Reflections of God’s Goodness to Working Women
According to McKinsey & Company’s 2023 report, women still hold only 30% of senior leadership roles globally, and only 8% of women in the workforce hold C-suite positions. It’s not a lack of ambition. According to an October 2023 article on Forbes.com, women have just as much ambition as men. But even today, women are forced to navigate obstacles to their leadership advancement. When women struggle with being seen for our contributions, when we feel isolated or like an “only,” when we have a dream for what we want to accomplish through our work that is met with one roadblock after the other, it’s easy to wonder “do I really have what it takes?” or “can the work I do really make a difference?” or “how hard do I need to work to add value?”
This is an all-too-common experience for women that leads to negative repercussions for everyone. Diversity in leadership is proven to contribute to better business outcomes, and the lack of support for women in the workplace hinders the very diversity we need.
There is a solution! When women get together in a safe, authentic community where they can share their struggles, dreams, experiences and goals, they find a greater level of confidence and new insights that propel them toward solutions to help them achieve their goals and make a difference through their work. Women who find supportive communities are energized toward overcoming obstacles and reaching more of their God-given potential.
This is what Polished and 4word are both all about, so it’s incredibly exciting that we are joining forces to combine all that we have developed over the last 16 years, refine it and serve God’s daughters who are carrying out their assignments in workplaces around the country.
Here are a few profound ways I have seen God at work through the Polished community …
Women have come to a Polished Chapter event in response to a friend’s invitation, not really knowing what they were attending. At the end of the meeting they’ll say, “I wish I had this sooner!” They consistently express excitement to have found a community that fills a gap they had felt for many years.
After attending a Polished Chapter event, women have asked for a Bible, for prayer, and for someone to talk to about faith. We have seen many women make a commitment to a personal relationship with Jesus or recommit to that relationship. And when they did, they knew they were not alone, but they had a group of women who would come alongside them to provide support, encouragement, and with whom they could grow in their leadership and their faith as they travel this path together.
We have seen women leaders share their stories vulnerably as speakers at Polished Chapter events. I heard one top executive for a Fortune 500 company open up about some personal experiences in a way that struck a deep chord with attendees. One woman was moved to tears—tears that needed to be expressed. How amazing that this woman felt safe enough to express her emotions—something that can be rare in work environments. That one experience brought healing and boosted the confidence of everyone in the room.
Women participating in the Polished Collaboratories have gained new insights for their work from stories of Jesus they had heard hundreds of times. So often, the insights from the story for that month were exactly what they needed at that moment in time. On top of that, I watched the powerful impact that occurred as they encouraged and learned from one another while building deep relationships at the same time. Every woman experienced a deeper level of empowerment in her leadership.
I’ve spoken to women who have notifications turned on for the Polished Podcast so they never miss an episode. They are so encouraged by the powerful insights and relevant ideas for leaning on our faith at work in all situations.
Years ago, God put a strong desire on my heart to see women reach more of their God-given potential with confidence in who they are in Christ. I know that as more women learn how to live fully integrated lives, the benefits will make a difference in their workplaces, churches, communities and families that extend well beyond the people they influence directly. God is raising up His daughters so we can powerfully partner with Him, each other, and with our brothers-in-Christ.
This is how we provide a foretaste of Heaven on earth.
This merger with 4word is opening up new levels of opportunity and possibility to make an impact for Christ in our workplaces. What Polished has accomplished for the last 16 years is not going away. Rather, it is combining with the powerful work of 4word, allowing us to reach more women with more comprehensive programs and resources, and increasing our capacity to serve each chapter and each woman.
We invite you to join us in celebrating all that God has done and all He is doing as He amplifies this work through the unification of these two organizations. What a privilege to be His hands and feet in our work and partner with our Creator!
Catherine Gates is the author of The Confidence Cornerstone: A Woman’s Guide to Fearless Leadership. Catherine has also contributed to several faith-and-work Bible studies, numerous YouVersion reading plans, and books from other authors including the iWork4Him and sheWorks4Him publications. She is a powerful speaker and frequent podcast contributor.
Catherine has been helping people integrate their faith and work since 2013. Prior to joining the Polished team, Catherine served as Executive Director for Women in the Marketplace, co-host for the sheWorks4Him podcast, and Senior Director of Content and Partnerships for Workmatters.
Catherine has diverse experience in technology and systems development, training, non-profit management, sales coaching and training, writing and instructional design. She has worked for large corporations to small entrepreneurial endeavors, including owning a small software consulting firm.
Catherine is on the steering committee for the National Faith & Work Association (NFWA.org). She is passionate about helping people achieve more of their God-given potential with confidence by bringing faith into every area of life.