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What does leaving a legacy really look like when your work feels ordinary? It starts with stewarding what God has already put in your hands. Workmatters founder David Roth joins CEO Brandon Swoboda to talk about legacy, leadership transition, and finding purpose at work. After 20 years leading Workmatters, David explains how a moment of journaling while recovering from surgery told him it was time for new leadership. He also shares how the two of them built a healthy handoff, and what God formed in him along the way.  Whether you’re leading a company or building spreadsheets, this conversation shows that your work matters to God, and that your legacy is being built right where you are. ⏱️ Chapters 01:01 What kind of legacy will you leave?01:57 Welcome, David Roth02:43 What does it mean to leave a legacy?04:55 How do you know it’s time to step down?06:11 “Seven epiphanies from God”07:19 Handing your life’s work to a stranger09:29 The pressure of following a founder11:11 Monthly lunches and a healthy leadership transition13:21 Watching someone else lead your vision15:45 The leaders who shaped David’s faith at work18:42 What others say about David’s legacy21:04 Obedience, impact, and the team23:22 What God formed in David over 20 years26:06 Legacy is about people, not money26:46 What’s next: helping individuals flourish28:55 How to start leaving a legacy today30:33 Take the next step: Workmatters Institute -- 🎓 TAKE THE NEXT STEP Ready to connect your Sunday faith to your Monday work? Join the Workmatters Institute - a transformational 10-session course covering practical teaching, spiritual formation, leadership development, and workplace discipleship. 👉 Learn more: https://workmatters.org 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on faith, leadership, and finding purpose in your work. This episode is sponsored by Schuber Mitchell - https://www.schubermitchell.com/ #WorkMattersPodcast #FaithAndWork #ChristianLeadership  #WorkplaceCulture #ChristianEntrepreneur #PurposeDrivenWork

Toxic workplace or a company where people actually flourish?  Simmons Foods CEO Todd Simmons shares how faith, integrity, and putting people first built a healthy company culture. Third-generation leader Todd Simmons talks candidly about carrying CEO pressure as a Christ follower, the product recall that tested his company's integrity, and why ego has to be dealt with before healthy leadership can grow.  Todd also shares how Simmons Foods cares for nearly 10,000 team members through chaplaincy, generosity, and on-site health clinics built around shift workers' lives. Plus: why grace for yourself is where leading others well begins. ⏱️ CHAPTERS  00:00 Intro 01:00 Toxic culture vs. a company that puts people first 02:10 Meet Todd Simmons 04:28 How faith became part of Simmons Foods' culture 07:47 Healthy cultures make room for bold ideas09:15 Handling pressure as a Christian CEO 14:53 When your faith is tested: the recall decision 18:37 Integrity requires action 20:19 Building a people-first culture 22:00 On-site clinics for hourly team members 25:46 Should you put yourself first? 29:49 Grace, boldness, and caring for yourself 33:19 Take the next step: Work Matters Institute --- 🔗 CONNECT WITH TODD LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-simmons-3255936/ --- 🎓 TAKE THE NEXT STEP Ready to connect your Sunday faith to your Monday work? Join the Workmatters Institute - a transformational 10-session course covering practical teaching, spiritual formation, leadership development, and workplace discipleship. 👉 Learn more: https://workmatters.org 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on faith, leadership, and finding purpose in your work. This episode is sponsored by Schuber Mitchell - https://www.schubermitchell.com/ #WorkMattersPodcast #FaithAndWork #ChristianLeadership  #WorkplaceCulture #ChristianEntrepreneur #PurposeDrivenWork

