Get Inspired by Our Hatzlacha Speakers

From Left to Right: Kirk Halpern, Yoel Gavlovski, and Vicki Agron.

We believe that success, like inspiration, works best when it is shared. That is the idea behind our Hatzlacha event series. Hatzlacha – Hebrew for “good luck,” “success,” and “prosperity” – has blessed the speakers we have curated for these events, and they are happy to pay it forward. At the Hatzlacha gatherings, Jewish entrepreneurs share their personal stories of finding success in business and channeling that success into philanthropy through a Jewish lens. Eager to learn from their examples are the members of our Hatzlacha audiences, college students or recent grads who are preparing to become the next generation of Jewish leaders.

One of our recent Hatzlacha events took place during Sukkot, on September 23 in Miami, in conjunction with the Jewish Organization of Young Adults (JOYA). Entrepreneurs Vicki Agron, Kirk Halpern, and Yoel Gavlovski inspired a group of young Jewish adults with their dramatic stories of obstacles overcome and achievements realized.

The panelists agreed that ethics and principles are no impediment to success; indeed, they drive success. Kirk Halpern, founder of food distribution firm Farmers & Fishermen Purveyors, talked of how he pivoted his business at the start of the pandemic – to focus on home-bound consumers instead of restaurants – and did so without layoffs or pay cuts. “My true north was to do the right thing,” he said. “If you do the right thing, it normally works out for you.”

Agron went from housewife to expert fundraiser to founder of a fundraising consulting business. Of her philanthropic activity, she said, “The work has not only defined my life, it has made me a woman of means.” She added, “I believe in aligning my values with my behavior. I believe that I need to live my values every single day.”

Quash.ai, the company Gavlovski started, is also service-minded; it helps lenders qualify low-income borrowers for microloans. Entrepreneurs may not prosper right away, Gavlovski suggested, but it is important to stay true to one’s vision in order to stand out, which can help you prosper eventually. For start-ups, he said, “being a rebel is more important than wealth.”

Keep an eye out for future Hatzlacha events in your city. Keep an ear out for our forthcoming Hatzlacha podcast series. And if you are an entrepreneur/altruist whose story would inspire young Jewish leaders, contact Amy Kaufman at akaufman@israelinvestmentadvisors.com .