Jodi Samuels

Recently, I was featured in an article about how we, at the Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation, combat rising antisemitism through strategic venture philanthropy.    Following the tragic events on October 7th, many are starting to heed my warning that the main source of antisemitism stems from the radical Left and radical Muslims, rather than from white supremacists. We can use this knowledge and experience to innovate new solutions and find new ways to fight back.     There are a few criteria that we at the Milstein Family Foundation use to determine whether an organization will receive assistance: 1. They must support our mission at the foundation: fighting antisemitism, supporting the state of Israel and protecting American democracy.  2. Organizations must provide proof of concept, and ensure that we will be seeing a return of philanthropic investment in terms of their impact. 3. Organizations must be willing to collaborate with other organizations that receive funding from the Milstein Family Foundation. Collaboration amongst the organizations we support is one of the key pieces of strategic venture philanthropy, and ensures that these organizations are empowered to amplify one another’s strengths.    Furthermore, by creating this network of organizations we support, we are able to identify needs that aren’t being addressed and create a proof of concept and partner with like-minded philanthropists to execute and develop a new project or initiative. This allowed organizations we support to be amongst the first to respond following the events of October 7th. Learn more about strategic venture philanthropy by clicking the link below.

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Another high point from World 50 last week: hearing from Rajiv Shah - President of the Rockefeller Foundation and a former government official and health economist who served as the sixteenth administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) from 2010 to 2015. Shah is the author of “Big Bets: Building Broad Coalitions, and Creating Transformational Change”. A profound insight he shared resonates deeply with me: “When you really need to do big, challenging things that are tough, mobilizing the best energy of your colleagues - and even people who are not on your normal team - is usually the difference between success and failure.” He emphasized how critical relationships and collaborative spirit are in achieving monumental goals. Alongside his emphasis on strategic patience and bold decision-making, Shah’s thoughts are indispensable for anyone looking to drive change! I can’t wait to read this book! If you have read it, what do you think? #BigBets #Leadership #Innovation #Teamwork #BookRecommendation #ReadingList

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In my previous post where I outlined my goals as a philanthropist, I mentioned that one of my core values is to strengthen the American values that our country was founded upon. I am dedicated to safeguarding Israel and America’s shared values—freedom, human rights, and democracy—and strive to work to eradicate the common enemies who threaten these values.   Today, we are witnessing a cataclysmic rise in antisemitic incidents, as students interrupt their own graduation ceremonies to protest the institutions that they attended. Radical antisemites are ripping posters of our hostages down. More and more people are denying the atrocities that happened on October 7th.   Despite these incidents becoming increasingly common, the majority of Americans continue to believe that this issue does not pertain to them and thus avert their eyes and carry on with their lives. However, in an op-ed I wrote back in December, I warned that attacks on Jews are attacks on the West.   College campuses in America, once bastions of intellectualism, education, tolerance, and Jewish upward-mobility, are sadly now ground zero for American and Jewish hatred. Hiding behind concepts, often funded by foreign nations, like “CRT,” “Intersectionality,” “DEI,” and other progressive doctrines, K-12 schools and universities have been co-opted, infected, and poisoned by radical activists that paint Israel and America as “colonialists” and “racist” and the Jewish and American people as “oppressors.”   But, the fight isn’t only happening in person. This war is also being fought online.   There is a well-funded, organized campaign being waged on digital platforms across the globe. Bot armies, cyber-attacks, and fake avatars are driven by one mission – to obfuscate the truth, bend public opinion against America and Israel, and stir animosity against Christians and Jews. In addition, TikTok and other social media platforms where teens spend hours every day are infested with hate and anti-Jewish propaganda.   The road ahead for the people Israel will not be smooth, but it never has been. Since October 7, behind the horror, the tears, the fear, and the anger, there’s a clarity of conscience. Our enemies have never been more exposed, their intentions for our destruction have never been more obvious, and our collective determination for survival has never been more resolute. If we remain steadfast and strategic, we will win.   Read more by clicking the link below, and feel free to comment with your thoughts.   https://lnkd.in/g66w2in8 #antisemitism #America #October7

