Faith-Filled Leadership: An Interview With Lindsey Nix
“Without a vision the people lose restraint; but happy is the one who follows instruction” (Proverbs 29:18).
Lindsey Nix is the director of public relations and training at Nix Companies, Inc., where she contributes her vast expertise in business development, recruitment, training, and finance. Over the years, in key positions such as strategic account manager and director of finance, she has played a crucial role in navigating the company through periods of rapid growth.
Lindsey is also dedicated to community service and is particularly focused on family businesses, education, and Catholic causes. In addition to many other board, community, and volunteer activities, she serves on the boards of Catholic Charities and Legatus as well as the Legatus national marketing committee. Alongside her husband, Matthew, president and CEO of Nix Companies, Lindsey is a founding member of the Legatus chapters in Louisville, Kentucky, and Evansville, Indiana. Together, they have three children and share a passion for travel and entrepreneurship.
I interviewed Lindsey via email to learn more about her career and how she lives out her faith at work. Her responses have been lightly copyedited for clarity.
1. Can you please share a bit about your career so far?
My career began in accounting and finance at an agricultural dealership—a path I never expected after graduating from Indiana University. I worked for a husband- and wife-owned business, and I quickly realized that God had placed me there for a reason. Beyond gaining professional experience, I had the privilege of learning from a Catholic couple who exemplified how to balance faith, marriage, and business success.
After a few years, I transitioned to my husband’s fifth-generation family business, where I’ve taken on various roles, including accounting and finance, sales and marketing, and human resources. Throughout periods of high growth, I’ve helped navigate key aspects of our company’s evolution.
Today, I serve as the director of public relations and training, where I contribute to sales and marketing efforts while leading our in-house training programs. This role allows me to support the company’s growth while maintaining a flexible schedule—ensuring I can prioritize my most important vocation as a wife and mother. My husband, Matthew, and I have three children: Charlie (11), Mason (9), and Roman (4).
2. How has your Catholic faith impacted your career—and, if applicable, vice versa?
There have been many crossroads in my career, beginning with my first job after college—not the dream job I had envisioned. But I’ve learned that God places us where we need to be to prepare us for what He has in store. He led me to a wonderful family-owned business that not only shaped my professional skills but also taught me the importance of treating employees with care and being a good steward of the gifts He provides.
Running our own business comes with its challenges—whether it’s a difficult project, a tough personnel decision, or uncertain economic times. But our faith is what sustains us. It gives us the strength to persevere, the wisdom to lead with integrity, and the trust to continue fulfilling our vocation as business owners.
3. Has there ever been a time where you faced a situation at work where your values were challenged? How did you respond?
In business—especially as a business owner—it’s easy to become cynical about various challenges, whether it’s employees, market conditions, or the pressures of leadership. I often hear business owners express frustration or pessimism about these aspects.
For my husband and me, prayer has been our way of staying grounded. We intentionally reflect on the blessings this business has brought into our lives and on the responsibility we have to support our team. By focusing on gratitude and placing our trust in God, we shift our perspective. This mindset doesn’t eliminate challenges, but it gives us the strength and clarity to face them with faith and purpose.
4. How do you evangelize in the workplace (subtly and/or overtly)?
We have remained steadfast in keeping Christ at the center of Christmas, choosing not to replace “Christmas” with a generic holiday greeting. While we respect the religious diversity of our team, it is important to us that we honor the true meaning of the season. Our annual Christmas party remains just that—a Christmas party—and we personally visit our locations to hand out Christmas gifts to our team. One of our most meaningful traditions is having a team member read the Biblical story of Christmas during Christmas week—an opportunity that, for some, may be the first or only time they hear it.
Similarly, we honor Holy Week by closing our facilities at noon on Good Friday, allowing our team the chance to attend a service. At 9 a.m., we pause (optionally) to watch the Crucifixion scene from The Passion of the Christ as a solemn remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice over 2,000 years ago. These practices are not about imposing beliefs but about living our faith authentically, creating a workplace where Christ’s presence is known and His love is reflected in all that we do.
This Thanksgiving season, our team at Nix Industrial launched a new tradition by celebrating St. Clement’s Day, honoring Saint Clement of Rome, the patron saint of metalworkers and blacksmiths. Historically, blacksmiths observed this day with feasts and blessings, asking for protection over their tools and workshops. A long-standing tradition included “firing off the anvil,” where gunpowder was ignited to test the strength and durability of their tools.
