Jewish community has been integral to Dana Bornstein’s life since she attended youth groups and services growing up in Boston, and then worked in the Jewish world after graduating from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
After five years working for Combined Jewish Philanthropies, Bornstein, a Washington, D.C., resident and member of Adas Israel Congregation, wanted to explore a new role and city, prompting her to take a job at the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington in
August 2021.
“I have always been passionate about fostering meaningful relationships and making an impact. I found the role here at Federation and felt like it was the perfect blend of all of the experiences I had,” Bornstein said.
As the Federation’s director of leadership and learning, Bornstein oversees the development of cross-departmental leadership strategy, creating cohort leadership experiences and identifying talented future leaders.
“As the director of leadership, I am thinking about how to identify and cultivate leaders across Greater Washington who are committed to giving of their time, talent, ties and treasure to the Jewish community,” Bornstein said.
And as Bornstein approaches her third anniversary there, she’s been selected for a professional development opportunity as a member of the inaugural cohort of the Wexner Davidson Fellowship.
The fellowship lasts for three years and offers learning experiences, mentoring, networking and a trip to Israel for Jewish professionals between the ages of 26-36 working at North American Jewish organizations.
“I have been aware of the Wexner Foundation and the great work that the foundation does for both volunteer leaders and also for professionals for many years,” Bornstein said. “I always hoped that it would be something that I would apply for and be able to participate in. I know so many incredible professionals who are Wexner fellows, and many of the incredible volunteer leaders who I have the privilege of working with are also alumni from Wexner programming.”
With this opportunity comes lessons in leadership and how to further organizational success — two professional areas of study that have interested Bornstein for years since her days as an undergraduate student.
Bornstein said her inspiration came from a professor who taught about leadership and how surrounding yourself with great people who continually make you better improves leadership — a practice she’s explored further in her career.
“[I was] working in development and connecting people with impact, learning more about relationship management and helping people realize their talents and skills and leveraging that for the betterment of the community. And I really fell in love with the work of a Jewish community, leadership and leadership development,” Bornstein said.
Her love of leadership development has pushed Bornstein to stay current on leadership opportunities for herself both personally and professionally, which is how she became aware of applications opening for the Wexner program.
Bornstein said that she jumped at the chance to apply and is both honored and excited to gain experience and connections through the program.
She added that it will be beneficial to be on the receiving end of communal Jewish education and that it will give her space to reflect on how to influence positive community change.
“I see the power firsthand of how cohort leadership experiences can change communities. So, for me to have that experience now as an individual, to sit on the other side of the table and be the recipient of meaningful Jewish leadership experiences … and not have my facilitator hat on … is incredibly meaningful,” Bornstein said.
Bornstein feels that the program will suit her role’s needs, where she is creating leadership pipelines for the Federation as part of its mission to develop a network of strong Jewish community leaders to ensure the community thrives.
“Participating in this type of program will make me a better professional, where I can bring everything that I learn back to Federation and the organizations that I’m involved with now and in the future,” Bornstein said.