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In this episode, we welcome Debra Cohen. From her beginnings as a New Wave rocker in Boston, opening for Joan Jett, to studying the Bible in Israel and converting to Judaism, Debra's path is full of bold moves. Overcoming childhood trauma and addiction, she reinvented herself as a DIY indie artist and producer and, more recently, as an author. Her book, "Jewish Palestine/Arab Palestine: A History of Conflict," sheds light on the region's complex history. Debra has also been an ESOL teacher, Postmaster, aromatherapist, and full-time RVer. She met her husband at 62 and now tackles post-Covid fitness challenges, proving it's never too late to pursue your passions. Discussion Topics: Journey to Becoming an Entrepreneur: Debra shares her path to entrepreneurship, highlighting her diverse experiences and what inspired her bold career steps. Influence of Music and Creativity: How Debra’s experiences as a New Wave rocker influenced her current work as a DIY indie artist. The inspiration behind her book and what she hopes readers will gain from it. Balancing Health and Creativity: How Debra maintains her physical and mental health while pursuing her creative passions. Practical tips for integrating self-care into a busy entrepreneurial life. Personal and Professional Journey: Debra discusses how her personal journey has shaped her entrepreneurial path and her approach to work. The importance of community support in her life as an indie artist and author. Strategies for Motivation and Inspiration: Techniques Debra uses to stay motivated and inspired. Handling financial uncertainties and pressures as an indie artist and author. Yoga and Wellness: The role of yoga and meditation in managing entrepreneurial stress. Tips for older adults dealing with sedentary lifestyles, obesity, and aging. Challenges and Misconceptions: Overcoming significant challenges in her career. Addressing common misconceptions about being an entrepreneur in creative fields. Future Projects and Goals: Debra’s future projects and plans for continuing her evolution as a creative entrepreneur. Setting goals and measuring success in her entrepreneurial journey. Key Takeaways: The importance of balancing creative pursuits with physical and mental health. Practical tips for maintaining motivation and handling the stresses of entrepreneurship. The role of community and support systems in achieving entrepreneurial success. How personal journeys and diverse experiences can shape and enhance entrepreneurial paths.  

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NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO READ ABOUT JEWS & ANTI-SEMITISM. Here's a book to get: "Uncomfortable Conversations with a Jew", A New Book by Emmanuel Acho and Noa Tishby. From two New York Times bestselling authors, a timely, disarmingly honest, and thought-provoking investigation into antisemitism that connects the dots between the tropes and hatred of the past to our current complicated moment. Get it here, link to Amazon: https://amzn.to/3QhyfmD For Emmanuel Acho and Noa Tishby no question about Jews is off-limits. Informative and accessible, "Uncomfortable Conversations with a Jew" has a unique structure: Acho asks questions and Tishby answers them with deeply personal, historical, and political responses. This book will enable anyone to explain—and identify—what Jewish hatred looks like. It is a much-needed lexicon for this fraught moment in Jewish history.  Link to Noa Tishby's first book - "Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth", on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4d81oKG #Book_Recommendation #Jewish_Books #Israeli_Books #Philosophy_Books  See less

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Something every New Yorker loves to say: “if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.” Cool, we get it. You’re tough. But the real question is: do the same rules apply to policy reform? Because a new bill in the New York State Assembly is proposing to legalize psilocybin for any adult who obtains a permit. It’s kinda like a driver's license, but instead of commuting to work, you’re communing with spirit. The bill, sponsored by Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, would allow adults to legally grow, possess, use, and share psilocybin with (other permitted) friends. To score one of these passes, you'd just need to sit through a five-hour educational course and pass a health screening. FWIW, the measure lists several conditions that could theoretically be treated with psilocybin, but it also states eligibility would not be limited to those with a diagnosis. It’s not a full decriminalization campaign, like what passed in Colorado. (Get caught without a permit, and you could face a penalty.) It’s also not a facilitated services model, like what’s going on in Oregon. (Though NY lawmakers are working that angle, too.) It’s a secret third thing. Now let’s make it there, so we can have it everywhere.

