Since 1991, Leslie K. Pomerantz has been a leading light in the local organized Jewish communal world. A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, she began her career at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore serving in myriad capacities, including director of the 2002 JCC Maccabi Games.
In 2003, Pomerantz joined the staff of Jewish Volunteer Connection as executive director, and six years later was named executive director of the Center for Community Engagement and Leadership, the human resource development arm of The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore. She is currently The Associated’s chief development officer.
In May, she will join the Jewish Federations of North America as executive director of the Fundraising Institute, training federation professionals across the country.
What inspires you in your line of work?
I have the opportunity each day to enable an individual or family to explore and connect with what they care about the most. So many people want to do good in this world. I have the honor of helping them to do that.
What could be better?
Who was or is your professional role model?
My dear friend [and JCC president and CEO] Buddy Sapolsky, who was the ultimate community builder. He gave me great training on how to craft a compelling meeting agenda, how to ‘get to yes’ and the importance of the lay/professional relationship in our line of work.
What was the best advice anyone ever gave you?
Walk into a room like you know where you are headed. Let your authentic self guide you. And you never have to apologize for doing the right thing.
Do you feel that sexism and salary inequities can be overcome during your lifetime? While I am not sure, I can tell you that transparency around compensation has been an important step towards overcoming these inequities.
How do Jewish values influence and inform your career and life in general?
I have always appreciated the saying, ‘You can’t really know where you are going until you know where you have been,” by Maya Angelou. I have engaged in significant Jewish learning over the course of my life and find wisdom and nuanced lessons that inform my daily decision-making.
Each week, one of my team members gives a D’var Torah at our staff meeting. It is a highlight of the week!
What advice would you give young women entering the workforce today?
Don’t try to be someone that you are not. Embrace your unique self and celebrate it. Your authenticity will be so appreciated. And don’t be scared to take risks. What is the worst thing that could happen?
Jmore talked with Baltimore Museum of Industry executive director Anita Kassof about the importance of just showing up, thank-you notes and more.
Jmore talked with Ashley Klapper Pressman, now the Chesapeake Region Program Director for Pearlstone/Adamah, about how Jewish values have influenced her career and the advice she would you give young women entering the workforce today.
Jmore talked with Del. Dalya Attar (D-41st) about what inspires her in her work, the best advice she ever got and more.