Abby Kaufman joins Leading Edge as Chief of Staff. Prior to Leading Edge, Abby served as Director of Employee and Organizational Development at Benenson Strategy Group and spent a decade working in the nonprofit and education sectors. (Read her full bio here.) Learn more about Abby below!

What does a “great place to work” mean to you? 

A great place to work is a place where everyone shows up wanting to be a better version of themselves every day — where they are connected to the mission and strategy of their organization as well as to each other, and are eager and encouraged to learn and grow. It's also a space where the values of the organization are palpable across organizational decisions, how people work together, and in everyday interactions and conversations.

What are you looking forward to most about joining Leading Edge?

I'm looking forward to the opportunity to work with incredibly passionate and talented colleagues and partners who are committed to 1) elevating the experience of professionals and 2) enabling organizations to achieve their missions and drive positive impact across the Jewish communal sector.

What’s something you’re excited about right now?

I'm really excited about the conversations happening across sectors about the critical role and influence of middle managers... and the doors this is opening to think more broadly and deeply about how to drive organizational outcomes and culture. I'm also excited about the opportunity it presents to build more targeted, inclusive approaches to talent development and retention.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

You can't rush a sunrise.

What’s your favorite place to travel?

New Zealand.

What's the best TV show, movie, book, or podcast you've enjoyed in the last year?

I'm currently reading Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman and it's taking me on quite the journey (and isn't at all like other time management books I've come across)!

If you could take a week off from your regular life to immerse yourself in learning something new, what would it be?

Learning to play the banjo... or mountaineering.

What is something you have accomplished as an adult that your younger self would be proud of?

Running Camp Wise, the JCC overnight camp where I grew up!

What’s a work lesson you’ve had to learn the hard way?

You make plans and G-d laughs.

What's one thing that can instantly make your day better?

Movement.

What’s your “dance like nobody’s watching” song?

The real question is if there's any song I won't dance to in the kitchen... but two of my go-to songs are Ain't Nothing Wrong With That by Robert Randolph and the Family Band and Tightrope by Janelle Monae!