June 2, 2026
The Francine R. Loeb Leadership Institute (LLI) is the Federation’s year-long training program that prepares emerging Jewish leaders for future service. LLI Fellows develop the skills to make a lasting impact in the community through board service, workshops, and personalized mentorship.
Meet Aviva Schecterson, a member of the 2025-2026 LLI cohort, and learn how she’s gaining leadership skills to better support and connect Jewish video game developers!
I’ve participated in other leadership programs before and have spent the last decade developing leadership experience through my work supporting Jewish game developers. I saw the Loeb Leadership Institute as an opportunity to refine my leadership skills and connect with other leaders in the Seattle area.
Unlike other programs, LLI is in-person, which is really helpful for creating an immersive learning experience, where I can stay engaged and actively participate.
The most meaningful moments in this program have been learning from my LLI peers, especially hearing their perspective on effective leadership. Every fellow brings a unique and different background, and those conversations have been incredibly valuable.
I have already been applying the wise words from our mentors that resonated most with me. In my leadership work, I’ve often felt hyper-responsible for making sure important work gets done, thinking, “If I don’t do this, no one will.”
This program helped me realize that I was placing a lot of pressure on myself! I’ve learned to set practical boundaries, allowing me to lead with more intention and energy, which ultimately helps me contribute more effectively to the community.
I realized that strong Jewish communities aren’t built by individuals taking on as much as possible, but by leaders creating space for shared responsibility, collaboration, and participation. Leadership is as much about enabling others to contribute as it is about taking action yourself.
Seeing the dedication and thoughtfulness of LLI fellows has been incredibly inspiring. I am excited about the collective impact we can have as we each contribute our strengths and perspectives to the broader community.
One of the biggest takeaways for me has been recognizing that I’m most effective when I focus my energy on one or two meaningful efforts rather than trying to contribute to many things at once. The program helped me step back and think more intentionally about where I can have the greatest impact for Jewish game developers in the games industry.
Aviva Schecterson has been a professional game designer in the video games industry for almost ten years and is a crucial advocate for Jewish game developers navigating the growing challenges of antisemitism in the gaming industry.
In response to rising online hostility following October 7, she was instrumental in revitalizing a community platform that provides support, solidarity, and comfort to Jewish game developers.
Through her work with the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) Special Interest Group for Jewish Game Developers, Aviva has provided guidance, hosted educational events, and facilitated roundtable discussions offering actionable solutions and educational resources to address antisemitism in the industry. Her proactive leadership has helped foster a safer and more inclusive environment for Jewish professionals in gaming.
Aviva Schecterson has been a professional game designer in the video games industry for almost ten years and is a crucial advocate for Jewish game developers navigating the growing challenges of antisemitism in the gaming industry.
In response to rising online hostility following October 7, she was instrumental in revitalizing a community platform that provides support, solidarity, and comfort to Jewish game developers.
Through her work with the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) Special Interest Group for Jewish Game Developers, Aviva has provided guidance, hosted educational events, and facilitated roundtable discussions offering actionable solutions and educational resources to address antisemitism in the industry. Her proactive leadership has helped foster a safer and more inclusive environment for Jewish professionals in gaming.
Explore the Francine R. Loeb Leadership Institute
Learn about the program, meet more fellows, and find out how you can join next year’s cohort.
