NextJEN aims to solve the challenge of apathy towards Jewish life and communal leadership by inspiring and mentoring our members to be passionate and committed visionaries. NextJEN will produce Jewish leaders that have a global focus who will ensure that our community and other important causes are strong and prosperous for many generations to come.
NextJEN is the evolution of “The Jewish Business Network (JBN)”, an organization started by Matan Hazanov and two of his fellow students at the Schulich School of Business in August of 2009. Matan envisioned an organization that would inspire the next generation of Jewish Business leaders to have a deeper connection to Jewish values who would responsibility for the Jewish people and the world. Following the successful launch of the organization at the Schulich School of Business, the JBN expanded to several campuses across Canada. JBN developed dozens of leaders, built a strong membership base and created innovative programs. At its peak, the JBN was contemplating international expansion, developing programs for high school students, young professionals and entrepreneurs. Following the graduation of the co-founders, the university program continued some of its activities under the guidance of another campus organization. Matan approached Avi Levinson in 2011 with the goal of launching the program for high school students. Together, in 2011, Avi Levinson and Matan created JBN High School under the auspices of a local teen outreach organization. Under Avi’s leadership, the high school program took off and has doubled its membership each year since its founding in 2012. Wanting to reach an audience beyond high school to ensure that our community has Jewish business leaders that are passionate and committed visionaries, Avi founded NextJEN – The Jewish Enterprise Network in 2015. NextJEN is a unique business program that engages students from the ages of 16 to 26, teaching them valuable business lessons and leadership skills. These skills will empower them to become successful Jewish business leaders in the community who will ensure a bright and strong Jewish future.
