Schechter Alumni Spotlight: David Leshem (’16)
David Leshem (’16) has built an impressive path for himself rooted in the values and education he received at Schechter.
After attending Camp Kawaga and Highland Park High School, David earned a BA in Mathematics from Northwestern University. His college years were marked by his involvement in several organizations, including Jewish Wildcats, NU Chabad, the LAUNCH Entrepreneurial Mentor program, and the Kellogg Student Advisory Board.
Currently, David lives in Chicago and works as a Debt Underwriting Analyst at Monroe Capital, where he evaluates and assesses the risk and potential profitability of lending money to medium-sized companies. “I analyze financial statements, customer relationships, industry tailwinds, and more to approve large loans” he says. “Essentially, my job is to figure out why (or why not) Monroe should be comfortable lending to a specific Company given the risks associated with the investment.”
David said, “my favorite part about my job is that I get to work as a generalist. This means that I am underwriting companies in so many different industries, and working alongside numerous groups within the firm.”
Outside of his job, David enjoys spending quality time with friends, going for runs around the city, and reconnecting with his family and friends.
When asked about his Schechter experience, David describes the significant role Schechter played in shaping his identity and instilling values that he continues to use to this day.
“Whether it was in high school or college, I always relied on my values when making friends and new connections,” he said. “Ideally, I wanted my [high school and college] friends to resemble my friends at Schechter.”
David adds that he is proud to have introduced Judaism to his friends at Northwestern, many of whom grew up in non-observant homes. “I often invited friends over to my house in Highland Park for holidays and encouraged them to play active roles in our school’s Jewish community.”
Academically, David said that Schechter challenged him to excel. “I am grateful for this challenge because it pushed me to be the student I am today,” he says.
One of the most unique aspects of David’s Schechter experience was attending school alongside his three brothers—Jack, Brad, and Daniel. “As a middle child, I had the unique chance to experience Schechter both as a little brother and a big brother. I had the best time walking the halls and seeing my brothers, and we continue to rehash old memories every time we are together.”
David remains close to many of his Schechter classmates and teachers, including those in his fantasy football league, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. “We started in 7th grade, and the league is as strong as ever,” he says. “I’d like to give a shout out to the entire league — Sam Dorfman, Evan Dayan, Jake Silvers, Joey Finfer, Zach Aronwald, Zac Janczak, Zach Simon, Isaac Levitan, Stone Harris, Alex Feldman, and Ari Rosen.”
To David, the Schechter community represents a life-long support network. "The Schechter community gives me peace of mind that no matter where I am in life, I will always have a group of people who I feel connected to and supported by. Everyone at Schechter wants everyone else to succeed, and we always make sure to celebrate each other’s accomplishments. I know I will always have a special connection with the Schechter community for the rest of my life."
David’s brothers also have impressive academic and professional achievements. Jack Leshem (‘11) attended Washington University and currently lives in Chicago. He is a senior investment analyst with The Scion Group. Bradley Leshem (‘13) attended Northwestern University and is currently in his third year of medical school at Northwestern University. Daniel Leshem (‘18) is a junior at Northwestern University and is majoring in Economics and Mathematics.
