Praying as I Climb the Corporate Ladder

By Rosilyn Houston

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I remember the first time I had to present to my CEO. I was literally shaking and felt crippled by fear. I still felt like I was 19 and working as a teller at the bank. Who was I to be standing in front of a man who oversaw billions of dollars?

The entire time I was driving over to the meeting the enemy was telling me why I wasn’t good enough, why I was disqualified, and trying to block me from walking in my purpose. I knew I wasn’t just facing job nerves: there was something spiritual going on, too.

I called my spiritual mentor and told her how I was shaking in my boots. I was terrified I would open my mouth and something unintelligent would come out. Right then, she verbally called that spirit of fear out and rebuked the evil plan of the enemy to try and cloud my mind with self-doubt. She prayed with faith over me for boldness and conviction.

She reminded me of who I was in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) and that I have already been qualified by God (2 Corinthians 3:5).  He calls me more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37) and He has already blessed all that I put my hand and mind to accomplish (Psalm 90:17). This is His promise to his children.

She reminded me that if God allowed me the opportunity to present to the CEO, this was way more than I could even imagine before I received the invitation.

She reminded me that this was not about me anyway but it was about God getting the glory. I was prepared, I was positioned, and I was backed by the full power of the Holy Spirit to share the ideas and strategies God has given me to help move my company forward. When I hung up the phone I was so on fire and comforted by God’s word.

When we feel less than, intimidated, anxious, or just low we need to remind ourselves who we are and who our good-good Father in Heaven is. God’s truth will always counter-punch the devil’s lies. We must get so much of God’s truth in us so when the devil delivers a lie blow, the truth in us will return a power packed combination of God’s words of affirmation and confirmation about our revealed power and purpose in Him.

I may have started as a bank teller, but now serve as Chief Human Resource Officer for an 11,000 employee-based global organization. My job requires high qualification, and expert knowledge. Was I experienced at all of that? No, but I was qualified. And, I prepared myself by committing to embrace new opportunities even if it meant I had to learn and grow on the job.

Some of that preparation for each job transition has been technical: I’ve needed to learn skills, take risks, and study up. But each of those transitions has also required spiritual preparation: and I can say with conviction that the success that I've achieved in each of the roles I've been blessed to have had less to do with my ability and more to do with God's power and His perfect will for my life.

Many times I’ve had to overcome my unbelief and obvious self-limitations—just like that day I had to do my first high-stake presentation—and seek God for the courage, confidence, and conviction to believe his word. I’ve had to remind myself that God has called me to being excellent in the place and job that I’m in: working with loyalty, commitment, and integrity. I’ve trusted God to be my ultimate leadership and development coach, doing everything for His glory in the place I’m at. After all, God says we are the light of the world and this light should be evident in the quality of our work, our work ethic, and the loyalty to our workplaces.

And, in time, people have noticed. God has given opportunities to move up. In some of those opportunities, I felt confident and prepared. Others? Not so much. In fact, several I nearly turned down because I was wrestling with fear and self-doubt. How I feel about my competence levels is a terrible indicator of whether I can do the job or whether God has called me to it. I’ve needed to walk by faith in these situations.

Whether in my first position as a teller or now as a Senior Executive in the Boardroom: God’s invitation to me is the same. I am to give my best unto the glory of God. I stopped thinking about seeking positions years ago and I put my energy toward seeking power from God to help me bring out my full potential right where I was planted. I pray for supernatural knowledge, wisdom, tenacity, and grit so I can add value at the highest levels.

I go to work intentionally looking to serve my leaders, my colleagues, and my customers with excellence.

I seek wisdom and discernment from God to help me stir up the gifts that he placed inside of me so I can be a blessing in every capacity that I serve; to my family, my ministry, my company, and my community.

I preach to myself constantly to help me keep focus, and sometimes when I waiver - I’m reminded of God’s word and his truth concerning me. I may even phone a friend who will agree with faith about these truths. It is always—always and forever—about God and His glory, and He will provide everything that we need every step of the way.

Rosilyn Houston

Rosilyn Houston is Senior Executive Vice President and the head of U.S. Human Resources for BBVA USA. She is the highest ranking female and the first African American to serve on the bank's management committee (C-Suite). Rosilyn has been recognized on several prominent lists in America to include, Most Powerful Women in Banking by American Banker, Most Powerful Female Executive by Fortune, Most Powerful Corporate Executive and Most Powerful Woman in Business by Black Enterprise, Inc. Rosilyn and her husband Ron are Southern CA natives, serving as small group leaders at Church of the Highlands, and proud parents of three.

The Propel Women Leadership Summit is a one-day event for women who want to grow their leadership skills and capacity in pursuit of the calling God has placed on their life. Attendees will receive world-class training from a globally-recognized faculty who will equip them with wisdom and actionable takeaways that are applicable across any industry. Learn more here ▸