Business Leadership Initiative

BLI is an exclusive, unique opportunity for exceptional Jewish business students to learn from and network with some of the leading Jewish business executives in the country. Within the framework of a small group you will be able to meet with these executives in a relaxed setting and engage with them in open dialogue. These executives, who have generously given their time, are eager to get to know you and speak with you about how they achieved their success.

Due to its competitive nature, students are asked to complete the following application in order to join BLI and to agree to participate in at least three of the programs offered.

If you wish to apply, but are unwilling or unable to make this commitment, please contact Rabbi Sue before submitting your application.

BLI Schedule

Fall 2023

Wednesday, August 23, 6-7:30pm

BLI BBQ. Meet and network with everyone in BLI while enjoying a fun night of delicious BBQ and games.

Wednesday, September 6, 6:30-7:30pm

Founder and Owner of Gables Bagels and Buffalouie’s. Ed founded Gable’s Bagels because of his passion for East Coast Kosher Water Bagels in Bayside, Queens, because that’s where he grew up. “When you are raised in a Jewish household in New York City, bagels are served for breakfast several times a week… I’m happy that my 40 year search for a truly authentic New York bagel has finally come to an end. But I’m thrilled that although the search has ended, the Gables Bagels story is just beginning. I can’t wait for everyone to fall in love with our New York Taste – Bloomington Baked bagels.” said Ed about his journey to open Gables Bagels.

Buffalouie’s owners Ed & Jaimie Schwartzman have been running the Bloomington Restaurant since 2006. BuffaLouie’s has been an Indiana tradition since 1987!

Wednesday, September 13, 6:30-7:45pm

Dinner with Idie Kesner, Former Dean, Kelley School of Business Frank P. Popoff Chair of Strategic Management Professor of Management. Appointed Dean of the Kelley School of Business in May, 2013 after serving as Interim Dean for almost 1 year. Dr. Kesner joined the Kelley School faculty in 1995, coming from a titled faculty position at the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She was chairwoman of Kelley's Full-Time MBA Program from August 2003 to August 2006 and chairwoman of the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship from October 2006 to June 2009. From 1996 to 2003, she co-directed the school's Consulting Academy.

Tuesday, September 19, 6:30-7:45pm

Dinner with Dan Fox, President Advanced Bancard Solutions. Advanced Bancard Solutions provides electronic payment processing services and solutions to small- and mid-size businesses throughout the United States, Canada and UK/Europe. While we have provided services to just about every type of business, we built our business by specializing in a few markets generally considered B2B and ecommerce but have diversified to include retail point-of-sale. Whether in-line, on-line, over-the-phone or wireless, we provide our services and solutions based on the customer’s defined needs.

Tuesday, September 26 at 7pm

Ice Cream Sundae Bar with Michael Livian, Chief Executive Officer and Portfolio Manager, founder and CEO of Livian & Co. with over 27 years of experience in the financial services industry. He was the Chairman of the Executive Committee and Head of Asset Management at Safdie Investment Services Corp. (subsidiary of the Swiss private bank, Banque Safdie). Prior to this position, Mr. Livian was a Managing Director at Speed Ventures, a primary pan-European private equity/VC firm. He also worked as an Associate Director for Bear Stearns & Co. in New York and in Italy with a special focus on fixed income and credit derivatives. He holds a summa cum-laude MSc degree in Economics from the University of Milan and published several academic articles and books on quantitative finance, fixed income and equity valuation. He is a CFA charterholder, a member of the New York Society of Security Analysts (NYSSA) and the co-chairperson of the Private Wealth Management Committee at NYSSA.

Wednesday, October 4, 6:30-8pm

Study Session for K201 and Finite with lots of snacks.

Friday, October 6, 6pm

Shabbat Dinner at Rabbi Sue’s house. Celebrate Shabbat with Rabbi Sue over a delicious home-cooked Shabbat meal at Rabbi Sue’s home with challah, matzah ball soup, latkes and more.

Thursday, October 19, 6:30-7:45pm

Dinner with David Charney, Chief Customer Officer at Stealth Monitoring. North America’s Leading Provider of Live Video Monitoring Solutions. Proactively Deter Crime and Help Secure your Business at a Fraction of the Cost of Guards with Live Remote Surveillance.

Monday, October 23 at 6:00pm

Dinner with Jamie Ratner Rich, Jamie Ratner Rich, CFP®, Partner at Sapient Capital. Jamie originally joined The KCP Group of Stifel in 2020. Since 2000, Jamie has had the honor and pleasure of working with families to create purpose-driven plans suited to their personal and financial goals. Jamie focuses on gaining a thorough understanding of her clients’ goals and priorities to proactively provide bespoke, family wealth management plans. She is highly experienced in helping her clients manage both sides of their balance sheets and working with individuals, corporations, and endowments. Jamie most recently served as Executive Director, Private Banking at J.P. Morgan Chase.

Monday, October 30 at 6:30pm

Dinner with Leo Grabovsky, CFP®, CRPC®, APMA®, CDFA® Private Wealth Advisor, Chief Executive Officer of Impact Financial Group, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC.

Date TBA

Dessert Reception with Steve Malter, PhD, Senior Lecturer in Management at Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis. Learn about ISBA, Israel Summer Business Academy and meet Steve Malter. Steve has 23 years of experience in higher education with 18 years being at the Olin School where he served in various capacities including Senior Associate Dean and Director of Undergraduate Programs and Senior Associate Dean of Experiential Learning and Strategic Programs prior to joining the faculty full-time. BLI RSVP form

Date TBA

Resume Writing Workshop. Do you need help with your resume? Learn best practices for resume writing techniques and skills. BLI RSVP form

Keep an eye out for lots more to come!