Over 70% of professionals say they've struggled with imposter syndrome at some point in their career.  In this episode, Darrell and Brandon sit down with Bryan Fittin, CEO and founder of Go Rogue Studio. Bryan shares how he felt like a fraud leading a team of 40 at 25 years old, and why the feeling didn't go away even after landing Walmart as a client.  Together they talk about how imposter syndrome shows up at every stage of a career, why it isolates us, and how Christian professionals can respond through practical tools and a clearer picture of God's posture toward them. The tools include naming your inner critic, seeking small wins, and practicing gratitude. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 0:55 Welcome to the Work Matters Podcast 1:42 Why 20,000 people search for imposter syndrome every month 2:30 What is imposter syndrome? A working definition 3:40 The hidden loneliness of feeling like a fraud 5:15 Bryan's story: one of Verizon's youngest managers 7:55 How imposter syndrome shows up in your 40s, 50s, and 60s 13:56 Boldness vs. bravery 15:05 Reject it, embrace it, or deny it? What the Apostle Paul teaches 16:56 Recognize it, then go get a small win 19:21 How the kingdom of God flips the script 20:43 Name your imposter 21:53 Where is God when the imposter is loudest? 22:55 "No condemnation": how God sees you 25:27 Wisdom from a trusted circle of advisors 29:15 One takeaway: gratitude and "cease striving" 32:17 Where to find Bryan Fittin 32:43 Take the next step: Work Matters Institute --- 🔗 CONNECT WITH BRYAN LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/fittin/Website - https://goroguestudio.com/ --- 🎓 TAKE THE NEXT STEP Ready to connect your Sunday faith to your Monday work? Join the Work Matters Institute - a transformational 10-session course covering practical teaching, spiritual formation, leadership development, and workplace discipleship. 👉 Learn more: https://workmatters.org 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on faith, leadership, and finding purpose in your work. This episode is sponsored by Schuber Mitchell - https://www.schubermitchell.com/ #WorkMattersPodcast #FaithAndWork #ChristianLeadership  #WorkplaceCulture #ChristianEntrepreneur #PurposeDrivenWork

Learn three practical ways to pray when your job is hurting you, and why God isn't offended by angry, confused, or desperate prayers. Hosts Keisha Fowler and Darrell Harvey get honest about what it feels like to be broken by work, whether it's a toxic workplace, burnout from emotionally heavy work, or a job that looked perfect on paper but wasn't.  They share personal stories of prayer for problems at work, offer real strategies for prayer when overwhelmed, and walk through three prayer frameworks you can use the next time work hurts. ⏱️CHAPTERS [00:00] Intro [01:03] Welcome to the episode: how to pray when work hurts [01:33] When work breaks us  [03:42] Darrell's story: the job that should have been perfect [04:10] Where do you even start praying in the pain? [05:00] Petition prayers: "Get me out of here, God" [08:14] The long road to healing [10:19] You're not alone: the power of community [13:18] Prayers that soothe you while you're still in it [14:13] The wall between two prisoners: pain as connection to God [16:19] Slowing down and bringing your body into prayer [21:51] Three frameworks for prayer [22:14] Framework 1: Praying through liturgy [23:47] Framework 2: Writing your own liturgy [25:05] Framework 3: Reminding God who He is [26:36] The Prayer of Unknowing (Thomas Merton) [27:44] Closing: Work Matters Institute --- 🎓 TAKE THE NEXT STEP Ready to connect your Sunday faith to your Monday work? Join the Work Matters Institute - a transformational 10-session course covering practical teaching, spiritual formation, leadership development, and workplace discipleship. 👉 Learn more: https://workmatters.org 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on faith, leadership, and finding purpose in your work. This episode is sponsored by Schuber Mitchell - https://www.schubermitchell.com/ #WorkMattersPodcast #FaithAndWork #ChristianLeadership  #WorkplaceCulture #ChristianEntrepreneur #PurposeDrivenWork

