Our Story
It Started With An Observation
Our story began with our founder, Ifat Barron.
Ifat first started to notice how unequal Israel’s employment landscape was when she was studying at university. Talented, motivated people didn’t always have the same chance to build good careers because of factors beyond their control, like race, gender, or place of origin. That injustice stayed with her and shaped her belief that meaningful employment is one of the most powerful tools for real social change.
Later, while working in the social responsibility department of a large corporation, Ifat saw this problem even more clearly. Every day, she met skilled candidates ready to contribute, build careers, and support their families. And yet, so many high-tech jobs were being outsourced abroad. These were solid jobs that could have strengthened local communities and kept people employed close to home.
It didn’t add up…
On one side, companies struggled to find qualified people. On the other, entire communities — including women, Arab citizens, and olim — were left out of Israel’s growing innovation economy. It was a clear market failure, and Ifat knew there had to be a better way to connect the dots.
This vision inspired her to establish itworks with a clear mission:
Unlock the talent that already exists here
Keep good jobs in Israel to strengthen local communities and the national economy
Promote equality and social mobility for those too often overlooked
She believed that providing equal access to good jobs does more than put people to work. It helps build stronger families, more resilient communities, and a fairer society for everyone.
In 2006, Ifat set out to make a change. With just an idea and determination, she reached out to hundreds of donors to raise money for a program that would bridge the gap between overlooked talent and good jobs. She single-handedly raised the money, recruited participants, instructed a pilot course, and handled every detail herself. It was truly a one-woman show.
What began as a single training program has grown into itworks as it is today: a proven model that closes employment gaps, connects overlooked talent with meaningful work, and helps Israel’s high-tech sector and society reach their full potential.