

Mistakes are more likely to happen when we are not willing to question policies or make changes. Both Toby Rubin the founder and Director of UpStart and Debbie Findling Deputy Director of the Goldman Fund discussed the need to be willing to change. Drawing on her experience with social entrepreneurs, Rubin encourages people to, “Ask what holds you back from making changes? Resources? Values?” Findling’s own experience with deciding to eat meat after decades as a vegetarian, taught her that it is important to ask yourself whether the principles you hold dear serve your purpose.

All of this happens most easily when we know ourselves and can put forward our ideas in ways that can be heard. Katie Orenstein’s OpEd Project, which ran a seminar that day, is a great way not only to sharpen writing skills but a sense of vision and purpose while the negotiating strategies suggested by Askforit.org can be helpful as we navigate our way forward.