Mentor Spotlight: Sheryl Quen

Take a minute to get to know WLI Mentor, Sheryl Quen, by reading the Q&A below!

Please share a few of your favorite things you have learned in the class sessions.

What I learned is that the power of women is amazing. Both cohorts I participated in were wonderful, and we all learned together and shared our life experiences. My favorite part of the experience was the weekend retreat where we got to know each other better through art projects, prayer, chevruta and song. It was a special experience.

How have you stayed involved with WLI since your year ended?

When Rabbi Kanter asks you to do something, you can’t say no! She asked me to lead a session for the previous cohort and this one, about grants and how to apply for funding. I’m doing a session next month and I hope what I do for a living, can be helpful to the cohort.

What is your occupation and have you been able to apply what you learned in WLI to your job?

I work for the Center for Jewish Philanthropy, an integration of the Jewish Community Foundation and the Jewish Federation, as the Vice President of Community Impact. I have the privilege of working with community leaders in determining how to best award funds entrusted to our organization. I think the session about Carol Dweck’s Growth Mindset is the most applicable lesson. Viewing mistakes as an essential part of learning and believing that abilities can be improved through action and effort, have helped with any setbacks and with learning new skills.

Please tell us more about yourself, your family and/or your involvement in the Jewish community.

I’m originally from NY but have lived here now longer than my years in NY. My husband Richard and I have two children – Samantha (24) and Zachary (22). She’s a business consultant and he’s a senior at UofA. We’ve been members of Temple Chai for almost 20 years, VOSJCC members – charter members before the building opened, and have enrolled our children in Jewish day and overnight camp every year until they aged out, and then they worked at the J as counselors. A few months before my daughter’s bat mitzvah, I participated in Temple Chai’s adult b’nai mitzvah class with a good friend Nanci Walker, which was very special. We went to Israel for our daughter’s bat mitzvah and shared it with friends and family, Ed Quen. We’ve been in a chavurah with good friends for at least 20 years and we get together monthly.

In your spare time what are some hobbies or activities you like to do? (and/or share some fun facts about yourself)

In my spare time, I like to play pickleball, read, travel, bike ride, and go to concerts and theater. Fun fact: I met Bono at Kanter’s Deli in Los Angeles when I lived there. I’m a big U2 fan and traveled to Dublin with my college roommates to see them for our 50th birthdays.