Cultivating the Talent: Women Professionals in the Federation System

Publication Date: July 2007

Publisher: Advancing Women Professionals and the Jewish Community; Advancing Women Professionals and the Jewish Community

Author(s): Sivanie Shiran; Didi Goldenhar

Research Area: Labor

Keywords: Leadership; Jewish Organizations; Gender; Employment

Type: Report

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

The authors present and analyze the results of a survey of women federation professionals in UJC's database. The women who participated in this study represent a wide range of professional positions and functional departments from 47 federations of varying sizes and locations across North America. The central finding of the study is that these women professionals aspire to diverse leadership roles in the federation system, as well as in other Jewish agencies.

The authors offer recommendations that address three broad areas: first, public support for women's career aspirations, beginning with broad distribution of this report; second, sequenced career planning, through pilot projects at selected federations, and third, policy development for workplace flexibility over the career trajectory. By sharing the findings of this study and pursuing these recommendations, the UJC hopes to send a positive message to women federation professionals--about its commitment to leverage existing strengths, address systemic barriers, and cultivate the talent of women professionals on behalf of the federation system and the Jewish community.