refining the details.
 

A New Chapter Begins: The Merger of 4word and Polished Network

 

For decades, 4word and the Polished Network have empowered working women to use their gifts in service to God and others. Throughout every season, we have witnessed the undeniable hand of God at work in the lives and stories of the women we serve.

Today, we are thrilled to announce a long-overdue union—an evolution of our shared mission to break down barriers, walls, and silos, and unite as ONE. 4word and the Polished Network are joining forces to create a united organization dedicated to serving working women at every level and stage of their professional journey. Whether you're a leader, an executive, or just starting out, this merger is about empowering women to embrace their God-given potential in the workplace with confidence.

But we can't do it without YOU. There is a place for you here at this table.

God works through the hands of women and this merger reflects His heart to unite and bring us together. So, we invite every woman to be part of this story—one where circles of trust, collaboration, and connection replace isolation. A story where women are empowered to grow in their God-given potential and to lift one another up.

This new chapter is about inviting women to the table—where your stories, your gifts, and your voice are essential to our shared mission and journey. We believe that together we can accomplish so much more than we could ever do alone.

God is working through the hands of working women to bring His Kingdom to earth.

Will you join us on this journey?

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Founded in 2011 by Diane Paddison, 4word exists to support and connect women in the workplace, empowering them to reach their God-given potential with confidence. They foster vibrant communities and cultivate authentic relationships through digital content, community groups, and mentor programs. As the only global organization led by Christian
    women in business, dedicated to serving Christian women in business, 4word provides a unique space for professional women to grow in their faith, leadership, and careers while making a meaningful impact in the world.

  • Both Polished and 4word share a passion for supporting Christian working women by helping them realize their work matters to God, build confidence as leaders, and find authentic community. After praying and exploring collaboration in 2023, we realized we could do more together. This merger allows us to offer more resources, reach more women, and better serve working women at every stage of their careers.

  • For now Polished Chapters will continue alongside 4word Community Groups. Together over the next several months, our leadership team will work with our local leaders to evaluate the best elements of both to improve and expand our  offerings at the local level. Our goal is to provide consistent, high-quality community support, with more options for working women to connect and grow.

    Catherine Gates, Polished Network Executive Director, will join 4word as VP of Programs & Partnerships, overseeing these groups and leadership resources. Robin Dufilho will join 4word as Director of Marketing and Communications. Jane Doerman will oversee 4word’s social media and work alongside Jordan Johnstone as the two develop digital content to serve the 4word community. As roles are further clarified, we will keep you updated on who you can contact for your needs and questions.

  • Our vision is to provide faith-based community and resources for Christian working women nationwide. We aim to help women integrate their faith and work in order to reach their God-given potential with confidence.

  • We are collectively committed to continuing and expanding the Boldly Conference, one of the few faith-and-work events designed by women for women. Stay tuned for updates as we plan the future of Boldly.

  • The Polished podcast and blog will remain available through 2024. We encourage you to follow the 4word podcast as the content will focus on the details surrounding each step of our collective journey together.

  • We deeply value our leaders, volunteers, and partners, and invite you to continue this journey with us. We’ll host periodic Zoom calls to share updates and answer questions. Your support is crucial as we begin taking our next steps to work together to serve more women. We need you now more than ever as our organization experiences exponential growth.

  • We’ll continue partnering with businesses to provide leadership development, mentoring, custom workshops, and resources for Christian employee resource groups. The merger will enhance these offerings, making us a stronger, united organization.

  • Bringing 4word and Polished together will maximize our sponsors and donors impact as it allows us to provide an expanded community to more women in more cities. This will enable us to provide increased exposure and improved engagement, including stories from women impacted by our programs.

  • We’re taking time to thoughtfully evaluate both Polished chapters and 4word community groups, ensuring we improve and better serve working women. Any changes that are made  will be communicated clearly, and we’ll involve program leaders in the process.

  • Polished will continue to operate independently through the end of 2024. We appreciate your donations through year-end. It all goes toward supporting our ability to serve working women and do the work needed to merge the two organizations. Starting January 1st, 2025, all gifts should be directed to 4word. Thank you!

  • The Polished team will continue to work hard for you as you plan chapter events, are looking for community in your area, or have questions or feedback regarding our resources and programs. Please continue to reach out to our team. Be sure to subscribe to the Polished newsletter to keep up with all of the updates. We will be sure to let you know how to reach us in the New Year and look forward to continuing to serve you!