What BBYO chapter and region did you belong to?
I was a member of Dayenu BBG #0087 in the Keystone Mountain Region.
What was your involvement in BBYO as a teen, and how did those experiences shape you as an adult?
My BBYO journey started at Tournies convention in 2004 or 2005 (yikes—I’m getting old!). I participated in various competitions, met new friends, and felt so special when I received the N’siah gift—a blanket from the regional N’siah at the time. After that, I was hooked on BBYO. I was elected to chapter board for a few terms and then moved on to the KMR regional board as both Mazkirah and S’ganit. During this time, I formed lifelong friendships, explored my personal connection to the Jewish faith, honed my leadership skills, and had the best time. I also participated in various international programs including CLTC and Ambassadors to Bulgaria in 2006, followed by AIPAC, IC, Kallah, and ILTC in 2007, and finally IC and March of the Living during my senior year of high school in 2008.
Reflecting on my time in BBYO, I believe it has greatly influenced my adult life. I now possess confidence in my work because I learned how to effectively present my ideas at a young age, especially in front of large groups of people. My exposure to different people and cultures through BBYO has instilled in me a deep appreciation for diverse traditions and a love for travel. As a result, I feel a strong sense of comfort when exploring new places and immersing myself in unfamiliar experiences. The BBYO community has also provided me with a support network that stretches across the US and beyond, connecting me with fellow alumni.
What are some of the top learnings you took away from your time in BBYO that you still use today?
Through BBYO I learned strong communication skills, the ability to express myself professionally (who knew Robert’s Rules of Order would come in handy as an adult?!), relationship-building, and how to be a strong leader. BBYO taught me the value of building meaningful relationships, which I know apply in fostering a collaborative and supportive environment within my team at work. The leadership skills I developed in BBYO (how to fight for my ideas, the importance of bringing other people along…etc.) have translated seamlessly into my managerial role—and have helped me immensely throughout my career. BBYO also taught me the significance of cultivating friendships and building a strong support system, which is invaluable in both my personal and professional life.
What were some of the highlights of your time in BBYO? What are some of your favorite memories?
The friendships are what always stand out—especially the ones with people I am still close with all these years later. Countless small memories stand out, such as screaming cheers at the top of my lungs at IC, participating in thought-provoking separates programs where we bared our souls, and playing intense dodgeball matches with my chapter at Tournies. So many of those moments hold a special place in my heart to this day.
What advice would you give your teenage self – what do you want to tell teens today?
Keep in touch with your closest BBYO friends as you scatter across the country and the world. It will become more challenging to maintain those connections as you grow older, but investing the time and effort to keep those relationships strong will only benefit you. Some of my closest friends are people I either met or grew friendships with in BBYO.
What are you proud of that you are currently working on?
I’m really proud of the work I am doing with Yinzcam (app) and Community (text), both vendors for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Within the Penguins app, my responsibilities span various aspects, focusing on enhancing the user experience through the introduction of new features and ensuring fans can easily access the information they are looking for. I take immense pride in my work on Community, our text service. As the first professional sports team to adopt this platform, we have explored its potential, resulting in new approaches for ways to engage our fanbase. We talk with fans on a one-on-one basis, deliver news immediately, provide unique offers and targeted text messages, give away prizes, grow our database, and leverage the tool to drive revenue while staying at the forefront of technology. Basically, I’m a professional Mazkirah! 😉