2.0 February 2020

2.0

LAND THAT JOB

with these interview tips

JUS BY JULIE’S FOUNDER on building a best-selling brand

The Fast Track to Getting Your MBA (Well, Sort Of)

2 |

2.0 MONTH 2019

2.0

BIG QUESTIONS Nailing the Job

By Sabrina Brick

WHAT ARE PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS REALLY LOOKING FOR?

“That’s not cheating,” Brilleman says. “That’s preparing for an interview.”

In terms of researching the company

against giving answers like, “I work too hard,” or “I can’t delegate.”

She said that a skilled interviewer

Brilleman cautions against asking about work-life balance, instead using that opportunity to ask smart

will not flat out ask for your greatest

questions about the role, the corporate

beforehand, Brilleman says people

weakness, but will instead ask for an

culture, and the interviewer’s own

often look up the company online and

example of a weak moment to find

career trajectory. “You can also use

memorize facts, which doesn’t show

out how you dealt with it, what you

that [time] to help sell yourself,” she

critical thought.

learned, and how you grew from that

says. For example, if the corporate

experience.

culture is entrepreneurial, you

“They want to hire somebody who wants to do this job,” she says. “That’s

“That question isn’t to see what you

what they want, so you’ve got to make

don’t do well,” she explains. “It’s to

sure you’re showing that you care

see how you persevere and to make

outside of those statistics.”

sure that you’re working on yourself.”

The best approach is to give an

can share how you’ve developed entrepreneurial skills at a past job.

5) BE PREPARED FOR FEEDBACK. Regarding the junior-level employees

3) PRACTICE IMPORTANT RESPONSES.

example of a time you didn’t meet an

of today, one thing Brilleman notes is

Going into an interview, there are two

expectation or failed at a task, and

that they’re asking for more feedback

questions that Brilleman says always

then explain how you worked on the

than ever, which is great. At one time,

2) GET INTERVIEW-READY.

need advanced preparation: “Tell me

root cause of that failure. And you get

earning your paycheck was enough to

There are two primary areas for which

about yourself,” and, “Tell me about

bonus points if you have an example of

know you were doing a good job, but

preparation is vital — gathering

your weaknesses.” First impressions

a subsequent situation you faced where

today’s junior-level employees are

State, has seen a variety of “dos and don’ts” when it comes to presenting

examples from your own experiences

are key, and Brilleman stresses the

you approached the task differently and

looking to develop themselves in order

oneself in the job application and interview process, as well as how to act

to match the qualifications of the

importance of clearly articulating

succeeded, showing that you learned

to excel in their roles.

job you’re interviewing for, and

responses that accurately reflect what

from and internalized the original

researching the company and the

you stand for.

experience.

With more than 20 years of experience in human resources under her belt, Miriam Brilleman, head of human resources at Cushman & Wakefield Tri-

appropriately once an individual lands that coveted role.

B

rilleman’s experience in

1) TELL A STORY WITH YOUR RESUME.

HR spans the gamut of

It’s vital to write a resume that

industries, from Citigroup to

compiles a list of accomplishments,

Unilever and, most recently,

Brilleman says that once you have the job, be sure that you are putting

person conducting the interview.

The “tell me about yourself”

In terms of preparing your own

directive requires a practiced, yet

4) LEARN HOW TO ASK GOOD QUESTIONS.

regular one-on-one time on your manager’s calendar so that you have

examples, Brilleman says every

authentic “elevator pitch.” That’s a

There is one part of an interview that,

a structured system by which to

interviewee should come with five to

short, persuasive “sales pitch” that

time and time again, Brilleman has

receive that feedback. In addition to

Brilleman explains, not just a list

seven examples that speak to each skill

speaks to your “brand” — that is,

noticed many people not maximizing,

developing yourself that way, she

prior to Cushman & Wakefield,

of prior work experience. Specific,

the job entails. In addition to the abilities

what you stand for, in addition to your

and that’s the questions part at the

encourages young employees to take

she worked at a German chemical

actionable successes that accompany

that you do have, she said to be prepared

qualities and what you hope to achieve

end, when the interviewer turns to the

advantage of employee-development

company called BASF. Though

each position can attest to the type of

to speak about any skills listed in the job

in your career.

interviewee.

opportunities offered by the company.

she’s been employed in a number

employee you are and the traits and

description that you do not have.

of corporate environments and has

skills you brought to each job.

