What kind of leadership creates lasting Kingdom impact? In today’s episode, Tami Heim, president of the Christian Leadership Alliance, shares transformative insights on developing women leaders, fostering cross-gender collaboration, and embracing mentorship to inspire and empower others.
Listen to the Audio
Listen in Apple Podcasts | Listen in Spotify | Listen in YouTube Music
In this episode:
Tami Heim's Leadership Journey
- Mentorship Influence:
- Emphasized the importance of mentors who believed in her potential and held her accountable. (04:02)
- Key question from a 15-year mentor: "What is it about your leadership that's creating this outcome?" shaped her self-reflection and accountability as a leader. (04:42)
- Career Path Highlights:
- Started in retail, working her way up from entry-level roles to leadership positions. (09:13)
- Joined Borders as a Territorial Executive Vice President, later becoming President during a time of significant disruption in the retail industry. (10:07)
- Transitioned to Christian publishing, overseeing Bible projects and Christian content. (11:00)
- Currently leads at Christian Leadership Alliance, utilizing her diverse experiences to equip leaders for Kingdom impact. (11:37)
Mentoring and Leadership Development
- Mentorship Practices:
- Advocates for a mentoring culture rather than rigid programs, allowing organic relationships to develop. (13:05)
- Successful mentorship involves trust, shared values, and understanding mentees' perspectives. (13:38)
- Best Practices for Developing Leaders:
- Encourages leaders to ask reflective questions that promote accountability and self-awareness. (14:26)
- Highlights the value of listening as a key skill in effective leadership and mentoring. (15:13)
Women's Retreats and Building Relationships
- Tami shares about facilitating women's retreats:
- Focused on creating environments that allow relationships to grow naturally. (18:26)
- Gently guided, unlike structured retreats with lessons or tight schedules. (19:38)
- Outcomes often include meaningful friendships and collaborations on Kingdom initiatives. (20:08)
Women’s Leadership Across Sectors
- Differences between marketplace and faith-based sectors:
- Success depends on individuals bringing their best to the situation. (20:58)
- Emphasis on the biblical design of men and women complementing each other. (21:11)
- Reference to Love & Respect principles on mutual submission and sacrifice in relationships and work. (21:22)
- Importance of work as worship:
- Inspired by Bill Hendricks' work highlighting the integration of faith and work. (21:39)
- Collaboration between men and women accelerates when work is viewed as an act of worship. (22:50)
Women Entrepreneurs and Leaders
- Growth in women-owned businesses and women-led ministries:
- Driven by grit, passion, and a desire to address pain points. (24:13)
- Women tend to pursue entrepreneurial paths when deeply called to make a difference. (24:45)
- Example of increasing female leadership:
- Christian Leadership Alliance saw growth from 15% women to nearly 50% over 20 years. (25:04)
- Women gain leadership opportunities, excel, and are called to step into higher roles. (25:20)
Research on Women in Leadership
- Tami highlights Deana Porterfield’s research on women leaders:
- Examined common traits of women leading Christian organizations. (26:34)
- Found eight universal characteristics shared by successful female leaders. (26:47)
- Traits include being pursued into roles, having male sponsors, understanding institutional culture, and feeling deeply called to lead. (28:12)
- Observations on women’s leadership tendencies:
- Women often don’t actively pursue leadership roles but are invited into them. (27:47)
- Leadership decisions are heavily influenced by prayer and discernment of God’s will. (29:14)
Broader Shifts in Christian Leadership
- Both Tami and Al observe significant growth in female leadership within Christian organizations over the past 20 years. (29:42)
- Al notes similar trends among top leaders across Christian organizations, reflecting broader cultural and institutional shifts. (30:05)
Global Perspective on Women Leaders
- Global Trajectory and Observations:
- Cultural contexts influence male-female dynamics globally, but biblical guidelines remain universal. (33:59)
- Women in third-world countries often lead out of necessity to care for families in the absence of male support. (35:17)
- Microlending organizations like Opportunity International show women’s leadership produces higher returns and creates sustainable environments. (35:25)
- Encounters at Lausanne Congress (Seoul):
- Engaged with women leaders from India, Cyprus, Jamaica, and the Congo. (34:42)
- Women leaders exhibit resilience and embrace roles as shepherd-leaders, balancing provision, protection, and fostering God's presence. (36:35)
- Personal transformation for leaders who reframe their roles through biblical principles. (37:02)
Generational Differences in Female Leaders
- Young Female Leaders (Millennials and Gen Z):
- Exhibit confidence in self-expression and engage in candid discussions. (38:52)
- Navigate life stages such as professional growth, marriage, family, and faith ownership. (39:13)
- Wrestle with universal questions of identity, purpose, and impact, while balancing life responsibilities. (39:53)
- Similarities Across Generations:
- Thriving in leadership is tied to confidence in God, spiritual discipline, and community support, transcending generation, gender, or ethnicity. (40:40)
- Seasons of life remain constant, though timing and decisions may vary. (40:43)
- Research Findings:
- Study with Azusa Pacific University highlights spiritual practices that enable Christian leaders to thrive. (41:00)
- Mentorship is crucial for younger leaders to avoid missteps and follow a straighter path to flourishing. (41:56)
Legacy and Opportunities for Women Leaders
- Impact of Trailblazers:
- Younger generations benefit from paths forged by earlier female leaders. (43:17)
- Personal Reflections:
- Tami's daughters reflect diverse paths, staying true to their gifts. (43:00)
- Today’s women embrace various roles, from entrepreneurs to ministry leaders, supported by a growing network of female mentors. (43:53)
- Options for women have expanded due to increased female leadership and mentorship opportunities. (44:06)
Final Encouragement
- Importance of asking, "What is it about my leadership that caused that outcome?" (51:04)
- Recognizing and learning from both successes and challenges. (51:16)
- Highlighted the "three guides" framework: Wise Guide, Side Guide, Surprise Guide (developed by Dr. Teresa Moon). (51:22)
- Embracing God’s design for men and women working together brings the Kingdom to Earth. (51:44)
- Aligning leadership with God's good, perfect, and holy will. (52:00)
Read the Transcript
Read a complete, word-for-word transcript of the episode
FOLLOW OUR HOST
Follow our Host, Al Lopus, on LinkedIn & Twitter.
Email our host at al@workplaces.org