In “5 Questions With…,” we share a brief Q&A with a staff member. In this edition, we hear from Avigail Muller Waknine, M.A., who joined Rosov Consulting in 2016 with a diverse background in organizational consulting, human resources, and Jewish informal education.
A blog of insights and learnings from a member of the Rosov Consulting team By Zohar Rotem We all know that we live in a networked society. Even outside the realm of social media, what we think, feel, know, and do is shaped by the people who think, feel, know and do alongside us. In itself, this is hardly news. However, with “social networks” rapidly becoming a buzzword, it is important to tell hype from reality. All too often, the terms “networks” and “social networks” are over-used and abused. So here is a little “guide to the perplexed.” I would like to explore three, interrelated questions: What can the philanthropic and non-profit sectors reasonably expect to get out of “leveraging,” or “tapping into,” social networks? What does one need to know (and, just[Read More…]
With new additions to the Rosov Consulting team, we are especially proud to represent diverse geographies and backgrounds. Our team speaks a total of 10 different languages and comes from six different countries. We are excited to utilize our range of life experiences and knowledge to best serve our clients. Please welcome our new team members: Valerie Feldman, Project Associate, Berkeley Valerie Feldman joins Rosov Consulting with a background in organizational studies, qualitative research methods, and project management. At Rosov, Valerie works to evaluate the impact of InterfaithFamily’s work across the U.S., and the impact that youth programs and activities in the Reform movement can have on adults’ lives. She also serves as a project manager for the evaluation of the Israeli-American Council’s Eitanim initiative. Prior to Rosov Consulting, Valerie led and supported research projects[Read More…]
By Pearl Mattenson, Director, Rosov Consulting A June 2017 publication by Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO), “Exploring Microcultures and Why They Matter,” looks inside of philanthropic organizations and highlights an important point: we ignore sub groups that form in our organization (i.e. microcultures) at our peril. What the GEO report does well is to show how when foundations leverage or intentionally nourish healthy microcultures, employee engagement and commitment improves. Importantly for the non-profit sector, so does a foundation’s ability to serve their grantees. What is true for philanthropic organizations is true for all organizations. People align around a whole host of issues, values and behaviors. Sometimes, organizations help to create affinity groups through formal departmental structures or the way office space[Read More…]
By Pearl Mattenson, Director, Rosov Consulting As you think about the type of leader you are or hope to become- how often have you thought of yourself as a cultivator? Now that it is summer time and you may find yourself in a roof top, back yard or community garden, this metaphor might be particularly resonant. Even if you never let dirt run through your fingers, you can find value in thinking about how to create the ground conditions that will help your staff to thrive. I recently came across a blog post by Diego Rodrigues, a partner at IDEO, in which he outlines 21 innovation principles. Behold, in principle #12 he compares leadership to cultivation. Cultivators of actual gardens[Read More…]
JDC Entwine was formed in 2008 by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), with the vision of building future Jewish leadership by engaging young Jewish adults in global Jewish and humanitarian needs. Entwine offers diverse opportunities for young adults to become involved with global issues and to cultivate a sense of belonging to, and a feeling of responsibility for, the Jewish people. Entwine is a multi-faceted initiative that offers a spectrum of opportunities for Jewish engagement and humanitarian service abroad. The flagship options include: Insider Trips, a week long travel and humanitarian service experience; Multi-Week Global Jewish Fellowships, a 4 to 8-week volunteer service placement in one community, working individually or as part of a group with other volunteers;[Read More…]