Leeds & Manchester Leaders Reflect on Enterprise Thinking

On 12th March in Leeds, 18 Jewish communal professionals from across Manchester and Leeds came together for a thought-provoking professional development forum with entrepreneur Simon Gray.

Bringing together leaders from a range of organisations and roles, the lunchtime session offered a valuable opportunity not only to connect across cities, but to engage with a perspective that is still relatively rare within the communal sector: that of a private-sector entrepreneur.

Simon shared his personal journey in building and eventually selling a multi-million pound drinks brand with candour and clarity, offering practical insights shaped by real-world experience. His reflections resonated strongly with the group, particularly around the importance of values and organisational culture as the foundation for effective leadership. He also challenged participants to confront the risks of becoming overly risk-averse — and the need for organisations to “disrupt themselves” in order to stay relevant and responsive in a rapidly changing environment.

The session struck a balance between inspiration and application. It was not simply about hearing a compelling story, but about translating those lessons into a communal context — where resources are often constrained, but ambition and responsibility are high.

Feedback from participants reflected the impact of the session. Amanda Newdall, North-West Head of Clinical Services at Chai Cancer Care, described it as “an interesting and thought-provoking session.” David Israel, Executive Director of Sinai Synagogue in Leeds, added: “Bringing the skills and expertise of the private sector to support the ambition of our community was invaluable, and inspiring.”

Our thanks to Simon and to the team at the Leeds Jewish Welfare Board for hosting the session. Thanks also to Susie Gordon, CEO of the Leeds Jewish Representative Council for her support in organising the event. This is the second forum session to have been held in Leeds/Manchester and we plan for these to be the first in a series of development workshops for communal professionals in the North of England.

To find out more about our regular Forum sessions for Jewish communal professionals, please contact us at info@thejlc.org.