Eran Zimrin, President of ELI – the Israel Association for Child Protection, carries forward a powerful legacy of hope and healing. After successful careers in textile manufacturing and insurance, he stepped into leadership at ELI following the passing of his mother, Dr. Hanita Zimrin, the organization’s visionary founder. Today, Eran leads ELI with deep personal commitment, ensuring that thousands of children and families receive the protection, care, and support they deserve in order to thrive.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
A productive day starts with a good night’s rest and a positive mindset. Each day must contribute something new to the growth and mission of the organization, even if it’s a small step. By setting one meaningful goal early in the morning and achieving it early in the day, momentum builds and the rest of the workday flows with purpose and clarity.
How do you bring ideas to life?
New ideas often emerge from connecting current experiences with familiar patterns or external changes. It’s about observing how different elements interact and asking how they can serve a greater mission. Once an idea is formed, the next step is execution. Success doesn’t always come on the first try. Perseverance and iteration are key to bringing a vision to life.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Regulatory evolution is an ongoing and fascinating trend. While governments and institutions try to catch up with real-world changes, staying ahead of these shifts can unlock significant opportunities. The goal is not just to adapt but to help shape the regulatory landscape by pioneering new models and setting standards that inspire future development.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Delegating tasks to people who are more skilled than I am in specific areas has proven to be a powerful productivity strategy. It allows the organization to run more efficiently and empowers capable team members to lead in their domains.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Listen more closely to experienced voices around you, especially your parents and mentors. Their insights are often hard-won and invaluable. You don’t always have to reinvent the wheel. Also, embrace the journey, move forward with confidence, and don’t dwell on regrets. Just keep going.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you.
Cost-cutting has its limits. You can’t save more than 100%. Instead, focus should be placed on long-term revenue growth and investing in productive infrastructure. Sustainable success often comes from expansion, not just efficiency.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Surround yourself with people who are more talented than you in their respective fields. Then trust them fully. Empowering capable individuals and letting them lead creates a culture of excellence and shared responsibility.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I take a mental walk through a personal “woods” — a quiet space that helps me regain inner peace and recharge. Restoring energy and bringing clarity back into focus.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
I’ve devoted most of my time to thinking about long-term growth. I delegate routine operations to others, which frees up my energy to focus on innovation, strategy, and identifying new opportunities for impact.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
Failure is an integral part of the journey toward success. One critical lesson is to anticipate the worst-case scenario early on, and to recognize that it’s often more likely than we think. Before launching anything new, ensure there’s a clear and realistic recovery plan in case of setbacks. Without that, you risk too much. With it, you gain the courage to take bold steps.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Business opportunities are everywhere. Most good ideas are already in plain sight. They emerge with every change. A new traffic sign on a road might divert attention long enough to justify a small sales booth nearby. Regulatory changes or new technologies also open fresh avenues for growth. The key is learning to recognize the hidden potential in everyday developments.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Popular communication platforms like messaging apps, group chats, and collaboration tools are indispensable. I use them to assign tasks, consult with teams, and streamline discussions, saving both time and physical meetings.
What is the best $100 you recently spent?
I recently invested in a meaningful experience for my team. After allocating most of the resources, I added an extra $100 to elevate the experience and create a moment that brought genuine smiles to everyone involved. That last bit often makes the biggest difference. The same principle applies when investing in meaningful time with family.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast from which you’ve received much value?
In my early career, I read many popular management books. I can’t recall specific titles today, but their collective impact, combined with my real-world experience and academic degrees, helped shape the leader I’ve become. It’s the layering of wisdom from various sources over time that leaves the most lasting impression.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
Rather than fiction, I gravitate toward current events like news, economics, and public policy. These sources inspire me daily and provide actionable insights for engaging with authorities and managing organizational strategy.
Key learnings:
- What do you love: Sustainable achievement comes from aligning daily work with passion and purpose.
- Resilience fuels growth: Facing challenges — and recovering from them — is what builds character and long-term strength.
- Empowered teams drive success: Effective leaders choose exceptional people and create the conditions in which they can thrive.
- The long road is often the fastest: Taking the thoughtful, steady path often leads to faster, more sustainable results in the long run.