EP 107: How to Lead as a Kingdom CEO

What does it mean to lead a business as a Kingdom CEO? In this episode, business and podcasting coach Stephanie Gass shares how she moved from hustle, striving, and trying to build what she thought would succeed to operating in partnership with God. Drawing from 15 years as a full-time entrepreneur, she explains why God—not the business owner—is the true CEO and why major decisions should begin with prayer, stillness, and the question, “Lord, what would You have me do?” Stephanie organizes the conversation around three key practices: surrender, speak, and steward. Surrender means committing plans to God and refusing to carry the weight of business or ministry alone. Speak means recognizing that your voice is part of your assignment, whether you communicate through a podcast, a book, a training, or a room. Stephanie also shares how starting a podcast with simple equipment helped her reach more people in less time than years of short-form social media effort. Stewardship extends beyond money. It includes time, energy, family, health, boundaries, rest, and the capacity to serve well. Stephanie encourages Kingdom leaders to build rhythms of rest, work, and worship, and to plan their week around God first, family second, and business third. This episode is an invitation to stop striving, stop hiding, and stop burning out. Instead, lead with surrender, use your voice boldly, and steward what God has entrusted to you with wisdom, obedience, and trust, so work remains sustainable, peaceful, and aligned with the calling God has given you. - 00:00 Introduction - 00:57 Meet Stephanie - 03:07 Operating as CEO - 06:10 Surrendering to God - 09:07 Speaking Boldly - 14:56 Stewardship Talk - 19:08 Final Thoughts 5 Key Takeaways **1. God Is the True CEO** Kingdom leaders may carry important titles, but God remains the ultimate authority. Before making major business, hiring, ministry, or leadership decisions, bring the plan to Him, become quiet, listen, and ask: “Lord, what would You have me do?” **2. Surrender Makes the Burden Lighter** Business and ministry become heavy when leaders try to carry everything alone. Surrender means actively partnering with God, committing plans to Him, and trusting Him to establish the way forward. **3. Your Voice Is Your Assignment** Whether you speak through a podcast, a book, a virtual training, an in-person room, or written content, you are called not to hide. Fear, comparison, and concern about what others think should not stop you from sharing the message God has given you. **4. Long-Form Content Can Create Sustainable Impact** Stephanie explains that podcasting allowed her to reach more people while spending less time than she had spent producing short-form social media content. A growing library of long-form episodes can build trust, generate leads, and continue reaching people in the future. **5. Stewardship Includes Your Whole Life** Stewardship is not limited to finances. Kingdom CEOs must also steward their time, energy, health, family, rest, boundaries, and capacity. Sustainable leadership follows a rhythm of rest, work, and worship—and plans around God first, family second, and business third. Watch full episode on YT - https://youtu.be/JGWPtrDpivo Join the free Third Fish Academy at [ThirdFish.org](ThirdFish.org)