True leadership requires the courage to let go of what’s good in order to receive what’s better. Whether it’s possessions, positions, or plans, holding loosely allows us to lead with open hands, ready for transformation, collaboration, and God’s greater purpose.
You did it! You started a business with nothing more than a dream and a willingness to roll up your sleeves. You worked hard, really hard, and the business grew. You didn’t know what you were doing half the time, but you figured it out. You made it up as you went, and now you’re leading your very own multi-million dollar business.
The fastest way to lose sight of your business is to stop listening to your customers. What you think is happening inside your company and what your customers are actually experiencing might be two completely different stories. Too often, leaders rely on assumptions instead of real feedback—and that gap can cost you growth, loyalty, and trust.
In this post, Convene Chair Mike Edwards shares how to check in with your customers in meaningful, non-intrusive ways—and how to turn their insights into quick, high-impact improvements.
Are business growth and your faith opposed? Christian leaders often find themselves at a crossroads, seeking to balance ambition with their faith-based values. The desire to scale operations and achieve greater impact can sometimes feel at odds with the principles of service, integrity, and stewardship that underpin their beliefs.
Yet, scaling a business and adhering to Christian values are not mutually exclusive. In fact, by integrating biblical wisdom with sound business practices, Christian leaders can unlock a path to sustainable growth that aligns with their faith and honors God's purpose for their endeavors.
In an ever-changing world filled with uncertainty, leaders face a critical choice—become a hostage to chaos or a master of clarity. In this insightful article, Oleg Konovalov and Dave Ulrich explore how leaders can navigate volatile times with confidence. Through research-backed strategies, they provide seven actionable steps to transform uncertainty into structured success. If you’re ready to rise above the noise and bring clarity to your leadership, this is a must-read.
Ten days after Hurricane Helene made landfall in the U.S. as the second deadliest storm to hit the U.S. this century, World Vision response teams are still on the ground working with partners to address the most urgent needs.
In North Carolina and other areas, catastrophic flooding has destroyed many roads and bridges, cutting off communities without basic supplies like food and clean water. Communication has also been very challenging for the region, as many cell towers are down.
In today’s competitive landscape, businesses relentlessly pursue results, but not all results are created equal. While financial profit is often the primary goal, focusing solely on maximizing shareholder value can lead to negative consequences like labor abuses, environmental damage, and unethical practices. Instead, businesses should aim for something greater: fostering Economic, Social, and Spiritual Capital, creating a flourishing environment for all stakeholders.
To achieve this, leaders need three key components: a long-term coach to guide them through challenges, a trusted group of peers for support and accountability, and a principle-driven operating system to ensure that values are integrated into the business. By embracing these elements, businesses can pursue not just financial success, but true, holistic flourishing.
Ready to learn more about stewarding a High Impact Business?
Is Jesus returning in your lifetime? What if he was? What would you do differently tomorrow?
What would it be like if Christian leaders worked together to accelerate the fulfilling of the Great Commission, taking the good news of the gospel to the people they lead at their firms? In short, it would be a game changer. Guess what? It’s happening NOW!
At Convene, we seek to provide our members with inspiration and guidance that creates an impact in their personal and professional lives. Check out our 2024 nationally-recognized speakers and thought leaders, who share inspiring stories and experienced insights for business leaders seeking to integrate their faith with their careers. Our events serve to connect Christian business leaders to deepen our understanding of faith-based leadership.
Speakers with Miraculous Stories
Jim Daly
Jim Daly is the president of Focus on the Family and the host of its daily radio broadcast, reaching over 6.6 million listeners weekly. Overcoming a challenging childhood, including the loss of his parents, Daly's life is a testament to the power of faith. Under his leadership, Focus on the Family has experienced significant success in supporting foster-care adoptions while also guiding ministries to focus on building strong marriages and healthy families. Daly emphasizes that parenting is about doing one's best in Christ, and trusting that God works through our imperfections that are a normal part of life.
Jose Hernandez
Jose Hernandez grew up farming in California and dreamed of flying to space. He worked hard to achieve his dream (after being rejected 11 times) by becoming a NASA astronaut at age 47. His successful career as an engineer continued as he co-developed the first full-field digital mammography system for the early detection of breast cancer. Today, the Jose M. Hernandez Reaching For The Stars Foundation aims to inspire youth in STEM. His life story has been made into a movie biopic called A Million Miles Away.
