Shluchos Give Business Advice

YQ Media

What do shluchos and entrepreneurs have in common? Both have the resourcefulness, determination and seemingly superhuman ability to balance the demands of daily life with building and growing something they’re passionate about.

While an entrepreneur’s passion is building a business, a shlucha’s passion is spreading Yiddishkeit and serving her community. The talents and abilities a shlucha uses in her daily outreach activities and family life can also be powerful tools for creating and managing a business.

Crown Heights Young Entrepreneurs recognizes that. In an effort to provide inspiration and tools to women who would like to start or grow a business without sacrificing their communal or family responsibilities, Crown Heights Young Entrepreneurs held its second women-only event on January 30.

At the event, which was timed to coincide with the annual international Shluchos Convention when women from around the globe converge on Crown Heights, a panel of women who have successfully balanced shlichus, business and personal responsibilities, addressed the all-female audience, sharing their unique business and life experiences.

The event, which was filled to capacity by an audience of all ages and backgrounds, was moderated by Ms. Yonit Tanenbaum of YQ Media, and included a panel of three shluchos/businesswomen each of whom provided the audience with inspiration as well as practical advice and tools for starting and running a business while balancing family and communal life, based on each one’s individual experiences.

The event’s first speaker was Mrs. Rivka Caroline, a shlucha in Key Biscayne, Florida, as well as a time management expert, therapist, wife, and mother to seven children.

Mrs. Caroline, whose website is www.SoBeOrganized.com, shared three tips to help with staying focused and getting things done. The first tip was to make a list of daily tasks and to take advantage of pockets of time throughout the day to accomplish some of the smaller tasks on the list.

The second tip she shared was to stay focused on the task at hand and to eliminate unnecessary disruptions by keeping cellphones away from work areas, refraining from constantly checking email and social networking accounts, setting a timer to help keep track of time, and keeping work and relaxation separate. Her third tip was to have a friend who can help maintain focus, as well as provide support and inspiration.

The second speaker, Mrs. Devorah Leah Sudak, was born in the Netherlands and is currently a shlucha in London, England. Mrs. Sudak described how networking in the Jewish community helped her create a successful family and children’s center for London’s Jewish community (www.LubavitchChildren’sCentre.com).

Mrs. Sudak advised the audience to network with people in their community or anyone they come in contact with, and to seize every possible opportunity to grow their business.

The evening’s third and final speaker was Mrs. Louiza Frankforter. Mrs. Frankforter shared her story of how she became a shlucha in Miami, Florida, and how she started and manages her businesses, which include event planning and hosting, interior decorating, and manufacturing women’s clothing (www.LouizaVictoria.com). Mrs. Frankforter emphasized the importance of using and maximizing each individual’s G-d-given talents, opportunities and resources.

After the event, the audience acted on the evening’s theme and the advice of the panelists and mingled, networked, exchanged business cards and contact information, and forged new friendships.

Bassy Silver, a young woman who attended the event and works with her brother in the steel industry, said that the advice and tools shared by the panelists were “unique, practical and helpful for anyone looking to create and run a successful business.” Another audience member, Sarah Kramer, a nurse practitioner, referred to the tools provided by the speakers as “concrete,” and described the event as “worthwhile.”

For more information and to be notified of future events visit www.CHYE.info and follow the organization on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/CHYoungEntrepreneurs.