In that spirit, our team came together for a shared meal before carrying on the tradition of “firing off the anvil.” We also introduced the St. Clement Award, recognizing the top craftsmen and craftswomen from each of our business units.
5. How do you find time to have a prayer life and engage with your faith as a busy working woman?
Admittedly, this is an area I continue to work on and strive to improve. I incorporate prayer into my daily routine, often using apps like Hallow to guide my reflection. Our children attend a Catholic grade school, where they participate in morning Mass on Wednesdays and Fridays. I make it a priority to join them for these services, as it allows me to strengthen both my faith and my connection with them.
Being a Catholic businesswoman comes with the unique challenge—and privilege—of integrating faith into professional life. My husband and I are blessed to be part of Legatus, a Catholic organization for business executives and their spouses that encourages members to study, live, and spread their faith in both personal and professional settings. The name itself, derived from the Latin word for “ambassador,” reflects our calling to be ambassadors for Christ in the marketplace. The saying goes, “Show me your friends, and I’ll show you who you are.” Legatus has surrounded us with a community of like-minded Catholic professionals who are unafraid to lead with faith, setting an example that work and worship are not separate, but deeply intertwined.
6. How do you juggle family, faith, and work?
While I am proud of being a businesswoman, the most important role I have is that of wife and mother first. God has called me to the vocation of marriage and motherhood, and I strive to grow in it daily. One way I live this out is by ensuring our children receive a Catholic education and making it a priority to attend weekday Mass with them. Beyond that, my husband and I are deeply involved in our parish community, giving our time and resources to support its mission. It’s important for our children to see that faith is not just for Sundays but is meant to shape every aspect of our lives. In the earlier days of my career, these commitments were harder to maintain, but I’ve learned that we must be intentional about building the life we want. No success in business can compare to the eternal importance of our relationship with God, and we must work to ensure that the most important thing remains the most important thing.
7. What tips do you have for Catholic women on boldly living their faith in the workplace?
Legatus has been instrumental in helping me boldly live out my Catholic faith in the workplace, and I encourage other Catholic women to seek out similar faith-based communities for support and inspiration. It’s easy to feel alone when trying to integrate faith into professional life, but having a network of like-minded individuals can give you the confidence to lead with conviction.
One of the biggest takeaways from Legatus is the confidence it has given me to practice my faith in the workplace unapologetically. Whether it’s leading our team in prayer before meals, making decisions through the lens of Catholic values, or encouraging our employees to seek God’s guidance in their own lives, I’ve learned that faith and business are not separate—they are deeply intertwined.
For Catholic women looking to boldly live their faith in the workplace, I encourage you to start with small but intentional actions. Pray before meetings, cultivate a workplace culture of gratitude, and let your values guide your leadership. Most importantly, surround yourself with a strong faith community. Being around Catholic leaders who integrate faith into their work has reinforced for me that success isn’t just measured in financial terms but in the impact we have on others.
Faith-filled leadership isn’t about preaching—it’s about living by example. Trust that God has placed you in your role for a reason, and don’t be afraid to let your faith shine through in the way you lead.
8. How do you practice virtuous leadership at work?
In our business, we are intentional about living out our mission, vision, and core values—each rooted in using the gifts God has given us to create value for our team, customers, and community. We encourage our team members to recognize and celebrate one another’s commitment to these values by sharing examples during our all-hands meeting every Tuesday.
This practice serves as a subtle but powerful reminder that virtuous leadership is lived out in everyday actions—whether it’s picking up a teammate whose truck is in the shop, staying after hours to help someone develop a new skill, or going the extra mile to serve a customer. We also begin and end our meetings with a focus on our mission, ensuring that we keep the most important thing at the center of all we do.
Taryn DeLong co-wrote Holy Ambition: Thriving as a Catholic Woman at Work and at Home (Ave Maria Press, 2024) to help women hear and follow God’s unique calling for their life. Following her own calling, she currently spends much of her time caring for her two daughters, including homeschooling her preschooler.
Taryn studied psychology and education at Meredith College in Raleigh, NC. Before becoming a mother, she worked in university advancement and then B2B editing.
Since Taryn was a child, she’s called the Raleigh area home, and she and her husband are now raising their family in a small Raleigh suburb. In addition to supporting Catholic women, she's passionate about inclusion of people with disabilities in life, work, and (most importantly) the Church. She also enjoys reading and playing the piano.
Connect with Taryn on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, her blog, or Substack.
