Jerusalem Tech Leaders: Future Belongs to Career Risk-Takers

When a former professional basketball player builds training equipment from plumbing pipes at Home Depot, you know career paths have changed forever.

At Jerusalem's American Innovation Forum on May 20, leaders from Microsoft, Apple, and sports technology gathered to discuss what will make the city's tech sector truly competitive. Their answer surprised many: it's not about funding or buildings, but about people willing to constantly reinvent themselves.

Microsoft Europe South COO Orit Greenbaum Lipski described her journey from computer science to marketing to operations leadership. "If my daughter asks me what she should study, I probably won't tell her to learn one thing," she said. "That's not relevant anymore."

Muawyah Akash, former head of R&D at Apple Rawabi and now an AI entrepreneur, became the first East Jerusalem student accepted into Hebrew University's computer science program. He moved from architecture to management to increasingly difficult positions, never staying comfortable. "Once you become proficient, you need to get uncomfortable," Akash explained. "That's how you grow."

Former professional player Tamir Goodman, once called the "Jewish Jordan," faced career-ending knee injuries. Instead of giving up, he channeled his basketball knowledge into Aviv Sports, creating technology now used by NBA teams. When his coach refused to help him practice after losing his roster spot, Goodman went to Home Depot and built a multi-angled rebounding machine from pipes.

The panelists agreed discipline separates good from great. Akash shared how he was reprimanded early in his career for arriving at meetings exactly on time instead of early to prepare. "From that day on, my team started every meeting 30 minutes early," he said.

Why This Inspires

Jerusalem is stepping out from Tel Aviv's shadow to build its own tech identity. The city's universities, hospitals, and expanding international companies like Microsoft are creating momentum, but the real transformation comes from mindset shifts.

Greenbaum Lipski emphasized the importance of connecting young Jerusalem professionals with global industries. "Jerusalem has incredible talent, but talent alone isn't enough," she said. "We need to create real bridges so they can grow, lead, and innovate at scale."

The event, organized by Jerusalem Young Professionals Forum alongside the US Embassy Jerusalem and other partners, focused on building networks across Jerusalem's diverse communities. Founder Marc Faust believes empowering young professionals is vital to the city's economic future.

All three speakers proved that embracing discomfort, taking calculated risks, and refusing to follow traditional career ladders can turn unexpected backgrounds into competitive advantages. In an AI-driven economy where expertise becomes obsolete faster than ever, the ability to start over might be the most valuable skill of all.