IcExcellence´s chosen artists meet for the first time at the opening seminar of the career development program. The seminar starts and closes with the workshop entitled "Designing an Excellent Career". This workshop is led by a leading Israeli management consultant, Shmuel Merhav, CEO of Merhav Possibilities Ltd., who advises prominent Israeli CEOs and companies. Mr. Merhav created the model and has been facilitating it for IcExcellence on a volunteer basis ever since.
In the workshop, the artists examine the present state of their careers and their aspirations for the future. They identify the next steps that they must take in order to make these aspirations a reality. The workshop is designed to foster meaningful relationships among the artists from their very first meeting. The collaborative atmosphere nurtured in the opening seminar and close relationships developed among the artists, who work with different disciplines, lay the foundation for the subsequent seminars and other activities of the artists within the IcExcellence program. Merhav takes part in most of the subsequent seminars, and facilitates a process whereby the artists deepen and expand their career insights and tools. Merhav has also served pro-bono as a consultant to Rachel Marani and IcExcellence´s board.
Over the years, several additional top consultants in different areas have joined IcExcellence, and they enrich its models, insights and world perception. Aviad Goz, chairman of Momentum, is a central participant in the seminars, in which he presents the artists with various practical tools from the business world, such as models for effective negotiation, time management and the win-win approach. Doron Nevo has accompanied many artists as a business advisor, Barry katz helps develop presentation skills, and Eyal Linor advises on branding.
"The very fact that I made the time to look, explore, ask and think is already a meaningful gift for me..." David D´Or
"What´s most important to me is knowing that I can turn to the Foundation with questions and for advice, connections and actually every realm related to my career." Avishai Cohen
"I feel like this is a unique one-time opportunity I´ve been given to truly examine questions about my way of handling things, and to try to rearrange all the career issues I carry around with me every day." Yasmeen Godder
"Things continue to resonate... I feel the need to clarify, to become clearer, to translate energy into action, and to remove the partition between the internal and external. Congratulations on this admirable venture, which is also a living example of energy directed towards implementation." Victoria Hanna
"The experience was great. Since the professional committee first contacted me, I had the feeling that I´ve already gained from the process itself, and the seminar was another tremendous benefit along the way."Tal Gur
"Just the experience of listening to colleagues pondering and deliberating over dilemmas similar to mine gave me the freedom to cope with my own dilemmas." Avner Dorman
"The seminar really helped me in applying abstract principles to specific, concrete thinking, and also in reflecting my current courses of action." Gal Weinstein
"Getting to know the people strengthened my sense of pride, on one hand, and commitment, on the other hand, in belonging to this elite group".Adi Stern
"The workshop was interesting and even led me to reaffirm or reconsider some recent choices I´ve made... The most meaningful part was meeting other artists...for me that was the crowning jewel and an experience no less than thrilling. " Rutu Modan
"Alon Ulman´s lecture was the climax, a most worthy, inspiring and exciting ending. It made a big impression on me."Mira Awad
"I greatly enjoyed the session with Shmulik. I liked his model, which, like all truly good models, manages to be simple without being simplistic." Ohad Fishof
"My jaw dropped in amazement after the first round of introductions, and my enthusiasm only increased the more we got to know each other..." Eshkol Nevo
"The atmosphere in the class, the mutual acceptance and the openness... I benefited greatly from hearing about other artists´ work processes." Talia Keinan
"The strongest and most convincing thing at the seminar, besides the cheesecake on Thursday morning, was when which each of us announced who he is and what he does. Suddenly it really became clear to me. I heard everyone´s heart say, ´Wow, this really is the best there is.´ At that moment a strong energy of proven excellence started flowing through the room." Bambi Friedman
