Holy Ambition: Thriving as a Catholic Woman at Work and at Home | Catholic Women in Business

by Taryn DeLong, Elise Crawford Gallagher, Michelle Hillaert (foreword)

Whether you are an entrepreneur (or aspiring entrepreneur), a business or nonprofit professional, or a business student, Holy Thriving as a Catholic Woman at Work and at Home will help you navigate work and life with Christ at the center of it all, recognizing that our most ambitious calling is to be saints.

Authors Taryn DeLong and Elise Crawford Gallagher draw from Catholic Women in Business, their online community of more than five thousand Catholic professional women, to answer some of the most pressing questions about what it means to fully live out your vocation as an ambitious Catholic businesswoman, recognizing that the specifics can vary from woman to woman and from one season of life to the next. Each chapter includes wisdom and insights from saints and courageous women past and present who serve as mentors, role models, and friends.

Some of the questions addressed in Holy Ambition include the

Am I discerning God’s will for my life correctly? (Learn from St. Teresa of Calcutta, who persevered during times when she could not hear God’s voice.) Is it OK to be ambitious and build wealth? (Be encouraged by St. Jane Frances de Chantal, who used her ambition and wealth for good—to protect her children.) How can I practice my faith in a secular environment? (Be inspired by St. Gianna Molla, who built up her medical practice with unwavering faith.) How can I cultivate good relationships and get along with difficult people? (Meet St. Thérèse of Lisieux, whose “little way” enabled her to love even the most irritating and disagreeable of her religious sisters.) How can I succeed at work while being open to new life? (Discover how St. Zélie Martin found the balance between work and family life.) How can I make a difference as a Catholic entrepreneur? (See how Catherine de Hueck Doherty fought against Communism by helping the poor, the very people targeted by the Communists.)   With the turn of each page, you will deepen your understanding of the feminine genius and discover how “women imbued with the spirit of the Gospel can do so much to aid humanity in not falling” (St. John Paul II). The lived experiences of these women will encourage you to discover and thrive in God’s unique and unrepeatable plan for your life.

Chapter questions for reflection and discussion make this the perfect choice for book clubs and small-group discussions.

192 pages, Paperback

Published October 25, 2024

Reviews

[Sophia Kiernan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good stuff but aimed at a younger/less feminist leaning audience than I. Glad it exists, I’m not the target!

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the multiple perspectives and how the authors integrated them into practical advice!

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Holy Ambition: Thriving as a Catholic Woman at Work and at Home” was an expectedly transformative book for me. I had never heard of Catholic Women in Business before, but after reading this book, I immediately joined their Facebook group and regular check their blog for new posts. Since my husband and I both have full-time management jobs (at different companies), I often feel judged by others for not being a stay-at-home mom. This book helped put things into perspective and gave me plenty of reasons to not feel guilty so long as I was still prioritizing God, marriage, and motherhood over my job.

This book was full of wisdom from so many women who are in similar situations to mine. I just needed to put more time and energy into discerning my spiritual gifts. I was in tears during this section of the book, because I had gone through a Called and Gifted Workshop hosted by my parish a year ago and still didn’t have true clarity on my charisms and felt extremely discouraged. This book reminded me that discernment is grounded in prayer, and I hadn’t established a regular prayer routine with God to ask the right questions and hear His answers. This practice led me to find Many Parts Ministries, and I finally found the answers to my charism questions!

I absolutely recommend this book to any woman who’s working and wants a closer relationship with God, her husband, and/or her children. It’s perfectly fine to read this book on your own, but each chapter has questions that could be discussion points for a small group or book club. I also highly recommend this book as a gift to the working women in your life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ave Maria Press for the opportunity to read an advanced reader's copy of this book for an honest review.

[Miranda Spear · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. As someone who struggles with how my career relates to God's calling on my life, this book was reassuring and helpful. All of the topics and examples were on point, and I enjoyed hearing about different situations and schools of thought that can help inform a Catholic businesswoman (whether or not you are in business). There were a few topics that I didn't think would apply to me (like chapter 7, that touches more on entrepreneurship), but the content discussed was actually some of the best for me.

It's a quick read, not hard to get through and is littered with gems. I made notes of my favorites to go back on. There are plenty of references to recent studies to back up claims for those who like data, and a list in the back or further reading or other places to continue the conversations. Each chapter also has discussion/reflection questions that I found helpful. Would be a great Bible Study or book club read! Highly recommend!!

[Jen Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first time I've considered my career through the lens of faith. I found this enlightening and helpful.

[Maggie Stohler · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t know if this needed to be a book, there were some interesting tidbits but I mostly skimmed this.