Michael Waitz

 

The Certificate in Jewish Leadership—sponsored by Northwestern University School of Continuing Studies and Spertus Institute — is dedicated to transforming American Jewish life by enhancing the professional abilities of Jewish leaders. The curriculum is rooted in the belief that Judaism has its own distinct and insightful approaches to leadership. Through lectures, group work, and individual mentoring led by Northwestern and Spertus faculty, participants will learn best practices drawn from contemporary leadership principles and classical Jewish texts and thought.

Traditionally, programs for Jewish leadership have focused either on management skills or Jewish literacy. In this program, leadership training is taught within a distinctively Jewish context. Participants will learn to access and improve their own leadership, to articulate vision and inspire and motivate stakeholders, to improve collaboration, to achieve organizational goals, to hone their communication skills, and to plan and execute for the future.

Newly minted leader Michael Waitz said, “I have been able to take what I have learned in each class and use it to enhance the work I am doing professionally.” His co-participant Scott "Shalom" Klein said, “I benefited from a structure that taught us both the historical and practical elements of leadership. I would strongly recommend the program to lay and professional leaders in the Jewish community.”