When two communities with a shared vision unite, it’s a powerful thing. The merger of 4word and Polished Network wasn’t just a strategic move—it was a calling. For Sheila Walls, board president of Polished Network, and Heidi Rasmussen, board chair and president of the 4word board of directors, this merger represents a divine alignment. Their shared passion for helping Christian women thrive in the workplace, live out their faith authentically, and find support from like-minded women has paved the way for a unified mission. Through prayer, purpose, and a commitment to empowering women, this merger stands as a testament to what can happen when leadership and faith align to create a stronger, more impactful community.

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You can listen to this conversation with Heidi and Sheila on our podcast, Work, Love, Pray! Listen below or click here to find your preferred listening platform.

What led both of you to become leaders within each of your organizations?

Sheila Walls: My journey is straightforward—I’m passionate about helping women develop, especially as leaders. I’ve been in corporate America for over 30 years, and through those experiences, I’ve witnessed the power of women leading authentically and living out their faith in every space. I didn’t have mentors guiding me when I started integrating my faith into my work, so I want to shorten that learning curve for others. My connection to Polished Network began when a mentee invited me to a luncheon. I fell in love with the mission and thought, “These women think like I do!” So, I became an active member, joined the board, and now, I’m proud to serve as board president.

Heidi Rasmussen: It’s funny because the reason I got involved with 4word boils down to two words—Diane Paddison! I met her when she was launching the Dallas group, and her authenticity just captivated me. I’d never been part of women’s groups, but I felt called to 4word. My relationship with Christ is stronger, and the wisdom and fellowship I’ve gained through 4word have been invaluable. I’ve grown as both a mentor and mentee, learning from amazing Christian working women. Becoming the board chair was just a natural next step to support this incredible community.

Polished Network and 4word have been connected for years, both serving Christian women in the workplace. At what point did each organization start feeling a call to merge?

Sheila Walls: I love how God works in ways we sometimes don’t see until later. Both of our organizations have been friends for years, and our founders go way back. Polished Network has been around for about 16 years, mainly impacting women in states like Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Wisconsin, and Ohio. Our Boldly Conference helped us expand our reach, but this next step really came about through prayer. We heard that 4word was searching for a new executive director and asked us to pray with them. And while we prayed, we shared that we were also praying for provision—Polished had some financial struggles, and our founder, Kat Armstrong, always trusted that God would provide. So, we began discussing how we could support each other and then realized, “Why don’t we do this together?” It became clear that our missions were so aligned, and together, we could accomplish more.

Heidi Rasmussen: Yes! It all started with Amy Cedrone, who was 4word’s executive director at the time. She invited Diane Paddison, Marion, and me to pray together. We prayed for almost two years, just asking the Lord how He wanted us to partner. We weren’t competing; we knew we had the same goal: to serve His daughters in the workplace. Eventually, as more conversations unfolded, we started talking about a deeper partnership. I remember a call where we all felt that the Holy Spirit was leading us. Kathy Book from Polished just said, “I think the Holy Spirit has spoken. Let’s do this.” It was a powerful moment of unity and clarity.

Have either of you been part of another merger, and how is this one different?

Sheila Walls: From a corporate perspective, I haven’t. But on a smaller scale, Polished Network did merge with Women in the Marketplace, where Kathy Book, who’s now on our board, brought so much value to our team. Reflecting on that, I realize God was preparing us for this merger, showing us how He brings like-minded women together for a greater purpose. There were, of course, details to iron out, but the process was smooth because the Lord was with us every step.

Heidi Rasmussen: I haven’t been part of a corporate merger either. The only other experience I can think of is when my church merged with another when I was young. It was a lot like this—our church didn’t have a building, and the other church didn’t have a pastor. It showed me how God wants us to work together for His purposes, and I see that same spirit in this merger. This process with Polished has felt like a coming together for something bigger, more impactful, and I know it’s God’s hand guiding us.

As leaders, what’s the most important message you want women in both communities to know as we move forward with this merger?

