Have you ever held yourself back from a career opportunity because you didn’t want to appear too ambitious, boastful, or self-promoting?
I have. And it cost me an opportunity to demonstrate my leadership.
It started with an ordinary phone call with a friend. During our conversation, she mentioned a connection at a major cable television network. Suddenly, an idea came to mind. What if I brought together my company, the television network, and a prestigious university to host a high-profile event?
I was excited about the possibilities!
I shared my vision with colleagues, and we got to work. I helped bring the event to life, from developing the program and selecting speakers to coordinating invitations and building the guest list.
But when it came time to select an emcee, something unexpected happened.
I went silent.
Despite being the driving force behind the event, I hesitated to put myself forward.
You see, I wanted to be a good Christian girl. I believed humility meant staying in the background, letting my work speak for itself, and allowing others to take the spotlight.
Ironically, my boss had recently encouraged me during a performance review to become more visible and demonstrate my leadership abilities. Yet I struggled to reconcile that advice with my Christian values.
So when another colleague eagerly volunteered to emcee the event, I said nothing.
The event was a tremendous success. But as I watched someone else take center stage, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had missed an important opportunity.
I had created something meaningful, worked hard to make it happen, and then stepped aside when it was time to demonstrate my leadership.
I wasn’t practicing humility. I was playing small.
When Being a “Good Christian Girl” Holds You Back
Before becoming a Christian, my career was a major source of my identity. I was ambitious, driven, and constantly pursuing the next achievement.
When I came to faith, my priorities changed. I discovered a deeper sense of purpose rooted in God.
But my ambition didn’t disappear.
Instead, I began questioning whether pursuing career success, recognition, and influence was compatible with my faith.
So I started holding myself back.
I didn’t talk about my accomplishments because I didn’t want to appear boastful.
I avoided high-visibility opportunities because I thought humility required me to stay behind the scenes.
I hesitated to advocate for a raise because I worried it might seem greedy.
Sound familiar?
Over time, these beliefs limited my professional growth. And eventually, I had to confront an uncomfortable truth:
What I had been calling humility was actually keeping me from fully using the gifts and abilities God had given me.
God Never Asked You to Hide Your Light
As I spent more time studying scripture, my perspective began to change.
One verse became especially meaningful:
“Make your light shine, so others will see the good you do and will praise your Father in heaven.”
— Matthew 5:16 (CEV)
That verse challenged everything I had assumed about visibility and ambition.
Jesus didn’t call us to hide our light. He called us to let it shine.
I began to understand that my career wasn’t competing with my faith. My career could be an extension of my faith.
I could pursue professional growth without compromising my values.
I could advocate for myself without becoming arrogant.
I could develop influence without making everything about me.
And I could pursue leadership opportunities while keeping God at the center of my ambitions.
The key wasn’t abandoning ambition. It was learning to approach ambition differently.
It’s Time to Show Up, Speak Up, and Step Up
As a lawyer, corporate executive, entrepreneur, and women’s leadership coach, I’ve experienced the highs and lows of navigating a competitive workplace.
I’ve celebrated promotions and navigated job loss. I’ve worked with wonderful leaders and difficult managers. I’ve experienced both supportive colleagues and challenging workplace dynamics.
Through those experiences, I’ve learned that career success requires more than simply working hard and hoping someone notices.
It requires confidence, competence, influence, and the willingness to advocate for yourself.
And none of those things are incompatible with being a Christian woman.
In fact, when our confidence is rooted in God and our ambitions are guided by His principles, we can pursue meaningful careers without losing sight of who we are or what matters most.
That’s the message I want every Christian career woman to understand:
You don’t have to choose between being a woman of faith and a woman of influence. You can be both!
You can be humble and confident.
You can be gracious and assertive.
You can be ambitious and grounded in your faith.
And you can pursue career success while honoring God in the process.
So if you’ve been shrinking back, second-guessing yourself, or waiting for permission to pursue your next big opportunity, consider this your invitation to think differently.
Stop hiding your potential. Start developing your confidence, building your influence, and shining at work.
Because the workplace needs women who are willing to lead with both faith and excellence.
And that includes YOU.
Ready to Take Your Career to the Next Level?
This blog post is adapted from the introduction to my book, The Career Playbook for Christian Women: How to Develop Confidence, Build Influence, and Shine at Work.
Packed with biblical wisdom, real-world career strategies, and practical tools, this book will help you overcome self-doubt, navigate workplace dynamics, build influence, and pursue your professional goals with God at the center.
Your next career move starts with a new mindset!
About the Author
Ellie Nieves, JD, MBA, is a corporate executive, attorney, author, women’s leadership speaker, and career strategist passionate about helping women develop confidence, build influence, and advance their careers. She is the Founder of Leadership Strategies for Women and the Christian Career Women Network, a faith-based community dedicated to helping Christian working women thrive in their faith, life, and careers. Through her writing, speaking, and leadership development programs, Ellie equips women with practical strategies to lead with confidence, navigate workplace challenges, and pursue success with purpose.