Lopez Lomong
Lopez Lomong, a "Lost Boy of Sudan," has a life that tells the story of what is possible through faith. He miraculously escaped a rebel prison camp at age 6, running 60 miles to safety and eventually spending 10 years in a Kenyan refugee camp. Inspired by watching the Olympics from the camp, he pursued his dream of becoming an athlete, arriving in the USA at age 16. Lomong went on to become a 2-time Olympian, 6-time National Champion and carried the American flag during the 2008 Beijing Olympics' opening ceremony. In 2013, he set the American record in the indoor 5000m. Beyond athletics, Lopez partners with World Vision to improve lives in South Sudan, focusing on clean water, education, health care, and nutrition. His humanitarian efforts earned him the title of Visa's Humanitarian of the Year in 2012.
Business Leaders with Wisdom To Share
Brian Audia
Brian Audia specializes in organizational performance to help employees engage with their work on a deeper level. Audia believes that by driving employee engagement in the company culture, a team can find joy in their work life, and workplaces thrive. Brian is an expert on organizational development and has received many accolades for his humanitarian and social service operations across the world. As the President and CEO of AUDIA, a consulting company with services specializing in executive leadership support, Brian has found purpose and success by increasing the performance of businesses, nonprofits, and ministries.
Richard Blackaby
Richard Blackaby is regarded as a renowned speaker for his wisdom surrounding spiritual leadership. Richard speaks around the world encouraging Christian business leaders to take their calling seriously, so that they may maximize their impact on God’s Kingdom. Having served as a pastor and Seminary President in Canada, Richard now serves as the President of Blackaby Ministries International which helps people experience God and understand His plan for us.
Greg Leith
Greg Leith is the CEO of Convene Corporation, leading an organization that has supported thousands of Christian CEOs for decades. With a career spanning 45 years, Greg has held senior leadership roles in corporate, nonprofit, and academic sectors, including helping to lead a $180 million capital campaign at Biola University. He has worked globally, providing aid to the persecuted church, creating jobs in India, and assisting mission agencies in China and Haiti. Greg and his wife, Shelley, have spoken on marriage and parenting for over a decade, impacting thousands of families. He also served as a senior executive at ServiceMaster for 20 years and was Vice President of Arrow Leadership Development.
Rob McKenna
Dr Rob McKenna is a renowned psychologist, recognized as one of the top 30 I-O Psychologists in the world. He is passionate about developing leaders and transforming how we understand and interact with the people in our organizations. He is an author, company founder, TEDx speaker, and thought leader featured in Forbes and Psychology Today. His approach is grounded in decades of research on leadership, team dynamics, and organizational health. Known for his authenticity and humor, Dr. McKenna shares models for leaders to invest in their people in meaningful ways. He has authored several books, including Dying to Lead and Composed: The Heart and Science of Leading Under Pressure.
Bradley Metrock
Bradley Metrock is one of the top leaders in Conversational AI, leading a major conference for the multibillion-dollar industry called Project Voice 2023. He is the CEO of Project Voice which works to drive the adoption of conversational AI, and he hosts a podcast on AI as well. Bradley is also the General Partner in a venture capital fund that identifies and invests in emerging conversational AI companies.
Jim Morgan
Jim Morgan is the retired chairman and chief executive of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. When he became CEO, he inherited an unhealthy company culture. He decided to focus less on the need to sell more doughnuts, and more on a broader vision to “touch and enhance lives through the joy that is Krispy Kreme.” This approach is rooted in an intention to love his employees like Jesus loves us. By the time the company had made a significant turnaround in 2013, Jim claimed that a culture that glorified God was the root of their success.
Tom Nelson
After years as a pastor, Tom Nelson realized his work on Sundays neglected the congregation’s other 6 days of the week. To address this, he co-founded Made to Flourish, a network aimed at helping pastors integrate a theology of faith, work, and economics into their churches. He now helps other pastors who may realize a similar gap in their ministries to bridge the gap between Sunday’s worship with Monday through Friday’s work. Tom is the author of Work Matters and The Economics of Neighborly Love and serves as senior pastor of Christ Community Church in Kansas City. He holds advanced degrees from Dallas Theological Seminary and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
Why Attend A Convene Event?
Christian business leaders can benefit from our events that specialize in integrating faith with leadership. Many of Convene’s speakers offer practical strategies for aligning business decisions with Christian principles, helping our members ensure that their companies reflect their faith. Other speakers offer inspiration through personal stories that demonstrate leading with faith makes all things possible. Our events also provide an opportunity to connect with like-minded peers who share similar values and challenges. Building relationships within a community of Christian business leaders provides impactful support and collaboration.
