What We're Learning | August 2025

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What We're Learning

What We're Learning | August 2025

August 27th, 2025by Leading Edge

Here's what the Leading Edge team is learning about culture, executives, and boards this month.

The crisis we’re ignoring: Who’s caring for the people who hold up the Jewish world?

The Jewish world can’t run on empty. Barry Finestone, President & CEO of Jim Joseph Foundation and Leading Edge Board Member (non-voting), warns: if we don’t replenish the people powering Jewish life, there won’t be anyone left to rebuild what’s next. He calls on philanthropy and lay leaders to: (1) add staff during crisis peaks, (2) protect actual rest, (3) show gratitude, (4) train leaders, and (5) build lifelines across institutions.

CULTURE

Why We Structure Our Strategic Planning Like the Five Books of Moses (And Why It Actually Works)
The five books of Torah offer a masterclass in navigating change and building community. Tiny Windows shows how this framework applies to Jewish organizations, guiding them from origin stories to sustainable plans.
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Workplace Culture Isn’t a Perk, It’s the Path to Thriving
Retention, innovation, morale, and mission impact rise when workplaces prioritize dignity and respect. SRE Network’s Rachel Gildiner urges leaders to reject cultures that erode trust and shape systems that safeguard people.
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R&R: Rest Is a Strategy: What We Learned from BREAKWEEK
WorkLife: With economic tides shifting, how HR can help employees climb, not quit
Business Insider: 'Quiet cracking' is the latest buzzword to hit the workplace

EXECUTIVES

A new operating model for a new world
A smart strategy isn’t enough — many companies still fall short because their operating models aren’t built to deliver. McKinsey’s new framework shows how CEOs can reconfigure 12 interconnected elements to boost performance in volatile times.
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Ready or not, Gen Z is managing you
By year’s end, one in ten managers will be Gen Z, and they’re leading differently. With a focus on well-being, boundaries, empathy, and clarity, they’re reshaping what ambition and management look like in today’s workplace.
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BOARDS

From Passive to Proactive: Strategies to Move Nonprofit Board Members Beyond Meetings and Into Action
Moving Board members from passive to proactive requires intentionality. By setting clear expectations, providing meaningful opportunities, and fostering a culture of philanthropy, organizations can activate their Board as a powerful force for impact.
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Open Board Search
Traditional invite-only Board recruitment leaves many nonprofits stuck in echo chambers. Research shows that open Board searches, modeled on public job postings, can widen networks, attract stronger candidates, and improve Board culture.
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