What is SKILLSETnpotm?
It is an executive-level leadership development program designed to advance a select group of Jewish lay leaders of non-profit organizations, who will emerge from the program deeply energized, inspired and possessing the tools to lead our community.  

What Is the Curriculum?
Over the course of eighteen months, the upcoming leaders chosen for participation in SKILLSETnpotm will benefit from a personally transformational experience that is imbedded with Jewish values; enhances their personal leadership portfolio; and brings the best minds around the table to brainstorm great organizations, finance, ethics, conflict management and other critical topics for our community. 

The eighteen-month program consists of sessions and salons.  In addition to the formal program there are opportunities for networking, mentoring and community involvement.  Each of the sessions, led by outstanding faculty, incorporates both leading academic or corporate views and Jewish values.  Each session includes sections on how to incorporate and relate key learnings into our community as well as time for reflecting on key learnings and personal action plans. 

What's In It For Our Community?
SKILLSETnpotm Fellows will emerge from the program:

• as skilled executive leaders and valuable team players
• possessing a deep understanding of the needs of our local/global Jewish community
• able to elicit excellence and innovation from those around them
• with non-profit financial issues in their comfort zone
• filled with optimism and enthusiasm
 
The program's pioneering training method, led by world-renowned consultants, academics and Jewish scholars, integrates personal transformation, team-building, organizational performance, creativity, innovation and more, in a Jewish framework.  

Who Will Be Selected?
The search committee seeks people who:
• are visionary – and can be envisioned by others as a Jewish communal leader;
• evidence commitment to the Jewish community and seek to replicate their professional success in a Jewish non-profit leadership setting;
• are reflective, respected, creative and inspirational:  people who possess emotional intelligence, personal integrity and the communication skills needed to engage others; and
• have access to the financial resources (“give or get”, current or potential) needed to lead an organization by example.

How Are Fellows Chosen?
Fellows are selected in an intensive screening process, without regard to gender or denominational affiliation.  The first cohort of SKILLSETnpotm Fellows, who graduated in January 2010, reflect a broad age range (from 20s to 60s), gender equality, and the wide range of Jewish denominational affiliations, as well as people who are unaffiliated with a congregation.  Priority was given to people who were nominated by community lay leadership and congregation leadership.

Upon completion of SKILLSETnpotm, the Fellows are expected to intensify their commitment to Jewish life and to assume a significant leadership position in the community.  Specifically, each Fellow is expected to serve at least 2 years in a Jewish non-profit leadership position (i.e. project or committee chair, board member, president, etc.) or may, as an alternative, create his/her own project or initiative within the Jewish community. 

What Does It Cost?
The entire cost of SKILLSETnpotm is provided by the generous support of our community, principally our program benefactors and sponsors as listed at left.  Jewish Federation is providing planning and administrative oversight.  In recognition of the significant investment being made in each Fellow, full participation in the program is expected of each Fellow.