28 | SEPTEMBER 28 • 2023 
J
N

A 

new business accelerator series for 
women is making its way to the 
Jewish community this fall.
Level UP — a four-part program — is the 
first of its kind from the Jewish Working 
Women’s Network (JWWN) that will take 
place Oct. 11, 18 and 25 and Nov. 8 at the 
Max. M Fisher Federation Building in 
Bloomfield Township.
The goal: to “level up” women business 
owners of all experiences and backgrounds.
Whether you’re in the midst of launching 
a new startup or you’re a seasoned business 
owner, Level UP chair Leigh Moss, 54 of 
Bloomfield Hills, says there’s something to 
gain by attending the program, regardless of 
where you are in your business journey.

“Women supporting women,
” Moss, an 
attorney who owns her own practice, Moss 
Law, PLC, explains of the idea. “That’s what 
Jewish Working Women’s Network is all 
about.
”

A PROGRAM JUST FOR WOMEN
Supported by a grant from the Gerson 
Innovation Fund, tickets for Level UP cost $99 
for the four-session program, which includes 
a dinner at each session. A minimum gift of 
$36 to Federation’s 2024 Annual Campaign is 
required to attend the series.
The original goal was to get 25 women to 
sign up, but JWWN quickly surpassed — and 
almost doubled — that goal with more than 
40 women registering. In total, the event can 

support up to 100 attendees.
While the Jewish community is full of 
co-ed networking and business accelerator 
programs, a series designed specifically for 
working women wasn’t as common.
“In my work with networking, I’ve come 
across some of the most amazing, dynamic 
women,
” says Moss, a Shaarey Zedek mem-
ber who also sits on the BBYO commission 
executive board, NEXTGen committee and 
finance committee with Jewish Federation of 
Metropolitan Detroit. “I’ve seen these women 
supporting the community.
”
Specifically, these women spoke at various 
groups, forums and organizations. While 
brainstorming program ideas for JWWN, 
Moss wondered if there was a way to bring 
these same women into a series designed to 
support women business owners.
From there, Level UP was born to give 

OUR COMMUNITY
Women 
 
Supporting 
 Women

Level UP, a four-part business accelerator 
series for women, takes place this fall.

ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

LEFT: Michelle Cantor, Leigh Moss, 
Jody Lipton and Lindsay Sikora 
at the Jewish Working Women’s 
Network Pure Networking Event 
in September 2022 at Platform 
18 in Royal Oak. BELOW: Kelli 
Haines and Lori Kerch at the Jewish 
Working Women’s Network Pure 
Networking Event in December 
2022 at Platform 18 in Royal Oak.

