Flourishing at The Intersection of Faith and Work w/ Steve French
In this episode of Soul Care Conversations, Mindy Caliguire is joined by Steve French to explore the profound connection between spiritual formation and leadership in the marketplace.
From high-stakes leadership in New York City to his work with the Harvard Human Flourishing Program, Steve shares insights on why the marketplace is a high calling and how practices like journaling, community, and humility are essential for a leader’s soul.
In this episode, we discuss:
The research behind human flourishing and why work is a vital pathway for it.
A fresh perspective on Luke 5 and what it means to turn "ownership" over to God.
The transformative power of forgiveness in professional environments.
Practical rhythms for maintaining spiritual health in high-pressure roles.
Chapters:0:00 — Introduction & Steve's Background
3:05 — Harvard Human Flourishing Program
7:26 — LifeWork Leadership Origin Story
11:31 — Faith, Work & the Purpose of Profit
14:14 — Jesus, Peter & the Theology of Business (Luke 5)
17:25 — Surrendering Ownership — What 'Leaving Everything' Really Means
28:38 — Soul Care in High-Stakes Leadership
29:31 — Spiritual Practices: Journaling, Community & Daily Surrender
36:08 — Leading The King's College Through Crisis
49:21 — Leadership Trauma & the Resistance to Receiving Care
1:08:39 — The Forgiveness Research — Its Impact on Flourishing
1:15:04 — Barna's Kinnaman: Work as the Last Institution People Haven't Given Up On
1:17:08 — Final Challenge: The Practice of Humility
Resources Mentioned:
LX Partners: https://lxpartners.org
Harvard Human Flourishing Program: https://hfh.fas.harvard.edu
Barna Group: https://barna.com
Soul Care: https://soulcare.com
Prayer of Surrender:
Jesus,
i am a humble, lowly servant
Take me; take all of me.
Add anything, take anything away
With any cost, with any price.
Make me Yours completely, wholly.
May i not be remembered for the shape of my face,
or the way i wear my hair, or the people i know,
or the crowds i’ve addressed.
May i be known for loving You.
For carrying a dream.
For building bridges to the lost, and broken and hurting in this world.
May i live this day as if Jesus were in my place.
May everything accomplished in my simple life bring honor and glory to You.
Take my human faults and failures, and use them to remind those who know me
that only You are God, and i will always just be
(your name here).
Connect with Steve French: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-french-0272b35/Facebook
(LX Partners): https://www.facebook.com/LXPartners/
#SoulCare #Leadership #FaithAndWork #HumanFlourishing #SpiritualFormation #MarketplaceMinistry