By Shira Kramer, Managing Editor
Yeshiva University’s Shevet Glaubach Center for Career Strategy & Professional Development presented a unique way for students to approach career development. On November 19, the SGC hosted an event for YU students titled “Together Towards Purpose: Making Meaning in Work.” This program, geared towards first time on campus (FTOC) students who may not know what career they would like to pursue, allowed participants to meet six different industry professionals and engage in meaningful career-focused dialogue.
Barbara Lerman-Kang, the SGC’s Associate Director of Employer Relations & Marketing Strategy, believes that industry specific events provide insight for undecided students as they look into potential career paths. “An event with professionals and alumni from various industries would be beneficial to the student who still doesn’t know what they want to do,” Lerman-Kang told the YU Observer. “Rather than going to a million industry specific events, they go to one where they get to capture a few different industries.”
Jordan Stecker, the Assistant Director of Career Advising, hosted the event along with Jim MacWhorter, Associate Director of Career Advising and Technology Systems. Their goal was to expose students to different careers and teach them how to find meaning in their professions.
“My colleagues and I believe a career is not just a symbol of work (and income), but the good people can do, their leadership and their purpose,” Stecker told the YU Observer. “This event was important because it opened the dialogue on how students can navigate deeper thoughts about their daily work.”
The panelists included Marissa Sappho, Co-Founder and CEO of Aurora NYC for Eating Disorder Treatment and Mental Health Services, Yair Saperstein, Co-Founder and CEO of Avo, Mark Wildes, Founder and Director of the Manhattan Jewish Experience, Justin Rolnick, CEO of Green Kitchen Management, Gary Strong, Partner at Gfeller Laurie, and Liat Schreiber, Guidehouse consultant.
“I remember being a student and attending workshops like this and having mentors who took the time to go and meet with me,” Stchreiber told the YU Observer. “So, I work hard to make sure that I can pass the advice I was given forward.”
Each panelist was asked a series of questions regarding how they find meaning in their careers. This panel was particularly unique because it showcased many careers instead of focusing on one particular field, allowing students to hear from a variety of professions they may never have encountered before. After the question and answer session was complete, students were able to speak with panelists one-on-one or in small groups.
While speaking independently with Rabbi Wildes, attendee Aryeh Weiss (SSSB ‘27) told the YU Observer that he was impressed by the opportunity to speak with CEOs. The conversations taught Weiss that “you can work in your own niche, you can do your own thing.”
Stecker hopes that this event helped inform students about how to balance earning money and finding meaning in their future careers. “I hope students learned the importance of connecting their personal mission to their professional work,” he said. “Each panelist spoke incredibly well about their journey that provided fulfillment, as well as resources for their lifestyle.”
Because of the different professions represented at the event, even the panelists were able to learn from each other.
“I’m someone who strongly believes there’s always something to learn from everyone, irrespective of what their background is,” Schreiber said. “Sometimes the lessons might be what not to do, but it’s always an opportunity to learn from others.”
Photo Caption: Panelists at the “Together Towards Purpose” SGC event
Photo Credit: Shira Kramer