From Chance Encounter to CHRO: Josh Gottesman’s Journey

Sometimes, a chance encounter can have a profound impact on one’s career trajectory. For Josh Gottesman, a fortuitous meeting led to an internship that eventually propelled him to his current position as the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) at the Orthodox Union (OU).

Back in 2012, Gottesman held the role of director of American operations for NCSY, a Jewish youth group affiliated with OU. During NCSY’s “The Jerusalem Journey” summer program, Gottesman, serving as one of the bus directors, had the opportunity to meet Lenny Bessler, the CHRO of OU. When Bessler discovered that Gottesman was pursuing a master’s degree in HR management and industrial psychology, he extended an invitation to Gottesman to seek guidance in navigating a career in HR.

A year later, Gottesman moved on from NCSY to become the department head of student life at Rae Kushner Hebrew Academy. However, he soon realized that this role did not bring him the fulfillment he sought. Remembering Bessler’s offer, Gottesman reached out to him, and within a month, he found himself embarking on a seven-week HR internship at OU.

After successfully completing the internship, Gottesman’s career at OU began to flourish:

• In 2014, he became an HR specialist.
• By 2015, Gottesman took on the roles of talent management specialist and senior compensation analyst while simultaneously completing his master’s degree.
• In 2017, he was promoted to HR manager.
• Two years later, in 2019, Gottesman assumed the position of assistant director of HR.
• In 2022, he further advanced to become the Associate HR Director.
• Finally, in 2023, Bessler approached the senior leadership at OU, endorsing Gottesman as his successor, leading to his appointment as the CHRO.

As the CHRO, Gottesman currently oversees a team of six full-time HR employees at OU. He has plans to expand the team by hiring a talent management specialist and adding an HR fellow to their ranks.

Reflecting on his career journey, Gottesman acknowledges that he embarked on his HR path later than most due to a career change. Initially aspiring to work in outreach while at NCSY, he redirected his focus toward HR during his pursuit of an MBA.

Josh Gottesman’s story serves as a testament to the unexpected opportunities that can arise from chance encounters. His dedication, pursuit of education, and the mentorship he received from Lenny Bessler played pivotal roles in his rise to the position of CHRO at OU.