Polished Network

🎉 As the new year approaches, we’re reflecting on all God has done through the Polished Network. With your support, we’ve built a vibrant community of women integrating faith and work to glorify God and make a difference. 💛

✨ On January 1, 2025, we officially transition to 4word! Together, we’re combining 16 years of experience, resources, and programming to reach even more working women with leadership development, authentic community, and spiritual encouragement.

👉 Stay connected with us in this new chapter:
Follow on [Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn] and the Work, Love, Pray Podcast! Check us out at http://www.4wordwomen.org/

💡 Make your year-end gift today to help us start strong and continue this vital work.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we’re equipping women to make a Kingdom impact.

📣 Did you hear the news? 📣

Polished is merging with .

Or, as we’ve been saying around the (virtual) office, Polished is moving forward!

We truly couldn’t be more excited about this partnership.

Together, we will continue our shared mission of emboldening women in faith and work so they can reach their God-given potential with confidence.

None of this is possible without YOU.

As we come together, we need your support. The logistics of merging two organizations include a financial cost. We are raising $40,000 to carry us through to this next chapter. Will you consider giving to help us reach our goal?

In addition to the cost of merging our organizations, Polished is committed to continuing our imperative work of emboldening women in their faith and work through the end of 2024.

Your gift enables us to continue offering:

Chapters—We support 10+ local chapters across the nation. These chapters meet monthly to give women the connection they crave, the professional development they deserve, and the gospel encouragement they need!

Collaboratories—These leadership-development cohorts are designed for women who want to take their work to the next level. We currently have six groups, and several will launch in January!

FREE Resources - Our website hosts a collection of FREE resources to encourage women in their faith and work! From Bible studies to educational videos to professional development guides, our resources are accessible to all, thanks to the generosity of our donors!

Give today to help us close out the year strong!

Give today at this link: http://polishednetwork.org/give

According to McKinsey & Company’s 2023 report, women still hold only 30% of senior leadership roles globally, and only 8% of women in the workforce hold C-suite positions. It’s not a lack of ambition. According to an October 2023 article on http://forbes.com/ , women have just as much ambition as men. But even today, women are forced to navigate obstacles to their leadership advancement. When women struggle with being seen for our contributions, when we feel isolated or like an “only,” when we have a dream for what we want to accomplish through our work that is met with one roadblock after the other, it’s easy to wonder “do I really have what it takes?” or “can the work I do really make a difference?” or “how hard do I need to work to add value?”

This is an all-too-common experience for women that leads to negative repercussions for everyone. Diversity in leadership is proven to contribute to better business outcomes, and the lack of support for women in the workplace hinders the very diversity we need.

Keep reading full blog at PolishedNetwork.org/blog

🎁 The wrapping paper is gone, the gifts have been unwrapped, and now we find ourselves in that cozy, reflective in-between time before the new year.

It’s not too late to make your year-end giving donation to Polished Network!

✨ Help us reach our $40,000 goal to start a bold new chapter of emboldening women in their faith and work.

Every contribution, big or small, moves us 4word together. 💛
http://polishednetwork.org/give

“Christmas is based on an exchange of gifts, the gift of God to man – His unspeakable gift of His Son, and the gift of man to God – when we present our bodies a living sacrifice.”
-Maya Angelou

May this day remind us all that our greatest vocation is to live emboldened into the calling of sacrifice. You are a gift. May your life be lived as one, too.

T'was the night before Christmas,
when all through the house,
not a creature was stirring,
not even a mouse.

We hope this day lends itself to quiet reflection and rest — where not even the sound of the click of a mouse is found.

Merry Christmas Eve!

"Perfection is a myth, and yet perfectionism – and the pressure to be perfect in every aspect of our lives – is rampant.

If you are the only woman on the leadership team at work, perfection is a strategy to ensure that no one has reason to question your presence at the table. At the same time, you’re supposed to show up as the dutiful wife, the loving mother, the caring neighbor – and bring homemade cookies to the school fundraiser as well. After all, that’s what influencers on Instagram seem to be able to do.

Our inability to live up to an impossible standard contributes to greater self-doubt, thinking that everyone else can do it but you, and constantly feeling like you’re a failure.

But expecting perfection has another cost – we’re less likely to seek out what really matters to us. We may hesitate to make the comment in the meeting, take on a stretch assignment, or step into a new role. Perfectionism inhibits action."

Keep reading full blog at the link in the comments...

Women with supportive professional networks are 26% more likely to advance in their careers.

Do you have a network of women committed to helping you grow professionally in 2025?

Ambitious, Christ-centered women need a place to navigate obstacles, troubleshoot sticking points, and get grounded feedback to grow and reach their goals.

That’s why we created Polished Collaboratories.

➡️ For women who are committed to their faith and ambitious in their work.
➡️ For women who know collaboration is the key to propelling leadership and professional development.
➡️ For Jesus-loving women ready to level up and tired of going at it alone.

We have FIVE Collaboratories launching in January! Now is the time to join, friend!

Go to http://polishednetwork.org/collaboratories to learn more!