seen varying corporate cultures,

“When somebody asks you, ‘Tell me

“It’s really important to ask really

“It’s really important to invest

about yourself,’ you’re not going into

good questions. It’s part of the

in yourself when you’re earlier in

knowledge of a specific software and

how many brothers and sisters you

interview,” she says. “I’ve heard stories

your career,” she says. “Go to that

Brilleman has found that much of the

an interview, Brilleman stressed the

you don’t have that knowledge, but

have,” she said. “You’re talking about

where people are at their first interview,

webinar, [attend] those [events and

advice she has for others translates

importance of reviewing your resume to

you are proficient in something similar,

your brand and [giving] your elevator

especially younger people, and they’ll ask

opportunities] that your company

across the industries. Whether

be sure you can address each point. It’s

research the software they’re looking

speech, and that’s something you

something like, ‘What’s the work-life

provides, like on-site trainings. The

you’re just entering the workforce or

a turn-off when an interviewer asks

for and come in with the ability to

should practice and work on.”

balance like?’ Or, ‘What’s your vacation

skills that you’re investing in now will

are a seasoned vet looking for new

something about your resume and you

share what you do know, along with an

policy?’ What that says to the interviewer

pay off when you get down the road.

opportunities, here are her insider tips

need to look over his or her shoulder to

action plan of how you can learn what

something that can often trip up

is that you don’t care about the job, you

It’s really important to work hard, and

for candidates of all ages.

remember what you wrote.

they want.

an interviewee. Brilleman cautions

just care about your time off.”

part of that is to invest in yourself.”

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2.0 FEBRUARY 2020

Once a potential employer calls for

For example, if a job calls for

Speaking about weaknesses is

FEBRUARY 2020

2.0 | B5

2.0

LIVING YOUR DREAM

JULIE MALEH

Jus by Julie

By Abbey Wolin

classes for promo. All I had to do was show up at the end of the class and hand the Zumba instructor the green juice.

MY DREAM JOB

Honestly, I thought it was a bit bizarre, but my niece encouraged me to take advantage of the opportunity, and so that’s what I did.

JUS BY JULIE

After the class I handed the drink to the instructor and the women in the class. They were raving about it.

The next day my phone wouldn’t stop ringing. So many women wanted the green drink. I was completely taken by surprise. I called Marcy and asked her

We all have our dreams and passions. What makes one follow them

what I should do.

through all the way? How do you go from idea to full-on business? What

TBIELE: I told her, “Ma, do it like the

were the steps you took along the way? Was it a conscious decision or

milkman. Drop the juice off in the

a result of organic growth? This column will explore different avenues

morning in a jug and pick up the empty

and paths various entrepreneurs have taken to fulfill their dreams while

jugs at night.” And that’s exactly what she did. It was the craziest sight! My

following their passions and making a parnassah.

mom had bundles of cash in her front seat and carafes with juice all over her

J

us by Julie is one of those business

to the Five Towns to meet Maleh and her

I believed in, so I decided to go back to

success stories I’m obsessed with.

daughter Marcy Tbiele, head of marketing,

school to learn the benefits of healthy

Why, you ask? At the age of 50, after her

to hear how Maleh initially got started, to

living. I found an online school for

kids were grown, Julie Maleh ended her

glean advice for other business owners,

integrative nutrition and started taking

long stint as a stay-at-home mother (and

and, of course, to try her delicious signature

classes. Then, while I was in school, my

grandmother) and went back to school to

products.

husband was diagnosed with high blood

learn nutrition. After raising her kids, she felt it was time to work on a passion of her own. Her love for healthy living would soon change her life in more ways than one.

Today, Maleh runs a company that sells juices, salads, and other healthy, on-the-go products, under the hechsher of the OU. Jus by Julie has five retail stores throughout

“IF I LOVE SOMETHING, I SHARE IT, SO I BEGAN GIVING OUT MY GREEN JUICE RECIPE TO EVERYONE I MET — FAMILY, FRIENDS, STRANGERS…“

car.

As the juices became more popular, my mother was waking up at 3 a.m., cutting coconuts and washing kale. My father kept telling her that he should get involved to help the business grow, but

pressure. I am very much into healing

and vegetables added fiber, which also

giving out my green juice recipe to

my mother wouldn’t have it.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING TIME OUT

naturally through foods, so I was

helped control sugar cravings.

everyone I met — family, friends,

MALEH: For the first time in a long time, I

OF YOUR BUSY SCHEDULES TO SPEAK WITH

curious if what I was learning in school

ME AND OUR READERS. I’M SO EXCITED

could heal my husband.