We’re back with Season 3 of the Workmatters Podcast! In this first episode the Workmatter’s team answers the question every believer eventually asks about their job, purpose, and place in God's story. Whether you're behind a desk, on a job site, or between jobs right now, this conversation tackles the doubt that creeps in when work feels menial or disconnected from faith.  Darrell, Brandon, and Keisha dig into what the Bible actually says about faith and work, why most of us start the story of work in the wrong chapter (curse, not calling), and how finding purpose at work starts with seeing your skill set as something God is genuinely proud of. ⏱️CHAPTERS[00:00] Intro[01:09] Does My Work Matter to God?[06:58] Why We Doubt Our Work Matters[08:46] The Real Story of Work (Genesis 1 vs. Genesis 3)[14:12] Exodus 31: God's Bragging Rights Over Your Skillset[19:20] Why Unemployment Wounds Our Humanity[24:49] Learning to Receive When You're Used to Giving[29:33] 3 Practical Ways to Remember Your Work Matters[33:16] Closing & Work Matters Institute --- 🎓 TAKE THE NEXT STEPReady to connect your Sunday faith to your Monday work? Join the Work Matters Institute - a transformational 10-session course covering practical teaching, spiritual formation, leadership development, and workplace discipleship. 👉 Learn more: https://workmatters.org 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on faith, leadership, and finding purpose in your work. #WorkMattersPodcast #FaithAndWork #ChristianLeadership  #WorkplaceCulture #ChristianEntrepreneur #PurposeDrivenWork

Faith and Work - How to live out your faith at work with wisdom, legal clarity, and courage, without making it weird. HR and employment law expert Julia Oltmanns (Coca-Cola Consolidated, Zurich, Strategic People Partners) joins the Workmatters team to unpack what it actually means to be a disciple of Jesus at work - legally, practically, and relationally.  From starting a Christian employee resource group to praying before your day even begins, Julia shares hard-won wisdom on discernment, workplace boundaries, and building trust-based relationships that naturally open the door to faith conversations at work. ⏱️ CHAPTERS  [00:00] Intro [01:07] Meet Julia Oltmanns: HR, employment law & faith [03:31] Staying "neutral" vs. living out faith at work [04:54] Julia's awakening: what God really wanted from her at work [06:55] Starting a Christian employee resource group at Zurich [09:13] Whole-life discipleship and the faith-work gap [10:54] Practicing your faith at work — legally [12:18] Sharing your story without making it weird [14:01] Discernment: knowing when and how to engage [16:16] Demanding your rights vs. showing love [19:03] When your faith request gets denied [21:26] Persecution, blessing, and being a disciple at work [22:20] Case study: how Coca-Cola Consolidated shows up for employees [24:47] Living out love as a workplace pillar [25:58] How love opens doors to faith conversations [29:21] One thing to try tomorrow: start with prayer [31:14] Where to find Julia Oltmanns --- 🔗 CONNECT WITH JULIA LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-oltmanns/ --- 🎓 TAKE THE NEXT STEP Ready to connect your Sunday faith to your Monday work? Join the Work Matters Institute - a transformational 10-session course covering practical teaching, spiritual formation, leadership development, and workplace discipleship. 👉 Learn more: https://workmatters.org 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on faith, leadership, and finding purpose in your work. #WorkMattersPodcast #FaithAndWork #ChristianLeadership  #WorkplaceCulture #ChristianEntrepreneur #PurposeDrivenWork

Finding Purpose at Work - Realtor and nonprofit founder Jennifer Cristofaro shares how a near-fatal heart attack rewired the way she saw success, calling, and business as a mission field. Jennifer, co-founder of Mission House Real Estate and the food-truck ministry For the Love, unpacks what it looks like when your vocation and your mission stop competing and start working together.  Darrell and Brandon dig into faith and work integration, Christian leadership in business, and what it actually costs to build a company around generosity instead of gain. ⏱️ CHAPTERS[00:59] Meet Jennifer Cristofaro[02:52] "I stopped dreaming for myself and started dreaming for others"[04:00] Her favorite quote on committed, thoughtful action[06:37] The origin story of the For the Love food truck[07:51] Living on "the edge of yikes"[09:11] What Neighbor Night is really about[10:14] Lives changed around the table[13:09] Growing to 4 locations, 1,400 people fed weekly[14:18] Why real estate is kingdom work[16:41] Navigating hard ethical moments in business[17:27] "People are the purpose. Work is the mission field."[18:11] Discerning the Holy Spirit's voice in daily decisions[19:51] Building a Christ-centered team culture[20:34] The heart attack that changed everything[23:11] 3 things you can do right now to rethink your work[26:19] Where to find Mission House Real Estate & For the Love --- 🔗 CONNECT WITH JENNIFERMission House: https://missionhouserealestate.com/For the Love: https://www.forthelovenwa.com/ --- 🎓 TAKE THE NEXT STEPReady to connect your Sunday faith to your Monday work? Join the Work Matters Institute — a transformational 10-session course covering practical teaching, spiritual formation, leadership development, and workplace discipleship.👉 Learn more: https://workmatters.org 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on faith, leadership, and finding purpose in your work. #WorkMattersPodcast #FaithAndWork #ChristianLeadership  #WorkplaceCulture #ChristianEntrepreneur #PurposeDrivenWork

