Jean Cooper, Phd

Jean Cooper is an Industrial and Organisational Psychologist registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). He holds a PhD in I/O Psychology, an MCom (cum laude), and an MPhil in Applied Theology (cum laude) from the University of Pretoria, where he also serves as a part-time faculty member. A long-time associate of the Tavistock Institute, Jean’s work draws on systems psychodynamics and group relations theory to support leaders, consultants, and organisations in navigating complexity. He has directed two Group Relations Conferences in South Africa in partnership with the Tavistock Institute and has presented at leading universities including Columbia, Northwestern, and Utrecht.

Jean is the founder of The Institute for Leadership and Transformation (TILT), which consults across sectors, develops consultants, and convenes reflective learning spaces. He is also Associate Editor of the journal Organisational and Social Dynamics.

In 2023, Jean completed an 18,200 km motorcycle journey from Pretoria to Madrid. This journey deepened his inquiry into how we humans might live more reflectively and harmoniously with one another and the natural world.

He lives in Pretoria with his wife and three children.

Stephen Markowitz

Stephen is an organizational consultant and educator with 25 years of experience working with nonprofit organizations and educators worldwide. He has held senior positions with leading organizations including The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, the Melton Centre for Jewish Education, Torah MiTzion, The Jewish Agency and M²: The Institute for Experiential Jewish Education. In 2021, Stephen founded Markowitz Consulting, bringing a psychodynamic approach to personal and organizational transformation, developed under the guidance of The Institute for Leadership and Transformation (SA). Current clients include M54: The Institute for Insourcing, Chabad on Campus International, Torah MiTzion, and Grow Torah. He serves as faculty for M² and Hillel International, focusing on values education, meaning-making and Jewish pedagogy. His practice also includes evaluative work and impact studies for organizations such as Testimony Theater, The Pardes Institutes for Jewish Studies and the Shalom Hartman Institute.

A graduate of the Hebrew University (MA Education) and WITS University, Stephen lives with his wife and four children in Jerusalem, devoted to helping people and organizations discover their full potential and create lasting impact.

Jake Sheperd

Jake is an organizational consultant and executive coach who brings 27 years of hands-on experience building and scaling companies. As co-founder of Synthesis, a software services company he established in 1998, Jake led the organization from startup to maturity, developing both technical capabilities and the cultural foundation that sustained growth over nearly three decades.

Throughout his tenure at Synthesis, Jake evolved from focusing on technical development to becoming deeply invested in organizational culture and people development. He discovered that sustainable business growth depends as much on how people work together as on what they build, leading him to concentrate his later years at the company on cultivating leadership, team dynamics, and cultural transformation.

Since leaving Synthesis, Jake has dedicated himself to expanding his organizational development expertise, now serving as a coach and consultant for leaders and organizations seeking to unlock their growth potential. As part of his commitment to organizational development, Jake has been instrumental in developing M54's innovative pedagogy of insourcing. His unique perspective combines deep technical understanding with insights into human behavior and organizational psychology.

Jake holds a BSc in Electrical Engineering from Wits University in South Africa. After making Aliyah with his wife in 2022, he now lives in Netanya, where he provides consulting services spanning product and technology vision, organizational culture development, and executive coaching. His approach integrates his entrepreneurial experience with his passion for helping others build thriving, people-centered organizations.

What is Organizational Consulting?

Many Shluchim and Shluchos already engage in coaching that supports their personal leadership—helping them clarify goals, improve time management, strengthen relationships, and navigate challenges. This initiative builds on that familiar model, but goes further. We bring the added dimension of organizational consulting—working not only with the individual, but with the systems they lead. That means looking at team roles, decision-making structures, communication patterns, financial planning, and long-term strategy.

Our approach is designed to address root causes rather than just symptoms. We help leaders make sense of what’s happening in their organization, uncover underlying dynamics, and take ownership of the changes needed. Rather than offering pre-made solutions, we support leaders in diagnosing their own challenges and developing strategies that fit their unique mission, context, and values. Our goal is to help the Chabad House operate more effectively as an organization—so that personal growth is supported by a healthy, sustainable system.