From the Upper Room to the Board Room: 5 Lessons for Leaders from Acts This Pentecost
This Sunday, the Church celebrates the great feast of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles like tongues of fire. The power of the Holy Spirit poured out upon the Apostles and strengthened them to proclaim the Gospel and spread Christianity throughout the world boldly.
At SENT Ventures, we especially value the feast of Pentecost because we aim to be led by the Holy Spirit in everything. Only through the leadership of the Holy Spirit can we live out the call to holiness as we are each meant to in our lives and work. As leaders, the call to holiness might look like building a Rule of Life that glorifies God, integrating Catholic business design into our work, starting Catholic companies, investing in companies that promote the dignity of the human person, and, above all, showing the deepest respect for the human person in all we do, from how we build our products to how we build and uplift our teams.
But being led by the Spirit requires prayer and an open heart, among other things. That’s why today, in preparation for the Feast of Pentecost, we’re unpacking 5 Lessons for Leaders from the Acts of the Apostles. While Christ is the Founder of the Church, the Apostles were His hands and feet on earth. Why not learn from their example?
1. Remain Docile Amid the Unexpected
No one could have predicted that the Lord would choose Saul, a violent persecutor of the Church, to become the Apostle Paul who spread the Gospel far and wide. We must be open and docile, like the early disciples, when we believe that the Spirit is moving our businesses in surprising new directions that clash with our preconceived notions and preferences.
2. Pay Attention to Closed Doors
Acts 16:6 describes how Paul’s missionary journey didn’t go as planned. The Holy Spirit prevented them from preaching in Asia at that time, and they trusted in God’s all-knowing wisdom and followed His will. Good leaders listen for the areas where God is closing certain doors and don’t stubbornly persist where the Spirit seems to be blocking the way. They pray for the confidence to push forward when needed, but the discernment to know when God is taking them in a different direction.
3. Pray for Boldness
After Paul and John were released from custody in Acts 4, the Apostles and the community of believers prayed for boldness. “And now, Lord, take note of their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with all boldness,” (4:29). Rather than be curbed by fear, the Apostles leaned into the Lord’s will and asked for more courage. It takes courage to integrate your faith and your work, build in accordance with God’s will, and lead with principle. Pray for boldness in the moments when you need to persevere.
4. Embrace The Ultimate Shift in Perspective
Before Pentecost, the Apostles lived in fear and confusion despite Christ’s teachings. But the coming of the Spirit radically transformed their mindsets and priorities, emboldening them to proclaim the Gospel fearlessly. As leaders, we must allow the Spirit to shift our perspective from self-reliance and fear to trust and confidence. The Catechism states that baptism is “the gateway to life in the Spirit,” that Confirmation completes baptismal grace, and that through Confirmation, we are “enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit” (1213, 1285). If you’re baptized and confirmed, you are equipped by the Holy Spirit to answer the call to holiness. Ask for the intercession of the Apostles to help you embrace this call with the same confidence!
5. Cultivate Spiritual Friendships
Notice how the Apostles had a foundation of spiritual friendship with each other. For example, Paul had close spiritual friendships with Barnabas, Silas, Timothy, and others as he was led by the Spirit on missionary journeys. The Holy Spirit often works through the people in our lives. As a business leader on a mission, don’t build in isolation. You need authentic spiritual friendships to offer support, guidance, and prayer.
Learning from Pentecost
It’s no coincidence that the Feast celebrating the Descent of the Holy Spirit is also the Birthday of the Church. Devotion to the Holy Spirit is something every founder should embrace. This week, call upon the Holy Spirit, also known as the Paraclete, which means “advocate” or “consoler.” Ask Him to strengthen His gifts within you, those of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, and piety. Ask Him to help you follow in the footsteps of the Apostles. With God as our partner, no entrepreneurial vision is too audacious.
This Pentecost, may we Catholic entrepreneurs be emboldened by the image of the Apostles receiving the Holy Spirit. Just as that first Pentecost enabled them to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth through their witness and innovation, may the same Spirit propel our ventures to have a lasting, transformative impact on the modern world for the glory of God.