The Charlotte Jewish News- March 2026- Page 6 Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte
Charting the Future: Voices from the Bernstein Leadership Group
By Elizabeth Johnson
Liz Weinstein approaches leadership the way she was raised to approach the world: with curiosity, attentiveness, and a respect for nuance. A Charlotte native, Weinstein grew up in a household where storytelling and journalism were part of everyday life.
Both of her parents were journalists at The Charlotte Observer, and with that came an early education in asking good questions, listening closely, and understanding that the most meaningful insights are often found between the lines.
This significant foundation continues to shape how she engages in the world today. Whether in corporate leadership spaces, community settings, or on a yoga mat, Weinstein brings the same steady presence and thoughtfulness to how she shows up and how she invites others into conversation.
As a participant in the Bernstein Leadership Group( BLG), she has been especially attuned to the ways leadership develops over time through reflection, relationship, and a willingness to sit with complexity rather than rush past it.
BLG collaborates with leaders to navigate moments of complexity, transition, and uncertainty. How do you cultivate effective leadership when the path forward is not obvious? For me, effective leadership starts with creating space for people to show up as themselves. Everyone brings unique gifts, lived experiences, and perspectives to the table. If people don’ t feel safe enough to participate fully, the collective wisdom
Liz Weinstein at Shabbat in the room never has a chance to surface. Leadership isn’ t about having the right answer right away; it’ s about making sure the right voices are present.
BLG has reinforced this for me by intentionally fostering thoughtful, respectful conversations around complex and often uncomfortable topics, including antisemitism, Israel, and the many ways we each experience and express our Jewish identities.
Those conversations haven’ t been about agreement so much as they’ ve been about understanding. By grounding dialogue in humanity, empathy, and curiosity, BLG models how leaders can hold space for complexity without rushing to resolution.
I’ ve come to believe that leadership in ambiguity requires humility, the willingness to say,“ I don’ t know yet,” and the courage to stay engaged anyway.
Some of the most impactful moments have been quiet ones: conversations over Mahjong, moments of reflection, or hearing someone articulate a struggle I didn’ t realize I shared. It’ s been a reminder that leadership grows in relationships, not in isolation.
People often say they know when a leader is truly present, even if they cannot articulate why. What distinguishes that kind of leadership, and how does BLG help leaders develop it? Presence isn’ t about being the loudest person in the room or having the quickest answer. You can feel when a leader is truly present because the room settles; there’ s a sense of safety and intention.
One of the things BLG does exceptionally well is model this
Liz, her father, Michael, and sister, Leah through the cohort itself. The program directors have curated a remarkably diverse group of participants: people from different careers and life stages, parents and nonparents, extroverts and introverts, those who process out loud and those who reflect quietly.
Leadership shows up in many forms in our group; sometimes it’ s the person who speaks first, and other times it’ s the person who listens carefully and then offers a thoughtful question that shifts the entire conversation.
BLG approaches leadership as something that develops over time rather than as a fixed set of competencies. How does that perspective shape the way you partner with leaders and organizations? My leadership journey has unfolded across very different spaces: corporate work, Jewish community leadership, spirituality, and service, and each experience has shaped me in ways I couldn’ t have anticipated. Because of that, I see leadership as something that grows with time and experience, not as a static set of skills.
That belief shapes how I partner with leaders and organizations. Rather than focusing solely on outcomes, I focus on awareness, values, and longterm development.
BLG has reinforced this approach by emphasizing reflection and growth, reminding us that strong leadership comes from understanding who you are, how you show up, and how that evolves over time.
BLG is supported by Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte( JFGC). What role do you think leadership development plays in strengthening a community? Some of the most meaningful leadership moments in my life haven’ t taken place in boardrooms, but in community spaces: working with refugee families, participating in immersive Jewish learning, or, most recently, traveling to Poland to engage with Jewish history and memory with The Greenspon Center. Those experiences showed me that leadership emerges through responsibility and presence.
Leadership development strengthens a community by giving people the tools to show up thoughtfully, especially when the work is emotional, complex, or intergenerational.
I understand you are a yoga guru. What originally drew you to the mat, and what keeps you coming back now? Yoga found me during a period of deep transition in my life. It was truly the catalyst for so much personal transformation and for finding my own spiritual practice as an adult. I had spent years moving quickly – professionally, personally, globally – and eventually, my nervous system needed something different.
My yoga mat became a place where I could slow down, breathe, and come back into my body; where I could move, process, and do something just for myself.
Do you notice elements of your yoga practice carrying over into your work life, even in subtle or unexpected ways? Absolutely. Breath, presence, and nervous system awareness show up constantly in my work life, especially in high-pressure corporate environments or emotionally charged community work.
Yoga has helped me learn to pause before reacting, and remain grounded in moments that might otherwise feel overwhelming. Sometimes, you need to step outside for a walk instead of responding to that email. Even subtle practices like noticing when I’ m holding tension have changed how I show up as a colleague and leader.
Many organizations articulate clear values yet struggle to see those values reflected in daily behavior. How does BLG help leaders close that gap? One of my most memorable moments was during our time at the Whitewater Center, doing team-building and ropes course activities.
On the surface, it can feel a bit like being back at summer camp, but once you’ re in it, the leadership lessons become very real. When you’ re navigating a challenge together, there’ s no script. You see who steps up, who hangs back, who encourages others, who notices when someone is struggling, and how the group responds under pressure.
After the activity, we didn’ t just move on. Instead, we talked about what we noticed, how we felt, and how values like trust, communication, and accountability showed up in our behavior. Those experiences make values tangible. They move them from abstract ideals into lived practice.
That’ s where the gap closes: when leaders can recognize how they show up in real situations, especially ones that feel uncomfortable or unfamiliar. In turn, they’ re better equipped to bring those insights back to their teams and organizations.
BLG creates opportunities to practice values in action, not just talk about them, and that’ s what makes the learning stick.
When your time with BLG ends, what do you hope you and your peers will take with you into your daily lives? BLG has reminded me that leadership doesn’ t always look like bold action; sometimes it looks like consistency, care, and staying engaged over time.
My hope is that we carry forward a sense of responsibility – not out of obligation, but out of connection – to keep asking questions, listening deeply, and leaning into community even when the answers aren’ t clear.
If we can take that mindset into our daily lives, workplaces, and families, then the impact of BLG extends far beyond the program itself. It becomes part of how we live, lead, and support one another.
Is there anything else I missed that you want to discuss? Leadership isn’ t reserved for people with titles, credentials, or formal training. Leadership starts the moment you lean in and ask a question, offer your time, or follow something that sparks your curiosity.
The truth is, we always need more voices, more perspectives, and more hands. If something in the community interests you, that’ s usually the place to begin. There is space for you, and there is work that only you can do.
Our community is strongest when people trust that they belong and that their presence matters. We don’ t need perfect leaders, but we do need engaged, curious, and caring ones. And with this, there’ s room for everyone.