Faith and work integration means wrestling honestly with how fast the world is changing, including AI, without losing sight of who we are. In this episode, you'll learn why every leader is headed toward a defining moment: will you treat people as a cost to manage, or as true image bearers of Christ entrusted to your stewardship? Darrell sits down with Matt Randerson, Founder & CEO of Human Culture, to explore christian leadership in business through the lens of AI adoption. Matt shares why efficiency isn't the whole story, how leaders can redeploy human capital instead of cutting it, and why using AI doesn't make you "less human"  it can actually reconnect you with your calling to create as an image bearer of God. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 0:23 – Welcome to the Workmatters Podcast 1:00 – Meet Matt Randerson, Founder & CEO of Human Culture2:28 – Family update: baby #2 on the way3:20 – Matt's faith story and how he landed in business, not ministry4:49 – Why Matt started Human Culture: protecting the human element6:19 – What Human Culture actually does for organizations7:41 – How leaders and companies are really responding to AI8:54 – Why AI's rapid rise triggers identity questions10:06 – The moment every leader will face: commodity or image bearer?12:09 – Jensen Huang's quote on imagination vs. layoffs13:56 – Redeploying human capital instead of cutting it17:16 – AI, distraction, and our relationship with God17:55 – Rewiring the narratives we tell ourselves about AI20:39 – Is using AI "cheating"? Wrestling with integrity22:50 – Reintroducing friction: Matt's practice for staying human26:03 – Two practical steps: engage your narrative, go create28:39 – Rapid-fire: unplugging, stargazing, and country music30:15 – How to connect with Matt and Human Culture ---- 🔗 CONNECT WITH MATT Human Culture: https://www.humanculture.ai/ Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-randerson/ ---- 🎓 TAKE THE NEXT STEP Ready to connect your Sunday faith to your Monday work? Join the Work Matters Institute — a transformational 10-session course covering practical teaching, spiritual formation, leadership development, and workplace discipleship. 👉 Learn more: https://workmatters.org 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on faith, leadership, and finding purpose in your work. #WorkMattersPodcast #FaithAndWork #ChristianLeadership #BlueCollar #FamilyBusiness #EdgertonGear #CraftsmanWithCharacter #WorkplaceCulture #ChristianEntrepreneur #PurposeDrivenWork

