WPTI Develops Workforce Leaders
The Edith and Carl Marks Jewish Community House of Bensonhurst (Marks JCH), a Brooklyn-based community organization serving immigrants and young adults, sought fresh ways to strengthen its leadership capacity and better support program staff in delivering workforce services.
As a Youth & Young Adult Workforce Director at Marks JCH, Farangiza Razakova brought more than 15 years of nonprofit leadership experience, first in her home country of Uzbekistan and now in New York City. When she joined WPTI’s three-month Elevate training program, she was eager to explore how leadership approaches differ across cultures, and to adapt her management style to the U.S. workforce development context.
Through Elevate, WPTI:
Created space for Farangiza to reflect on cultural differences in leadership, comparing her peer-to-peer, horizontal approach in Uzbekistan with the more individualized, motivation-centered approach she encountered in the U.S.
Introduced her to new strategies for engaging staff by tailoring assignments to their interests and strengths, rather than relying solely on directive management.
Facilitated peer learning with other program directors, allowing her to test and refine methods for developing emerging leaders on her team.
Reinforced her commitment to building trust, collaboration, and shared ownership among staff.
Following Elevate, Farangiza launched a weekly rotating “team leadership” model, where each of her six staff members takes a turn leading meetings, managing tasks, and coordinating with colleagues. This practice not only strengthens staff cohesion but also builds leadership skills across the team—something she sees as essential for sustainability.
For Farangiza, Elevate validated that her collaborative leadership style could be effective in the U.S., while also teaching her how to adapt it to new cultural expectations. She now balances her emphasis on peer support with a sharper focus on aligning staff strengths to organizational goals.
Looking ahead, Farangiza plans to expand leadership training for her staff, integrating both her Uzbek experience and Elevate insights. She views the program as a bridge between two worlds of leadership, helping her—and her team—grow stronger in serving immigrant and young adult participants in Brooklyn’s workforce programs.