The Power of Faith, Community, and Collaboration in Business

Welcome to The Christian Entrepreneurs Podcast! I’m your host, Annemarie Cross, and today, we’re welcoming back a truly inspiring guest—Caroline Mendez. If you heard her first episode, you already know the depth of wisdom she brings. If this is your first time hearing from her, you’re in for something special!

Caroline is a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ, a loving wife and mother, a successful businesswoman, and a fierce advocate for Christian women in leadership. She understands firsthand the challenges and triumphs of walking boldly in faith while building a thriving business, and today, she’s here to share powerful insights that will encourage and equip you for your own journey.

In this episode, we’re talking about what it really means to be a trailblazer—how God equips those who step out in faith, the strength found in community, and why collaboration is far more powerful than competition. Caroline also gives us a behind-the-scenes look at her latest book, Trailblazers 2025, which captures the inspiring stories of Christian women leaders making a kingdom impact.

If you've ever wondered how to grow in self-awareness, navigate challenges with grace, and fully step into the calling God has placed on your life, this conversation is for you. So grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and get ready to be inspired. Let’s jump in!

Here are three key takeaways:

Power of Community: Caroline emphasizes the importance of surrounding yourself with a supportive community. Engage with those who are at or above your level to foster growth and shared success.
God-Given Success: Trailblazers carry unique callings which God equips them for. Even when the journey is challenging, staying obedient can lead to remarkable growth and impact.
Attributes of Trailblazers: Self-awareness is a crucial trait for leaders. Understanding how you come across and being open to growth can significantly enhance your leadership journey.

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Continue the conversation about this podcast episode over on our Community!

Jump straight to these golden nuggets:

04:14 Defining Trailblazers: Obedience and Uniqueness

07:34 Women as Unrecognized Trailblazers

11:41 Invisible Women in Community History

14:17 Finding the Right Community

19:17 Divine Guidance for Women Leaders

22:59 “Unique Women's Leadership Journey”

24:40 Trailblazers: Capturing Systems and Processes

28:04 Business as Ministry: A Symbiosis

33:14 “Fostering Collaboration Over Competition”

37:16 “Community Over Isolation”

40:36 “Prayers for Trailblazing Women”

42:21 “Boost Visibility for Coaches and Consultants”

KEY TOPICS:

Topic: Discussion on Caroline's Book “Trailblazers 2025”

Inspiration behind writing the book.
Process of selecting stories and contributors for the book.

Topic: The Concept of Trailblazers

Definition and characteristics of a trailblazer.
Examples of trailblazers from the book.
The importance of self-awareness in leadership.

Topic: The Importance of Community

The power of walking together and being in community.
Comparison of men and women in terms of community building.
How community impacts business success.

Topic: The Traits of Trailblazers

Identification of key attributes unique to trailblazers.
Examples of attributes like self-awareness, community building, perpetual learning.

Topic: Challenges Faced by Women

Issues of recognition and affirmation in women's professional journeys.
The role of mentorship in women's leadership development.
Observations on the lack of collaboration among women.

Topic: Encouragement and Motivation

The significance of hearing and following God's calling.
Discovering the journey and seeing God’s thread in personal and professional life.
Collaboration vs. competition and its impact on women's success.

Topic: Resources and Support

Information on how to obtain the book.
Offer to give an audio book or PDF copy as a giveaway.

HIGHLIGHTED QUOTES:

“If these were men doing it, they'd have a platform. Because they're women, we don't get a platform.”
— Caroline Mendez [00:06:38 → 00:06:46]

“They said they had one person who spoke life into them and said, you know what, Emery? I see that you are a gifted interviewer. They spoke the gift that that woman had, and they called it out. They only needed one person to do it, and that's basically what the majority of them said in their interviews.”
— Caroline Mendez [00:09:08 → 00:09:31]

“Men have owned leadership for thousands of years. They have been in community for thousands of years, women have not. It especially in the marketplace, men by default have had community. And so women don't know what that's like to walk, especially in business, in community.”
— Caroline Mendez [00:10:44 → 00:11:08]

“There were women there, there were women there learning along with all the men, they're just not named, But Mary Magdalene was there, and women funded Jesus's ministry. Nobody talks about that.”
— Caroline Mendez [00:12:03 → 00:12:16]

“I define community as a place where you are known, seen, loved, heard, and that you give, and you get.”
— Caroline Mendez [00:16:15 → 00:16:15]

“But, you know, the beauty of age is you get to see now in my sixties, I get to see why he did that because it led to the culmination of this wisdom to share with generations of women, so they don't have to go it alone.”
— Caroline Mendez [00:19:47 → 00:20:02]

“There's one woman, Sonya Morgan, and at four years old, she wandered around her neighborhood in England selling pencils. I call her the poor little pencil girl is the name of her chapter at four years old.”
— Caroline Mendez [00:21:30 → 00:21:45]

“People tell their story in a podcast, but when you read it or when you hear it, you know, and you have questions asked of the women specifically how they learned leadership, what's their best advice for the next generation, that systematic process of capturing that wisdom and knowledge so that women can actually read it, digest it, think about it, pray about it, go back and read it again, chew on it, right?”
— Caroline Mendez [00:23:34 → 00:24:05]

“So, I think for me, it's self-awareness without a doubt as a core.”
— Caroline Mendez [00:31:47 → 00:31:54]

‘Even if they could learn something from somebody else, they will not buy her book, follow her, read anything because they're loyal to you, and they feel like that would be betraying you.'”
— Caroline Mendez [00:35:00 → 00:35:16]

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