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Journalism morphed into opinionism with mega mergers that concentrated most media into 6 companies. They then turned their news organizations into profit-driven entertainment at the expense of fact-based reporting while squeezing out local media to eradicate competition, drive profits and maximize influence. Social media adapted this model by turning anybody & everybody into "journalists", including sovereign states, terrorist groups and ordinary nutters. And here we are. https://lnkd.in/ewHsMVmx

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You don’t have to be Jewish to appreciate the Jewish contribution to advertising. Or to find it interesting that JELL-O used to create ads using stories from the Talmud. Or learn how a southern non-Jewish-owned coffee brand named Maxwell House ended up creating a the most used Passover Haggadah in the United States. Or kvetch over the fact that Bill Bernbach (the Godfather of advertising’s creative revolution) attributed his creative style to his orthodox Jewish upbringing. Or to find it amazing that one of America’s oldest and still running advertising agencies is a Jewish advertising agency (👏 Joseph Jacobs Advertising). Or to be concerned that nearly 60 percent of religious-bias hate crimes in America this year targeted Jews. Or enjoy this week’s #onebookaweek, a deep historical dive into the influence Jewish culture has had on advertising, not to mention the buying power of one of the world’s most underrated segmented markets. You see what I did there? I hope some brand understands the opportunity I just outlined above. Other than that... Happy #passover2024 everyone! Need a book to read over the Passover holidays? Or just want to know more about the Jewish influence on advertising? This weeks #onebookaweek is for you. Link to book in comments. 👍 to share #obercreative #advertising #marketing #segmentation #segmentedmarket #creative

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CALLING ALL #ENTREPRENEURS from diverse backgrounds - ACE Festival is on 23rd May, created by the multi award winning Nadine Campbell! Here's the lowdown from Nadine: "ACE Festival will focus on diverse business growth for Entrepreneurs and how business leaders, and brands can diversify and collaborate. With keynote speakers Marvyn H. and Pauline Miller from dentsu, our strategic partner, alongside Google, Meta and TikTok Tok who join us for a bespoke marketing scale up masterclass and panel. We will also have a live Investment pitch room, with 3 Founder pitching and an interactive business workshop, legal and diverse Founder panel. #ACEFest will provide entrepreneurs with game-changing essentials for scaling their businesses. With over 20 years of experience working with some of the biggest corporate brands, agencies and running ACE Entrepreneurs supporting and advising startups and scale-ups. Entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to learn from the experts and be inspired by key brands and business leaders. Brands will have the opportunity to meet diverse Entrepreneurs, create collaborations, and gain insights into fostering a more inclusive mindset and expanding their customer base. Our support and guidance will continue after the event through to December 2024 with the ACE Business Growth Program, to support scale-ups and measure business growth. With some of the biggest social media and commerce platforms showing how startups and scale-ups can utilise cost-effective marketing and business growth from no-cost to paid media." Buy your tickets £30 https://lnkd.in/eBT6-eaY

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Absolutely essential. When you think you have mastered your own mind and are resilient/bulletproof, that's when you need to re-invest in it - you've become complacent and are vulnerable. You won't win every battle in your startup though; you need to be good at getting back up off the ground. Sustainable resilience is simply your elasticity/refusal to stay down in the face of whatever it is at the time 🤷🏼 Join this ⬇️