He swore he'd never come back to the family business. 34 years later, Dave Hataj — along with his sons Jason and Caleb — is running Edgerton Gear as a place where faith and work aren't separate at all. In this episode of the Work Matters Podcast, Dave, Jason, and Caleb Hataj open up about generational dysfunction, burnout, a father-son surrender in the middle of the night, and what it actually looks like to bring God into a blue-collar machine shop every single day. 🔑 In this episode:- Why Dave initially refused to return to the family business- The 20-year wrestling match that finally broke in a moment of surrender- How burnout and health struggles reshaped Dave's leadership- Caleb and Jason's honest take on growing up in the shop- Breaking generational cycles of dysfunction- What "embracing the suck" really means- Three practical ways to bring your faith into your workday ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS00:41 – Meet Dave, Jason & Caleb Hataj01:24 – Introducing Edgerton Gear & Craftsman with Character02:23 – When faith and work first clicked for Dave03:08 – Regent College and the calling he tried to run from03:45 – The vocational test that sent him home04:29 – Wrestling with God for 20 years05:33 – The bedroom surrender that changed everything06:54 – From "prison" to "happy place"07:31 – Burnout, health issues & changing the culture08:37 – Losing employees who wanted "the old Dave" back10:34 – Caleb's winding path back to Edgerton Gear12:23 – Jason's story & Dave's dinner-table faith lessons13:56 – The Isle Royale trip and healing as a family15:56 – Discipleship of work & breaking generational cycles17:52 – "Embrace the suck": what stress reveals in us19:46 – What it's really like working together as family21:07 – Advice for young people starting their careers22:11 – Why work itself is good — not just a means to an end23:40 – Jason's honest struggle to keep God in focus daily25:45 – Encouragement for every listener26:17 – 3 practical ways to practice your faith at work29:12 – Recap: awareness, brokenness, influence29:46 – Where to find Edgerton Gear & Craftsman with Character30:29 – Closing thoughts & final encouragement 🔗 CONNECT WITH DAVE, JASON & CALEBEdgerton Gear: https://edgertongear.comCraftsman with Character: https://www.cwcharacter.org/Dave's book: "Good Work: How Blue Collar Business Can Change Lives, Communities, and the World" 🎓 TAKE THE NEXT STEPReady to connect your Sunday faith to your Monday work? Join the Work Matters Institute — a transformational 10-session course covering practical teaching, spiritual formation, leadership development, and workplace discipleship.👉 Learn more: https://workmatters.org 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on faith, leadership, and finding purpose in your work. #WorkMattersPodcast #FaithAndWork #ChristianLeadership #BlueCollar #FamilyBusiness #EdgertonGear #CraftsmanWithCharacter #WorkplaceCulture #ChristianEntrepreneur #PurposeDrivenWork

Finding purpose at work — Idalia LeJune shares how a career plateau and season of burnout led her from a "check-the-box" faith to a genuine relationship with God that transformed how she shows up in the workplace every day. A first-generation Mexican-American and senior relationship manager in the financial industry, Idalia spent over 25 years chasing achievement before discovering that true purpose at work isn't about the next title or paycheck. In this episode, she opens up about choosing obedience over optics when she stepped back in her career, the workplace conflict that cracked her open to a new way of leading, and how integrating faith at work became her personal mission field — no overseas trip required. ⏱️Chapters [00:00] Intro[00:45] Meet Idalia: Senior Relationship Manager & 2025 Rising Star [02:09] Her Dad's Work Ethic and What Drove Her Early Career [04:59] When Faith Was Just a "Check the Box" [05:55] The 2023 Breaking Point — Career Plateau, Unbalanced Life [07:03] The Trifecta: How She Reset Her Spirit, Body, and Mind [07:37] The Biggest Career Decision She Ever Made [09:36] How She Found Work Matters and Said Yes to the Conference [13:34] What Happened in the Parking Lot After the Conference [15:37] A Workplace Conflict That Changed Everything [17:16]Faith at Work Without Leaving Your Job [20:41] What God Is Doing in Her This Year: Obedience and Listening [22:07] The Airplane Story — When God Nudged Her Toward a Stranger [29:09] Advice for Anyone Feeling the Stirring Right Now 🔗Resources & Links https://www.workmatters.org/ https://www.corebridgefinancial.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonswoboda/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrel-harvey-80703a60/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/idalia-salazar-lejune-98352321/ If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your pastor or a coworker who needs to hear it.