Leading a business can be a demanding and sometimes isolating experience. Hearing from nationally recognized speakers and thought leaders who integrate faith with leadership can serve as an important reminder of our higher purpose. If you are seeking motivation or inspiration to lead with integrity, courage, and compassion, stories like those outlined above can be largely impactful.
By learning from experienced speakers, Christian business leaders can develop a leadership approach that not only drives business success but also leaves a lasting, positive impact on their employees, customers, and the broader community. These events equip leaders to create a legacy that honors God and exemplifies Christian values in the marketplace. Subscribe to Convene’s Newsletter to learn about our upcoming events!
Business leaders operate in a fast-paced world, where they are constantly faced with decisions. From small day-to-day choices to monumental decisions that have the potential to shape the future of their companies, a business leader’s ability to make confident and correct decisions is crucial. Still, the weight of these choices can feel overwhelming and it is not uncommon for business leaders to feel stress, doubt, or uncertainty as they are faced with a large quantity of decisions that impact their business and their employees. As a leader, making decisions is often the heart of the job, so the ability to make choices with confidence is very important.
The Importance Of Being A Confident Decision-Maker
What does it mean to be a confident decision-maker? A confident decision maker trusts their judgment and is willing to take responsibility for the outcomes of their choices. Turning to Scripture, Proverbs 16:9 reminds us that, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.“ This is an important verse that calls attention to the dynamics between our personal choices and God’s divine plan. It is important for business leaders to know where the role of prayer comes into play at work. Consider this: while you must be decisive in order to be a strong leader, seeking direction from the Lord’s wisdom can set you apart by offering peace and direction to your daily choices.
Pray About It: What Types Of Decisions Are The Most Challenging For You?
Some leaders are really good at making daily decisions, and others feel more confident, making large-scale choices. In your leadership role, you may find that some decisions are more difficult than others. From hiring choices to financial investments, or strategic directions to moral dilemmas, the more complex decisions have the potential for long-term consequences for your business’s stability, culture, and long-term success.
Recognizing your blind spots is important and pinning down the types of decisions that you struggle with can make a big difference in your leadership. Understanding your biases, perspectives, and experiences can help you better evaluate your judgment.
Remember, a confident decision maker trusts their judgment, so understanding your blind spots can make a big difference in your leadership. Psalm 139:23-24 says, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” While asking God to guide your decisions, you may start by asking God for wisdom about your blind spots.
The Role Of Prayer
Prayer offers us more than just confidence when making a tough decision. Christians know that prayer provides us with peace by inviting God into our lives. It also provides a deeper connection to God’s plan for you. Philippians 4:6 states, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Giving your worries to God through prayer is a practice we are called to throughout the Bible. Psalm 145:18 again reminds us, “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth” and Romans 12:12 says, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
How Business Leaders Who Use Prayer in Their Decision-Making Make Better Business Choices
Incorporating prayer into the decision-making process can lead to better business choices. This practice is about asking for guidance and aligning your decisions with a greater purpose. James 1:5 offers a powerful promise: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” When we seek wisdom through prayer, leaders are more likely to make decisions that are ethical, just, and beneficial in the long term.
Prayer also encourages us to take a step back and consider the broader implications of our choices. Talking to God and asking for His peace and wisdom through praying helps leaders evaluate decisions based on long-term outcomes and God’s plan. Your prayer practices can lead to more sustainable business practices and stronger relationships with employees and peers while fostering a more cohesive and motivated team.
We should also consider how prayer can serve as a source of inspiration and creativity. By seeking the Lord’s guidance, leaders may find new solutions or ideas that they hadn’t considered before. The practice of praying about your work, and praying about your role as a leader also fosters a sense of accountability, as we are reminded that our actions and decisions have consequences not only for ourselves but for those we lead.
At Convene, we believe that prayer plays a huge role in a leader’s decision-making. It offers a path to confidence, clarity, peace, and wisdom, which allows leaders to navigate the complexities of their roles with confidence and humility. By seeking God’s guidance, leaders can make decisions that are not only sound but also aligned with a higher purpose, leading to success that is both meaningful and enduring. If you want to bring prayer into your decision-making and if you are seeking divine guidance in your business choices, join a Convene team!