TO FINALLY MEET WITH YOU BOTH! I’VE

I began experimenting in my kitchen,

After a month, my husband went

strangers… My husband kept telling

had something that was just for me, and

back to the doctor for a checkup, and

me I should sell the drinks, but this

I didn’t want to let that go.

the doctor was blown away. He asked

was my hobby, not a business. The

TBIELE: But it was starting to make

HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT YOUR STORES AND

developing juice blends, and since

me what we were doing, and I told him

more my drink became popular,

my mom crazy, and we could tell the

JUICES. JULIE, CAN YOU TELL ME A BIT

green juices were trending, I concocted

that all I had been doing was giving my

however, the more he insisted that I

schedule was starting to wear her

ABOUT HOW YOU GOT STARTED?

a green juice that both my husband

husband this green drink for breakfast

should think about selling it.

down. Three o’clock wake-up calls

MALEH: Well, my kids were getting bigger

and I drank every morning. It included

every day. I also noticed a huge change

Then, before Chanukah that year,

soon turned into 2 a.m. alarms. My

the tristate area, and Costco, Whole Foods,

and moving out of the house — they

kale, spinach, mango, pineapple,

in my skin and the texture of my hair.

2011, my niece mentioned that there

mom would wake up to accept fruit

and Amazon carry her products nationwide.

were starting their own lives and I was

strawberries, and rosemary, and it was

We both had renewed energy, and I

was a popular Zumba teacher in

and veggie deliveries. She was working

One of the most inspiring parts of her story

just getting back to living mine sans

delicious, nutritious, and had incredible

couldn’t deny the power of that green

our community who was offering

all day and hardly sleeping. So my

is that each one of her five children are

children. I was always interested in

health benefits — plus it contained no

drink. The thing with me is that if I

small businesses the opportunity

siblings and my father and I staged an

partners in the business today. I traveled

nutrition and I wanted to do something

additives or preservatives. The fruits

love something, I share it, so I began

for collaboration. They could use her

intervention with my mother. We sat

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JANUARY 2020

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2.0

LIVING YOUR DREAM

Jus By Julie

her down and told her that she can’t

to her students. If it weren’t for friends

we were who we were. No one could

keep going on like this; Daddy must get

recommending it to their friends, no

touch us, or our customers, because of

involved with the business.

one would have tried our juices and seen

the quality of our products, as well as

MALEH: I told my husband, “If you want

the benefits for themselves.

our customer service.

to get involved, then find me a set of

My kids also had a strong business

TBIELE: My mother treats every single

carafes that come sold together.” I

sense, which helped early on. They put

person who comes into the store as

wanted to sell a cleanse, and for that

the products on Groupon when it was

family. If someone is not happy or has a

we would need proper packaging,

booming, and it was a huge success

complaint, she will personally drive to

carafes, and marketing. While he was

nationally. It’s really been a team effort

their house to deliver more food. Same

working on that, I got a group of friends

with my kids and husband. My husband

at the store in the Five Towns. You’re

together and we went on a three-day

now oversees all the day-to-day

not happy with your salad? You didn’t

juice cleanse. They were my first test

operations and manages 40 employees.

like it? Take something else. Customer

subjects.

And we’ve never brought on investors.

service is key.

Now, just so you know, the juice

MALEH: It’s never been a business for

cleanse that I created had a lot of

WHAT’S ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD

me. Everything we sell still feels like

fiber, so it was filling, and there was

OFFER TO WOMEN WHO ARE IN THE FOOD

it’s coming from my house. My store is

tremendous nutritional value in my

MANUFACTURING SPACE, LOOKING TO

still like my home — that original test

drinks. I wanted to see if I could last

GROW OUTSIDE THEIR MICRO-BAKERIES OR

kitchen from so long ago. My workers

KITCHENS?

laugh at me that I have such a hard

— and to see what my friends would say,

BESIDES SIYATA D’SHMAYA, WHAT WOULD

TBIELE: Competition is good — like, really

time accepting money from paying

too.

YOU SAY IS THE NUMBER ONE REASON FOR

good. The more options people have, the

customers. I just love what I do, and it’s

YOUR GROWTH OR SUCCESS?

more people will actually be attracted

still something I’m so passionate about.

own personal benefits, and I knew that I

MALEH: One hundred percent word of

to your personal brand message and

had something tangible here besides my

mouth.

story. Don’t get scared or phased when

I THINK THAT’S WHAT PEOPLE LOVE MOST

signature green juice. This would take

TBIELE: Social media.

new companies come out with similar

ABOUT YOUR FOOD AND JUICES. THEY’VE

products. Keep your eye on the prize and

BEEN MADE WITH LOVE, AND YOU USE

three days on the cleanse — I love food

The results? Amazing. We all had our

(We all laugh.)

my business to the next level.

