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Certificate in Jewish Leadership

Certificate in Jewish Leadership

For the professionals, trustees, and lay leaders of Jewish organizations—and for anyone who wants to learn to lead through a Jewish lens

Certificate in Jewish Leadership

Presented by Spertus Institute in partnership with Northwestern University

Now is the time to invest in the skills you need to lead in times of challenge and change

Gain new strengths professionally and personally

students in seminar

  • Discover your own leadership style and build on your unique aptitudes
  • Manage challenge and change from a position of strength
  • Identify opportunities and galvanize your team, even in tough times
  • Program overview >

Taught by senior Northwestern University and Spertus Institute faculty, the program includes one-on-one coaching sessions.

Upcoming Cohort: Fall 2023
Open to qualified professionals & lay leaders from Jewish communities worldwide.
This cohort will take place exclusively online.
Weekly Wednesday evening sessions begin October 11 and take place 6-9 PM CT.

Fall 2023 Session Dates
October 11, 18, and 25, 2023
November 1, 8, 15, and 29 (No class Thanksgiving week)
December 6 and 13
January 3 and 10

Application Dates
Preferred Admission Deadline—June 23, 2023 (Application fee waived)
Final Application Deadline—August 7, 2023 ($50 application fee)


Program components

Certificate Program Components

Everyone needs a coach

This program is designed for busy, working adults committed to their careers and communities. Professional coaching is an integrated part of the program. Participants meet individually with their coach to help as they apply what they learn to their own real-world circumstances.

Coach Amy Wishnick, Principal, Wishnick & Associates, with Sarah Van Loon, Director of Advancement & Engagement, AJC

Mentor Amy Vishnick, Principal, Wishnick & Associates, with Mentee Sarah Van Loon

Learning Outcomes

Certificate in Jewish Leadership students learn to:

  • Understand the key qualities of effective leadership
  • Understand what it means to be an effective Jewish leader
  • Apply models and frameworks to practical, real-time leadership challenges
  • Demonstrate effective communications skills
  • Sharpen ability to lead through influence v. authority
  • Be able to implement visioning and planning processes
  • Develop change management strategies
  • Know how to build effective teams
  • Learn to supervise more effectively
  • Understand ethical principles and how to apply them
  • Develop techniques for better relations with lay boards

Spertus Institute is accredited by the
Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, IL 60604