I recently searched for some online articles regarding women’s leadership. I found many written by women, and many were quite disappointing. They are not things I would ever want my daughter to study as she learns to become an impactful leader.
There were several articles with phrases such as “how to get the upper hand,” and “back-door ways to …,” and “eliminating losers,” and more of the like. Fortunately, there were more quality articles and blogs than not, and strong and successful businesswomen also wrote them.
I hate that the worldly view of many is that women have to be manipulative or sneaky to be promoted. Or that we have to “eliminate” people who don’t share our ambitions or aren’t useful to our career goals. It saddens me that it isn’t a widespread belief that you can build loyal relationships and still achieve great success.
As professional Christian women, we must remember that kindness doesn’t equal weakness. Our strength doesn’t come from being unapproachable. Integrity isn’t a disadvantage. Being independent can still be inclusive and collaborative. Authenticity and honesty far outweigh manipulation, always.
Hopefully, we are building our leadership acumen through biblically-based teachings, with the Bible itself being the most prominent. I admit that it wasn’t until I looked at the Bible through the lens of a career woman needing wisdom did I see how much scripture provided business instruction. For decades, it was my go-to handbook for personal guidance and even parental direction. Still, it took someone to specifically tell me that the Bible is also a business manual. (I know. You would think it was common sense to know that, but I didn’t.)
The Bible mentions several successful businesswomen we can glean from and many other stories that provide principles we can apply to our leadership and our business decisions. In Acts chapter 16, as Paul shares his travel journey, he includes some specific details about a businesswoman named Lydia. 
Lydia gathered with other women where Paul and his companions went to pray. Paul tells us that Lydia is a “dealer in purple cloth, and she is a worshiper of God.” Scripture does not refer to a husband or a father caring for her; therefore, the academic assumption is Lydia was the sole income earner and owner of her home. We learn in the verses that her home was sizable enough to hold large gatherings.
God touched Lydia’s heart through Paul’s teachings and she was baptized, and she influenced her household to be baptized too. We know she was hospitable as she hosted Paul and all those traveling with him to stay in her home. Later on, her home was the host location for an early church in Phillipi.
We can unpack and learn a lot from those brief verses in Acts 16:13-15, but my favorite is the last part of verse 15. “And she persuaded us.” She told Paul to “come stay at my house” and then “persuaded” him.
The New Living Translation says, “And she urged us until we agreed.” The New Life Version translated it as “She kept on asking. Then we went with her,” and the New International Reader’s Version says, “She succeeded in getting us to go home with her.” I so love her doggedness and tenacity.
She was articulate in stating what she wanted and confident enough to voice her wishes with persistence. She wanted to serve Paul and his crew. She desired to use the material wealth she had worked for and God had blessed her with to further the Kingdom, and she was determined to do so.
I pray we all have that same resolve in applying God’s Word to our careers and our goals. We don’t have to manipulate or use back-door approaches to become successful. Let’s use the gifts and talents God has given us as we grow our skills and knowledge with integrity and faith.
I challenge each of us to read and read again Psalm 112, as it contains some good reminders for our business practices. Take note of verse 5, “Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.”
Thank you for being a part of the UBW community. You matter to God, and you matter to us.