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🎉 TGIF! Co-founder Zuleyma Bebell reflects on ImpactAlpha’s 10-year anniversary. Raise a glass. In April of 2014, I was about to give birth to two babies. My first child, Sebastian, was due any minute. And David Bank and I were about to push ImpactAlpha.com live. Having your first-born is hard. So is launching a company. The two experiences have something else in common: If my husband and I had waited for the perfect time, we wouldn’t have the family we have now; if ImpactAlpha had waited for funding, we wouldn’t have the company we have today. In this week’s podcast, David shares some moments from our first decade. After thousands of stories, my son and ImpactAlpha are both turning 10. Another lesson from both parenting and building a business: just keep going. All of our kids have grown up with ImpactAlpha, and given us an appreciation of what has come to be called “child lens investing.” In The Brief this week, Essma Bengabsia of the Annie E. Casey Foundation highlights impact investments to fix a broken child care system by helping providers build facilities and parents find day care. Kids also need renewable energy, affordable housing and racial equity, as W.K. Kellogg Foundation's  Cynthia Muller points out in her reflections on lessons learned from the foundation’s $310 million in mission-driven investments. Builders Vision's Bruce McNamer sees family offices as crucial in funding the climate transition. We’re looking forward to seeing all of these contributors and partners at the Mission Investors Exchange conference. Amy Cortese had reports on Solar For All and the steep learning curve for community lenders that are leveraging the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. James McIntyre has a compelling proposal to green down payment assistance to create better homes and better mortgages. Louie Woodall dissected the debate over carbon credits that has roiled the Science Based Targets Initiative. Dennis Price keyed in on the “alpha in impact” opportunity in helping reintegrate citizens returning from prison, now visible in FreeCap Financial, Inc’s new “decarceration index.” And we’re watching the impact of AI and the investment in Anthropic by Omidyar Network, Ford Foundation and Nathan Cummings Foundation, which guest authors Lyel Resner and Dr. Wilneida Negrónsee as a signal of impact investor interest in responsible tech innovation. From baby steps, we’ve learned to walk, with the help of Agents of Impact who have filled ImpactAlpha with their innovation, energy and commitment. We’ve grown up, as have many of you, alongside the idea that it’s possible to optimize finance for better outcomes for our kids and for all of us. We’re grateful to be able to play a role in that growth alongside this idea that it’s possible to optimize finance for better outcomes for our kids and for all of us. We’re humbled by the trust you’ve placed in us. https://lnkd.in/gHNM7Bss

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My optics on this include (a) some investor behaviour is ridiculous and getting worse, (b) great investors are out there, (c) founders are finding it hard to find a good match, and (d) market conditions have been brutal — anyone still in business, hats off to you. I've been incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the best investors in the world. One key memory was one saying to me, "We've made our choice to invest. We're now here to support you in every possible way to succeed — it's a bit like getting married, you have to run with the good and the bad." This is important for founders to absorb: the investor made a choice too. If they are not supporting you in the way your business needs today, they are damaging their own investment.

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Don't miss this upcoming #NYTechWeek event on Tuesday, June 4th from 3-6pm! Leading women in venture capital, private equity and the tech world will participate in a "tell it like it is" round table discussion on investing, start-up funding, tech and more.... #venturecapital #investinwomen #womenforwomen #entrepreneurs #startups #funding #founders #tech #musicindustry

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Folks, I know... time is of the essence...and it is for this reason you should consider attending Michael's session on Time Management Essentials for Entrepreneurs. He does an excellent job at teaching entrepreneurs, and all of us - how to make better use of time. If you use Michael's link on the post below - you also secure your free registration. #timemanagement #entrepreneurship Arthur Weiss Aliza Naon Deb Dietz

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**Embracing Change Through Storytelling**: Amy Vogel's personal journey from corporate life to spiritual storytelling exemplifies the power of embracing change and following one's calling. As she guides her clients through the process of discovering their stories, Amy empowers them to redefine their narratives, crafting stories that reflect their authenticity and purpose. Watch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/geg87AWK

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Love spilling empowerment tips with Stephana this morning. The more we can honestly share about our struggles, the more powerful we become. It’s hard to be your true self at work. But it can be done! #reinvention #truenorth #trueself #empower #honesty #wholeself #leadership

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