Heidi Rasmussen: I recently spoke at the Boldly Conference about “The Top 10 Lies Christian Working Women Believe.” Some of the lies include: “My identity is tied to my job,” “My work isn’t as important as ministry work,” and “I don’t belong.” There’s a fantastic quote from Peggy Bodde’s book, Sacred Work, that says, “Satan isn’t creative. He’s predictable and repetitive…he always wants less for us than the ruler of our hearts.” It’s so true; Satan tries to make us feel like we don’t belong, but this merger is about creating a community for Christian working women. We want women to know they are not alone—that they have a purpose in their workplaces, and that their work can be their ministry. I’m excited because this merger allows us to empower and support more women in reaching their God-given potential.

Sheila Walls: Heidi, I’m right there with you! One lie I’d add is the myth that women don’t get along or support each other. We’re showing through this merger that women do support each other, and there’s no competition in the kingdom. We check our titles at the door to build each other up as leaders and people. I’m confident that this merger is guided by the Holy Spirit. This isn’t just an event—it’s a movement. I’d encourage everyone to come along with us, join in, and watch how God works through this community.

Reflecting on the journey, what has been the biggest God moment for each of you during this merger process?

Sheila Walls: Heidi mentioned it already, but I agree—it was when Kathy Book declared, “The Holy Spirit has spoken.” That was such a powerful confirmation. The unity we’ve felt has been amazing. Mergers are usually complicated, and people impacted often don’t speak favorably about them. But this one feels peaceful and blessed. It’s like God is showing us that He’s setting a new standard, and we’re all on the same page.

Heidi Rasmussen: There have been so many God moments, but one that stands out is Amy reaching out to pray with us initially. It felt like God was nudging us toward something bigger. Throughout this process, we’ve all kept our hearts open, and God has directed us together. When we started examining our programs, everything aligned so perfectly—it was just clear confirmation that we’re following God’s plan for us as we unite in this shared mission.

Communicator. Brand Builder. Lover of all things “fun.” Strategic Planner. Business leader. Mentor. Customer service advocate. Movie (and popcorn) addict. Motto: Get Stuff Done.

After 27 years in the retail industry, Heidi took on a new challenge. From corporate life to entrepreneurship. From fashion retail to the employee benefits industry. At 15 years old, Heidi started at JCPenney where she went from a sales floor associate to Divisional Vice President at the corporate office & led the largest brand launch in JCPenney history.

In her current role as a co-founder and CEO, she launched freshbenies (as in, a fresh approach to benefits), an employee benefit that cuts healthcare costs and confusion with telehealth, advocacy and savings networks.

freshbenies was named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies in America four consecutive years and the Dallas 100 two consecutive years. freshbenies also received two Health Value Awards given to companies that are dedicated to providing innovative, value-based healthcare. To date, freshbenies has saved their members $100M on healthcare costs

No matter what the product or service, Heidi has learned that people want brands that engage and simplify their lives. Even more, they want brands to follow through on that promise. That’s what she does.

Sheila D. Walls has been described as a calm yet strategic influencer positioned to ignite and cultivate positive change in individuals, teams, and organizations. She is a wife, mother, cultivation strategist, certified leadership coach, and leader who passionately pursues purpose and Kingdom impact.

Sheila is Associate Pastor of Life Community Church-Collin County Texas under the leadership of her husband (Senior Pastor); is the founder and overseer of Faith Empowered Women; serves as President of the Board of Directors for Polished Network; and serves as Interim President of the Board of Directors for Twelve12 Ministries.

Sheila’s impactful 35-year career in Corporate America, where she continues to serve, includes leadership positions in underwriting, customer contact centers, agency sales, and executive.

A huge proponent of lifelong learning, Sheila earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Saint Louis University, the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designations from the American College of Financial Services.

Sheila has been married to her best friend, Christopher Walls, for 29 years. They have been blessed with three amazing miracles: Christopher II, Evan, and Kiersten.