You Are Not Only What You Do — You Are Whose You Are

Sep 5

A Reflection on Identity & Vocation for Catholic Women in Business

“But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, Jacob, and formed you, Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name: you are mine.”
— Isaiah 43:1

Your calling as a woman in business is not just a career, it’s a vocation. And your identity? It is not defined only by the work of your hands, but neither is it divorced from them. As Catholic women entrepreneurs, we are called to hold this tension tenderly: you are not only what you do—but what you do matters when it flows from Whose you are.

This month, we reflect on the life of St. Teresa of Calcutta, whose feast we celebrate on September 5.

Long before she became a global icon of charity, she began as a devoted Loreto sister, teaching geography to girls in Kolkata and living a quiet, structured life within the convent walls. But just shy of her 40th birthday, everything changed. While returning by train from a retreat, she received what she later described as a “call within a call”—a profound interior locution in which Jesus asked her to quench His thirst for love by living among and serving the poorest of the poor.

That moment marked her personal Annunciation—a vocational awakening not unlike Mary’s encounter with Gabriel. If Mary is the archetype of vocation, then Mother Teresa reveals that vocation is not abstract—it is discernible, unique, and deeply personal. It is God calling us by name, inviting us to respond with our whole lives.

And she did. For decades, through the highs of global fame, a Nobel Peace Prize, and a growing worldwide mission—and through the spiritual lows of a hidden dark night of the soul—she remained faithful. She lived what Jesus calls blessed: “those who hear the word of God and keep it.”

In St. Teresa, we see that identity and vocation are inseparably linked: a heart rooted in Christ, and hands poured out in love.

She embodied the mystery of identity and vocation: knowing she was God's beloved and pouring herself out in tireless, gritty service to others. She reminds us that identity fuels mission and mission gives expression to identity.

Week 1 Sunday: Root your work in your identity

Before you are a founder, a coach, a consultant, or a CEO, you are a daughter. Your worth begins with who you are in God’s eyes, not your LinkedIn profile or quarterly revenue. But it doesn’t end there. Your work is dignified because you are His.
Your business is not just your idea—it is your offering.
Action: Spend 15 minutes daily in silent prayer with no agenda. Just be present before God.

Week 2 Sunday: Embrace the dignity of your labor

St. Teresa said: “Work without love is slavery.” Your business isn’t holy just because it exists. It becomes holy when it’s infused with love, purpose, and obedience.

God delights not just in your stillness, but in your stewardship. When you say yes to small assignments—even ones no one sees—you join Christ in redeeming the world through faithful action.
Action: Write your “little yes” to God this season (even if no one notices it but Him).

Also see: Your Blue Flame: Finding — and Doing — What Makes You Come Alive

Week 3 Sunday: Discern your distinct call, not someone else’s

Comparison can distort both your identity and your vocation. When your gaze is fixed on someone else’s path, you may lose sight of your own.
God didn’t call you to build her business. He called you to build yours in your unique way, in His timing. Step back, recalibrate, and let God remind you of your sacred assignment.
Action: Take a three-day fast from social media or personal analytics. Use that time to read Scripture.

Helpful article: Stop Shaming and Start Celebrating Other Women

Week 4 Sunday: Let your work become worship—even when it’s hard

The Cross is not separate from your calling—it’s often hidden within it. Every setback, delay, or rejection becomes an invitation to deeper communion with Christ.
Your business is not just your platform; it’s your altar.
Action: Reflect: How is your vocation also your path of sacrifice? Journal and offer it up.

Related inspiration: Run Your Business From Peace

Closing Prayer

St. Teresa of Calcutta, missionary of God’s love,
help me to see both my being and my doing as sacred.
When I am tempted to strive, slow me down.
When I am tempted to shrink, lift me up.
Teach me to work with humility, to lead with love,
and to measure success by faithfulness.
May my business be an outpouring of the God who called me by name.
Amen.

Dr. Glory Enyinnaya is a management consultant who worked at Accenture before founding the consulting firm Kleos Advisory. Her research, which focuses on the role of entrepreneurs as change agents, has been published in top-tier publications such as the Harvard Business Review. She is a member of the faculty of Pan-Atlantic University in Nigeria. Her hobbies include blogging at www.gloryenyinnaya.com.