Jerusalem Conference ICC and Bnei Brach Protests

Dear Readers,

This week I came into Jerusalem to moderate the only panel at Ascend: The Business and Leadership Conference — a yearly gathering for growth-driven professionals and business leaders across Israel. Our panel was called What Actually Drives Growth with Omer Eliaz of Fiverr, Miriam Schwab of Elementor, and Moe Mernick of the Epic Storytelling Newsletter — and I’ll tell you honestly, I felt very professional. Before we even stepped on stage, I had met them all via phone during pre-interviews I insisted on conducting with each person because titles can be abstract and roles in the office are always layered. If I don’t understand what someone actually does, how can the audience? I always tell speakers: jargon is a no-go. What seems obvious to you is not obvious. People will nod along. They will pretend they know the terminology, the AI buzz words.... But clarity is the real respect — and growth conversations only work when everyone’s truly on the same page.

What I loved most was how distinct each voice was. Moe was virtually a motivational speaker — pushing everyone to stop overthinking, use AI as leverage and just get things done (by the end of the day). Omer gave the audience a taste of what it feels like inside a fast-growing Israeli tech company, and he dropped a phrase people will not forget: “Sometimes you have to kill the baby.” His metaphor for cutting a failing project loose landed hard — and people loved it and began using it throughout the day. Miriam was in demand on and off stage for questions — she sold the company she built while creating her family of 7 children and then accepted becoming an employee inside a larger company that acquired her and her staff. In the final minutes, I asked her a question on the stage that we did not agree on in advance: how did she become good at raising investing dollars for her company back then? Her answer was simple and powerful — she learned to speak well of herself, to highlight her achievements, and to stop waiting for others to do it – especially since she was THE REP of her own company. Stop hiding behind humility. It felt like it was the takeaway the whole room needed. And with a full hour for the panel — not the usual 10–12 minute sprint — we had space to go deep. The feedback from so many guests let me know that what I did on stage had worked. People said they truly enjoyed my moderating and walked away with clarity. And that’s the whole point of why I do what I do. 

— Shanna FuldFounder & CEO, Israel Daily News