Why Pursue an MBA Now? Israel as a Hub of Opportunity, Embracing Uncertainty, Chutzpah for Success

Sarah Bard: Sofaer GMBA Alumni about comms in US politics, debate failures and AI adoption

In this podcast episode, we sit down with Sarah Bard, an alumna of the Sofaer GMBA program and a communications and marketing expert with over 15 years of experience. From working on U.S. Presidential campaigns to serving on the senior leadership team at the U.S. Small Business Administration, Sarah shares her incredible journey of transitioning from U.S. politics to Israel’s high-tech ecosystem. She discusses key lessons from leading political and tech campaigns, the importance of speed in decision-making, and the challenges of navigating high-stakes environments. Sarah also delves into gender differences in leadership, the Israeli tech landscape, and the crucial role of Olim in driving innovation. Additionally, she explores how early-stage companies thrive by moving fast and adapting, especially in the post-pandemic world. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a marketer, or someone looking to pivot careers, this episode is packed with insights on personal branding, business development, and succeeding in the fast-paced tech industry. Sarah Bard [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-bard-94879b175/]  Sofaer GMBA website [https://en-coller.m.tau.ac.il/gmba], LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/school/sofaer-global-mba], Instagram [http://instagram.com/sofaer_global_mba/] Sofia Rud, "the unicorn" [https://theunicorn.agency/], LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofia-rud-530559b6/], Instagram [http://instagram.com/heeysof]

Rina Shainski: Insights on Venture Capital, Startups, & Israeli Entrepreneurship

In this podcast episode, we dive into the world of entrepreneurship, venture capital, and cutting-edge cryptography with Rina Shainski, co-founder and chairwoman of Duality Technologies and mentor at the Sofaer GMBA Program at Tel Aviv University. Rina shares her journey from studying physics at Tel Aviv University to leading a high-tech startup at the forefront of advanced cryptography. With decades of experience as a venture capital partner, she discusses key insights on entrepreneurship, building strong teams, and the execution skills necessary for startup success. She highlights the importance of vision, product-market fit, and technology while navigating the competitive startup landscape. Additionally, Rina provides a deep dive into the venture capital ecosystem, comparing the U.S. and Israeli markets and offering valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. She reflects on her experience as a mentor, her passion for fostering talent in tech, and the critical role of strong leadership in driving innovation. Whether you're an entrepreneur, an investor, or simply curious about the intersection of technology and business, this episode is packed with insights from one of Israel’s most experienced tech leaders. Rina Shainski LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rinasha/]  Duality Technologies [https://dualitytech.com/], LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/duality-technologies/] Sofaer GMBA website [https://en-coller.m.tau.ac.il/gmba], LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/school/sofaer-global-mba], Instagram [http://instagram.com/sofaer_global_mba/] Sofia Rud, "the unicorn" [https://theunicorn.agency/], LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofia-rud-530559b6/ ], Instagram [http://instagram.com/heeysof] 📢 Subscribe now for new weekly episodes and join our community of forward-thinkers shaping the future of business and technology!

Dorin Baniel: Venture Capital – Cybersecurity startups
 investments

Meet Dorin Baniel — Principal & Head of EMEA Investments at ⁠NightDragon⁠ [http://nightdragon.com], former VP of Value Creation at ⁠Glilot Capital Partners⁠ [https://www.glilotcapital.com], and a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree. From psychology and business to informatics, Dorin’s background fuels her success in venture capital and cybersecurity, bridging the U.S.–Israel tech ecosystems and championing fast-paced innovation. Hear how Israeli startups excel in R&D while American companies bring data-driven market strategies. Dorin shares insights on the evolving cyber threat landscape, the urgency around DefenseTech, and how VC accelerates startup growth through product-market fit, strategic partnerships, and advisory boards.  Ideal for anyone intrigued by venture capital, cybersecurity, and global tech expansion. Sofaer GMBA ⁠⁠website⁠ [https://en-coller.m.tau.ac.il/gmba]⁠ [https://], ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/school/sofaer-global-mba/], ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/school/sofaer-global-mba/] Sofia Rud, ⁠⁠"the unicorn" website⁠⁠ [http://theunicorn.agency], ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofia-rud-530559b6/], ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ [http://instagram.com/heeysof/] Dorin Baniel, ⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorinbaniel/] Night Dragon, ⁠website⁠ [https://], ⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/nightdragon-security/]

Why Pursue an MBA Now? Israel as a Hub of Opportunity, Embracing Uncertainty, Chutzpah for Success

In this podcast episode, we explore the impact of female leadership and the importance of business education, particularly through the Sofaer Global GMBA program at Tel Aviv University. Jackie Goren, Director of the Sofaer GMBA program, and Lena Bliman, Head of Recruitment, share their thoughts on the relevance of an MBA in today’s startup ecosystem and how Israel's role as a global startup hub plays a vital part in shaping the program. They also discuss the value of face-to-face learning, how the program prepares students for leadership in technology and innovation, and the many networking opportunities it provides. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, business leader, or simply curious about the startup culture in Israel, this episode offers invaluable insights into the Sofaer GMBA’s unique approach to business education. Watch now to gain a deeper understanding of how this program fosters innovation and leadership! Sofaer GMBA website [https://en-coller.m.tau.ac.il/gmba], LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/school/sofaer-global-mba/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/sofaer_global_mba/] Sofia Rud, "the unicorn" website [https://theunicorn.agency/], LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofia-rud-530559b6/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/heeysof/]. Subscribe now for new weekly episodes and join our community of forward-thinkers shaping the future of business and society!

Lisya Bahar: Work-life balance, strength of diversity & women’s role in the startup ecosystem

In this insightful interview, Lisya Bahar Manoah, Managing Partner at Arieli Family Office, shares her journey from engineering to venture capital. We discuss the acquisition of Elron Ventures, a leading Israeli cyber VC with $250 million AUM, Lisya’s role in orchestrating the deal, and her extensive experience in investments, M&A, and raising capital. Lisya also talks about teaching at Tel Aviv University (where she studied previously and is an alumna), the importance of gender diversity in leadership, and balancing a high-powered career with motherhood. Lisya offers valuable advice for aspiring investors, emphasizing the importance of technology, real-time cybersecurity solutions, and fostering connections between Israeli startups and global markets. Sofaer GMBA website [https://en-coller.tau.ac.il/gmba], LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/school/sofaer-global-mba], Instagram [http://instagram.com/sofaer_global_mba/]. Sofia Rud, "the unicorn" [https://theunicorn.agency/], LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofia-rud-530559b6/], Instagram [http://instagram.com/heeysof]. Lisya Bahar Manoah [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisya-bahar-manoah], Arieli Family Office [https://www.arielicapital.com], LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/arieli-group/], Instagram. Subscribe now for new weekly episodes and join our community of forward-thinkers shaping the future of business and society