WOW, WHAT AN INCREDIBLE STORY.

My husband is very creative. He came

don’t focus on everyone else, because

ONLY THE FRESHEST, NUTRITIONALLY

Heights — and we sell more than 200

WELL, IN TODAY’S DAY AND AGE, THEY’RE

you will get distracted and distraction is

PACKED INGREDIENTS. JUST SITTING HERE

SO, HOW DID YOU SCALE IT FROM YOUR

up with the branding and packaging,

salads a day. It’s an unbelievable thing

SYNONYMOUS, AREN’T THEY?

a waste of time and energy.

AND WATCHING YOUR INTERACTION WITH

KITCHEN TO SELLING ALL OVER?

as well as the concept of the stores. Our

to watch my mom’s vision become a

TBIELE: For me, as head of marketing,

MALEH: My grandkids tell me, “Grandma,

CUSTOMERS, I CAN SEE WHY YOU ATTRACT

TBIELE: My father hired a worker —

first juice store was the one on Avenue

reality and see her expertise help so

our collaborations with influencers are

you’re the OG — the original — and no

SO MANY PEOPLE TO YOUR STORES EVERY

who is still with us today. And once it

U in Brooklyn. That’s still my original

paramount to the growth of sales within

one does it like you.” When we opened

DAY. THEY KNOW THAT, AT THE END OF

started getting much bigger than what

space, and it’s where we introduced

each store. By connecting with a variety

our store in Brooklyn, two other stores

THE DAY, JUS WAS MADE BY JULIE — A

we could personally handle, we started

salads and sandwiches.

of influencers in each of the five cities

quickly popped up in the neighborhood,

MOTHER WHO JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE

manufacturing everything in a larger

TBIELE: It’s amazing to see where we’ve

our stores are located in, we can greatly

and our business did not suffer, because

HEALTHIER FOOD TO HER FAMILY.

facility.

come from. We used to just sell 12

MALEH: Honestly, my husband really had

salads; literally, I would make just a

the vision for growth. If it was up to me,

dozen salads at the store on Avenue

I would have kept it small, but in truth

U. Now? We sell to schools, and have

Beauty. So things are only growing. Our

MALEH: And for me, without the word

that never would have been sustainable.

five locations — another in Brooklyn

ultimate goal is to have Jus by Julie be

tinuously empowers them with her stories, posts, and 30-day business challenge. As a

of mouth, my business wouldn’t exist!

result, she’s helped more than 1,000 women grow their profits and spend more time

The opportunity was coming at me, and

on Avenue M, one in Cedarhurst, one

a strong, healthy lifestyle brand both

The Zumba teacher launched our brand

with their families. Abbey lives in Passaic, New Jersey, with her husband and children.

fast.

in Deal, and the most recent in Crown

inside the body and out.

in a big way, just by getting it out there

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2.0 JANUARY 2020

many people.

We also do business via e-commerce.

Five percent of our sales come from there, which includes 50,000 juices a week. We’re also expanding to beauty with a new skincare line called Jus

multiply the number of customers that come in to try our new and signature products.

Abbey Wolin is the founder of her own eponymous hand-painted glassware company. She has amassed more than 16,500 followers on Instagram and con-

JANUARY 2020

2 . 0 | B 13

2.0

BOOK REVIEW

By Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin

I READ IT FOR YOU: THE TEN DAY MBA Everyone wants a deal these days. If it’s a hotel, we want to pay with points. If it’s a flight, we want to pay with miles. And

I needed to learn the hard way for

or, if they waited patiently, they could

living expenses. It’s a little stiff, and the

yeshivah, but with this book you won’t

have two marshmallows later. The

crinkly sound drives my wife crazy, but

have to do that for business.

children were left alone in the room with

it helps me sleep better.

