As the Voice of the People council reaches its November pitches, we’re entering one of the most meaningful moments of our first year together. After eight months of research, interviews, collaboration, and deep listening across ten teams and five global focus areas, their ideas are ready to be challenged, tested, and sharpened.
And we’re not doing it alone.
For this milestone, we’ve invited a group of exceptional evaluators, founders, investors, strategists, educators, and leaders across sectors, who bring decades of experience in building, scaling, and steering real-world solutions. Their role is simple but essential: to offer honest feedback, expand our thinking, and help each team take the next step from concept to pilot.
Below is a look at the remarkable people joining us in this process, and the perspectives they bring
Our evaluator cohort represents the breadth of the Jewish world and beyond: social entrepreneurship, venture capital, philanthropy, tech innovation, Jewish education, diversity and equity work, and community building.
Leadership & Social Innovation
Aaron Katler, CEO of UpStart, brings years of experience incubating and accelerating Jewish social entrepreneurship across North America.
Amira Ahronoviz, former CEO of The Jewish Agency, led operations in over 66 countries and shaped global Jewish communal strategy.
Tech, Startups, and Venture Capital
David Yarus, founder of JSwipe and mllnnl, bridges brand strategy and modern Jewish engagement.
Itai Maron, Silicon Valley operator and VC, offers 20+ years of experience growing mission-driven startups.
Michael Granoff, founder of Maniv Mobility, manages a global VC fund investing in the future of transportation.
Toby Coppel, Co-founder of Mosaic Ventures, has spent nearly three decades investing in and advising tech startups worldwide.
Philanthropy, Community, and Identity
Ilana Kaufman, CEO of the Jews of Color Initiative, is a leading voice on racial equity and Jewish communal belonging.
Shawna Goodman, chef, changemaker, and founder of Summer Camps Israel, brings expertise in philanthropy and experiential Jewish education.
Education & Cultural Insight
Prof. Michal Muszkat-Barkan, HUC-Jerusalem, is a leading scholar on Jewish education, pluralism, and community leadership development.
Business Strategy & Global Leadership
Donna Orender, former President of the WNBA and founder of Generation W, is recognized as one of the most powerful women in sports and a leader in organizational growth.
Karmit Shilo, senior HR executive with decades of global leadership experience, brings a deep understanding of people, systems, and organizational development.
Tally Zingher, founder of Blue Laurel Advisors, advises leaders navigating business opportunities across the U.S., Israel, and the Gulf.
The November pitches are not the end of a process, they’re the path to the next stage of their 2 year term.
Each team will present the idea and our evaluators will help them refine them.This is where ideas begin shifting from vision to pilots, from research to testing, from insight to action.
Their presence is an act of partnership, and we’re deeply grateful for the time, care, and expertise they’re bringing our council.
Voice of the People is built on the belief that when diverse Jewish voices build together, the future becomes stronger.
Our evaluators are now part of that story.
