I was born in Iran and immigrated to the United States with my family in 1984 as a political refugee. Perhaps, in some way, that fueled my passion for the law. As the CEO and Founder of an online platform for investment in plaintiff litigation, I knew I needed to enhance my leadership skills, so in 2013, I applied for The Jewish Federation’s Community Leadership Institute—even though I didn’t really know much about The Jewish Federation at that time.
During my time with CLI, I learned much more about the Federation’s life-changing work. I met with staff members and lay leaders in different departments who really let their passion for the Jewish community shine through and gave me a deeper understanding of what the Federation is trying to achieve. Without CLI, I never would have had this kind of one-on-one insider access to the people who are making an impact through their work every day.
My mentor, Kevin, served as a tremendous resource in my professional development by truly mentoring me and connecting me with some of the most influential business leaders in our very strong and active community. He also encouraged me to get involved with the Federation in a way that was personal to me.
That’s why I now serve as a Co-Chair of YALA (Young Adults of Los Angeles), helping to plan engagement and events for other young Jews across L.A. Without CLI, I wouldn’t have been involved in YALA—now I am serving as a leader of this vibrant group. I’ve grown as a leader, and that can only take me further with my future career.
The sincere desire of everyone I met through CLI to facilitate my prosperity and continued engagement with the Jewish community is a value proposition that I immediately recognized. Simply put, the professionals and lay leaders at The Jewish Federation are truly dedicated to the future of our community.
Exclusively for young adults between the ages of 25-40, CLI is the top-tier program that provides young professionals with the skills, training, development and networks to launch into a lifetime of success. By participating in four highly competitive, specialized tracks—Universal, Real Estate, Entertainment and Russian Jewish Community—participants expand their personal and professional networks while gaining critical skills that will help them become leaders in our Jewish community and beyond.
Applications for our next cohort are being accepted through May 15, 2015.