What happens between Sunday morning and Monday morning? For most Christians, there's a significant gap, and it's costing them in the workplace.  In this episode, we sit down with Matt Rusten, President of Made to Flourish and author of the new book Pastoring for Monday, to talk about one of the most overlooked areas of discipleship in the local church: work. In this episode, you'll learn: The current state of faith and work discipleship in local churches — and the three most common gapsWhy most pastors resist adding "one more thing" — and how to reframe the conversationHow Made to Flourish comes alongside churches through ideas, training, and multiplying leadersAnd more! ⏱️Chapters 00:00 — The Sunday-to-Monday Gap: Why Most Christians Feel Alone at Work  01:02 — Introducing Matt Rusten & Pastoring for Monday  03:08 — The Current State of Faith & Work in the Local Church  05:28 — Why Pastors Resist (And How to Change the Conversation)  09:24 — What Is Made to Flourish? Ideas, Training & Multiplying Leaders  14:20 — What Happens When a Church Says Yes to Workplace Discipleship  18:29 — The "Missionary Elevation" Problem & How It Hurts Workers in the Pew 20:10 — How Work Spiritually Forms Us (Including Through Struggle)  22:16 — Matt's Five S's: A Simple Commute Practice to Meet God at Work  26:19 — How YOU Can Help Your Church Disciple People for the Workplace 🔗Resources & Links Pastoring for Monday by Matt Rusten — available on Amazon and major book retailersMade to Flourish: madetoflourish.orgCommon Good Magazine — subscribe at madetoflourish.orgConnect with Matt - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-rusten-95000940/ — Want to go deeper? Take the Workmatters Institute Course — a 10-session online course connecting Sunday faith to Monday work. Visit https://www.workmatters.org/our-courses to get started. If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your pastor or a coworker who needs to hear it.

Summary What happens when creativity, faith, and purpose collide in a lifelong career? In this episode of The Workmatters podcast, listeners are invited into the rich, heartfelt journey of renowned designer Wilson W. Smith III, a man whose forty-one-year career at Nike was defined by more than just legendary footwear. Guided by hosts Brandon Swoboda and Darrel Harvey, the conversation dives into the real stories behind Wilson’s path from aspiring architect to design director at Nike, his unexpected entry into footwear, and the early days of collaborating with icons like Michael Jordan and Serena Williams. But what truly sets this episode apart is how Wilson intertwines his creative challenges and breakthroughs with his evolving faith, sharing candidly about moments where doubt turned into inspiration through prayer, mentorship, and the belief of others. Listeners will be inspired by the “Spark” acronym Wilson developed for encouraging students at Liberty University—story, passion, art, reflection, and knowledge that leads to action—all centered around living out one’s unique calling. Personal anecdotes, like his influential design of the Jordan 17 and the powerful impact of community projects such as the Doernbecher Freestyle Program, offer insights not just into the world of design, but into what it means to integrate faith, creativity, and work. For anyone longing to see their professional life as a place of purpose and calling, this episode is a blueprint for letting creativity and faith work together in shaping not just products, but lives.  Listen today!   Show Notes 00:00 Wilson’s Career and Achievements 03:17 Growing Up with Faith and Religion 12:11 Wilson’s Early Career at Nike 14:06 Designing for Michael Jordan 17:00 Facing Self-Reflection and Identity Challenges 21:40 Creating Music for Michael Jordan Sneakers 27:12 How Design Philosophy and Ministry Intersect 32:29 Serena Williams’ Design Crew 40:14 Closing Thoughts Links Workmatters Invite Brandon or Darrel to Speak  Wilson W. Smith III What should we discuss next?

Summary Welcome to The Workmatters Podcast! In today’s episode, hosts Brandon Swoboda and Darrel Harvey sit down with Erin Kiefer, the chairman and owner of the Arkansas-based manufacturing company Kiefer Sage. Erin shares her journey of integrating faith and leadership in a family business, from her earliest memories growing up in a company that puts people first, to stepping into the CEO role during challenging times. You’ll hear Erin open up about the redemptive side of business, where putting people over profit isn’t just a philosophy, but a lived value that shapes every decision. She discusses the legacy of innovation and care seeded by her father, the unique challenges of working with family, and the powerful lessons in humility, rest, and reliance on God during seasons of crisis and growth. Whether you’re a business leader, a family employee, or someone looking to bring more meaning to your work, Erin’s insights on leading with heart, loving your team, and trusting God with your calling are sure to inspire. Ready to dive in? Let’s get started!   Show Notes 00:00 Introduction 04:56 Family Relocation and New Beginnings 11:56 Balancing Career Growth and Family 19:57 Faithful Leadership Through Struggles 24:26 Supporting Employees with Compassion 27:54 Closing Thoughts Links Brandon Swoboda Darrel Harvey Workmatters Erin Kiefer Kiefer Sage *Jotto Desk has been rebranded to Tenhold.

