Why Early Career Professionals Say 'Yes' to Onboarding Intensive
Deadline to apply for Cohort 3: August 31, 2026
Jewish nonprofits are only as strong as the people who show up to do the work — building programs, running events, and keeping communities connected. Onboarding Intensive was designed with that in mind: a program that pairs skill-building and leadership development with sector-specific learning and a peer network that lasts well beyond the sessions themselves.
To show exactly why early-career professionals say yes to this opportunity, we turned to our own team. Four Leading Edge associates are joining Cohort 3, and we asked them what they're most eager to learn, experience, and bring back to their work.
Conversations have been edited and condensed.
Yzabel Breboneria (Associate, Program) sees the program as a chance to finally see how all the pieces of the sector fit together.
"I'm excited to build a deeper understanding of the Jewish nonprofit sector," she explains. "Not just picking up acronyms and organizations, but getting a real feel for how everything connects and where my work sits within it. As someone who isn't Jewish, that context feels especially valuable. I want to walk away with a fuller, more grounded picture of the space I work in and the people I work with every day."
Emma Canter (Associate, Outreach & Engagement) shares that hunger for perspective, seeing the Intensive as a rare chance to step outside the daily grind.
"During our early career years, it can be easy to focus primarily on your own role or organization," she says. "I'm looking forward to stepping back and gaining a better understanding of the larger landscape."
Beyond the big-picture view, the chance to learn alongside peers is just as big a draw. Sammy Angelina (Associate, Operations) is looking forward to trading ideas with colleagues at a similar career stage.
"I'm most excited to learn from my fellow Jewish nonprofit young professionals," she says. "Everyone brings different experiences and viewpoints, creating a space where we can learn from, and teach, each other."
Yaffa Englander (Associate, Advancement) is counting on those same peer relationships to help shape her path forward, bringing what she calls "creativity and collaboration to this important work."
"I'm looking forward to learning from peers who are navigating similar experiences, gaining new perspectives on leadership and Jewish community building, and reflecting on the kind of impact I hope to have in the field," she shares.
Ultimately, Onboarding Intensive is about more than the curriculum. The real value shows up in the relationships formed along the way — a network of peers who understand exactly what it takes to navigate this sector, and who will still be a phone call away years from now.
For early-career professionals still on the fence, and for the managers wondering whether it's worth the time away from the desk: it is. Say yes.
Or, in Yaffa's words: "See you at OI!"
Wondering whether it's worth the time away from the desk? It is. Say yes.
Early-career professionals: ready for the next step? Apply for Onboarding Intensive today.
Learn more & apply by August 31, 2026
About the Author
Leading Edge raises the standard for talent, culture, and leadership across the Jewish nonprofit sector. We work with professionals, executives, and board leaders to build stronger organizations and drive their missions forward.
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