The book covers the following nine

one marshmallow and the psychologists

4) Invest wisely. This is the simplest

subjects: marketing, ethics, accounting,

noted whether the children ate that

advice, and a tip we will likely return

organizational behavior, quantitative

single marshmallow in front of them or

to when we more closely examine

analysis, finance, operations,

remained disciplined, holding off for the

some of the key works on constructing

economics, and strategy. Day number

double portion.

a portfolio. However good it sounds,

ten is dedicated to what the author terms

Psychologists found that a child’s

don’t buy the stock based on the tip you

“MBA Minicourses,” which include a

ability to delay gratification correlated

heard in shul. Oh, it’s about to get FDA

bunch of shorter subjects such as public

with experiencing more success in life as

approval? You’ll need the medication

speaking, negotiating, business writing,

an adult. In many ways, learning to save

after you lose your money. Stick to

and financial planning.

money properly is life’s marshmallow

broad-based index funds. If you don’t

test. A bigger paycheck is one

know what that is, google “Vanguard

smoothly it reads — it’s remarkably

marshmallow now. A robust retirement

ETF.” Buy those, and save the FDA-

easy to convince yourself that you know

account is more marshmallows later.

pending drugs for bein hazmanim.

The danger of the book is how

something when you’re finished. Keep

2) Own your home. Ask your financial

5) Be selectively extravagant and

The Ten Day MBA has ten chapters, so

in mind, though, how quickly — and

adviser about this one before you do

pervasively frugal. This may be the best

you really can finish it in ten days.

superficially — some of the subjects

anything drastic. But, as Silbiger argues

advice in the entire book. Enjoying life

Essentially, the book is designed

are being presented. Given the dense

in the book, there are many potential

is important, but you’ll enjoy it more

to give you a basic overview of key

structure and the breadth of the book,

long-term financial benefits to owning a

— and have more money to do it — if

principles and concepts that normally

there is no central thesis or one main

home rather than renting.

extravagance is an occasion rather than

cost tens of thousands of dollars to

idea inside the text. There are, however,

learn in an MBA program. The best

several highlights worth sharing:

part, for language lovers like myself,

The Ten-Minute Financial Planner:

3) Create an emergency fund and investment portfolio. In the book, the author recommends saving enough

the norm. A healthy default is sensible frugality.

The Ten Day MBA is a remarkable book.

is the jargon. As the author explains:

This really only takes ten minutes, and

money for three to six months, but

More than the content, it is a reminder

“When MBAs congregate, we tend to

there are five rules Silbiger presents.

that the exact cushion may depend on

to the reader of how much can be

it’s not just purchases that whet our appetite for deals — it’s

engage in ‘MBA babble.’ Our use of

As some may already know, it’s nearly

your relationship to risk — and how

accomplished in ten days. It’s taught me

also our time. Yeshivos frequently offer programs where

mystical abbreviations like NPV, SPC,

impossible for me to ignore a list of

easily you can fall asleep at night. I’m

to never doubt how much I can learn in

and CRM is only a ruse to justify our

five. So here it goes.

an anxious person, so I keep a pillow

a short period of time. And that’s a good

stuffed with eight months’ worth of

deal, if you ask me.

you can finish college during bein hazmanim. If that’s too burdensome — and for many it is — we’ll soon have programs

lofty salaries and quick promotions.”

Seasoned yeshivah students know

1) Pay yourself first. 401(k) and 403(b) aren’t supposed to sound fun. Discipline

offering PhDs that just require you to listen to a podcast

that the real entry into the Torah

is not fun, and deferring payment

series on your drive to morning seder. So, if you’re looking

world is not so much the body of

requires discipline. But the author argues

for a great deal on mastering a large amount of material in a

knowledge as it is the movements

that the fastest way to build wealth is by

Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin, director of education for NCSY, teaches

and motions. Knowing the difference

taking advantage of deferred taxes that

Jewish Public Policy at Yeshiva University’s Sy School of Business

between “shtel tzu” and “tzu shtel” is

allow you to keep more of what you earn.

and is currently completing a dissertation in public policy at the New

short amount of time, consider reading Steven Silbiger’s The Ten Day MBA (HarperCollins, 2012). And if you’re not much of a reader, here’s an even better deal — I read it for you.

B22 |

2.0 DECEMBER 2019

half the battle. I should know. As a

There’s a famous study known as the

School, focused on crisis management. His book, Sin•a•gogue: Sin

doe-eyed boy from a modern orthodox

Stanford marshmallow experiment.

and Failure in Jewish Thought, was recently published by Aca-

school, I could have used a Ten-Day

In the test, led by Dr. Walter Mischel,

demic Studies Press. He has been rejected from several prestigious

BTL [Bachelor’s of Talmudic Law] book

researchers gave children a choice of

fellowships and awards.

when I first arrived at Ner Yisroel.

having one marshmallow immediately DECEMBER 2019

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