Summary Welcome to another episode of The Workmatters Podcast, where we explore the intersection of faith and work through the real-life stories of everyday leaders. This week, hosts Brandon Swoboda and Darrel Harvey are joined by Steve Blair, the Chief People Officer at Fulcrum Collective, whose extensive background in leadership spans more than twenty-five years across renowned companies such as Procter & Gamble, Ghirardelli Chocolate, and Harvest Group. Not only is Steve a champion for creating work cultures people can love, but he is also a longtime chairman of the Workmatters board and the much-loved emcee of the organization’s annual conference. In this conversation, Steve takes us on a journey from his early faith experience to his discovery of what it really means to be authentic—not compartmentalizing his faith, but weaving it into every aspect of his professional life. He tells candid stories of what it was like to navigate workplace culture shifts, and how leaders and managers can empower teams by living out company values in practical, meaningful ways. Listeners will hear about the transformative power of values-based leadership, practical advice for influencing workplace culture at any level, and a simple yet profound framework for managers and teams: to see, know, meet, challenge, and celebrate the people around them.  Whether you’re an executive or just starting, Steve offers encouragement and tangible steps to make your work matter and to live out your calling every day. Join us as we dive into how you can bring renewal to your workplace, partner with others in faith, and let your life and leadership become a visible testimony of what you believe! Show Notes 00:00 Introduction 03:42 Balancing Faith and Career 14:10 Authentic Leadership Rooted in Faith 18:52 The Journey to Meaningful Work Connections 22:58 Aligning Personal and Company Values 24:30 Making Decisions Prioritizing Company Values 32:17 Understanding Company Values in Roles 44:43 Closing Thoughts Links Brandon Swoboda Darrel Harvey Workmatters Steve Blair Fulcrum Collective

Summary Welcome to another episode of The Workmatters Podcast! Today, Brandon Swoboda and Keisha Fowler are joined by Jessica Uranga, founder and CEO of Purpose Brands 414, a missional nonprofit serving as a strategic parent organization for purpose-driven family brands and ministries, including the impactful Beautiful Lives Thrift Boutique. Raised as a missionary kid, Jessica watched her parents give up the American dream for a life of service in Mexico, an experience that deeply shaped her view of what it means to serve God both inside and outside the church. Jessica recounts pivotal childhood memories, from helping in her family’s peanut mill to cleaning houses as a teenager, where she first learned to see every job as an act of worship. She explains how her upbringing and entrepreneurial spirit propelled her to create dignified, hope-filled environments in the workplace—a journey that now blesses women, families, and whole communities through Beautiful Lives Thrift Boutique. Additionally, you’ll hear Jessica’s insights on leadership, the power of praying with and for customers, and the ways community and coaching help her teams thrive together. She offers practical steps for anyone wanting to infuse their everyday work with hope, prayer, and purpose, and reminds us that ministry isn’t confined to the walls of a church. Join us for a conversation filled with authenticity, actionable wisdom, and encouragement for your own faith-at-work journey. Don’t miss this episode as we discover what it really looks like to know God and make Him known in the marketplace, at home, and everywhere in between! Show Notes 00:00 Introduction 04:10 How Jessica’s Father Modeled Faith in Business 09:25 Jessica’s Entrepreneurial Mindset 16:18 Creating a Welcoming Thrift Experience 19:58 The Impact of Prayer and Testimonies 21:08 Balancing Innovation with Faith 30:37 Closing Thoughts Links Brandon Swoboda Darrel Harvey Workmatters Jessica Uranga Purpose Brands 414