Holy Ambition

Whether you are an entrepreneur (or aspiring entrepreneur), a business or nonprofit professional, or a business student, Holy Ambition: 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 seven 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 following:

  • How do I discern God’s will for my career? (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.

Where to Purchase

What Women Are Saying…

“As his daughters, we are made to participate in our heavenly Father’s creative and redemptive work. Yet the delicate dance of caring, providing, and becoming—at work and home—can be both exquisitely joyful and painful. When a woman wonders ‘How do I do this?,’ Taryn DeLong and Elise Crawford Gallagher compassionately remind her what our enemy wants us to forget: the keys to true joy and fruitful work are embracing our God-given nature and surrendering to his even more magnificent dreams for us.”

– Claire Dwyer, author and Founder of Write These Words

“Taryn DeLong and Elise Crawford Gallagher have offered a powerful resource for women who understand their work in the world as a vocation and yearn for it to be consonant with the values of their faith. Deeply personal and instructive, Holy Ambition covers an expansive array of topics, providing perspective and the encouragement that it is both possible and deeply rewarding to place values at the center of what one does, how one does it, and who one is in the world.”

– Kerry Alys Robinson, President and CEO of Catholic Charities

“I encourage you to approach this book with intention, whether you are single or married, with or without children. It is a rich tapestry of examples and insights that will guide you through the intricacies of being a Catholic woman in the workforce. Ultimately, it will leave you inspired to activate your unique gifts and embark on a journey of magnanimity, fearlessly crafting a bold and beautiful life.”

– from the foreword by Michelle Hillaert, former Executive Director of The GIVEN Institute