For decades, 4word and Polished Network have empowered working women to use their gifts in service to God and others. Throughout every season, we have witnessed the undeniable hand of God at work in the lives and stories of the women we serve.

We are now thrilled to announce a long-overdue union—an evolution of our shared mission to break down barriers, walls, and silos, and unite as ONE. 4word and Polished Network are joining forces to create a united organization, dedicated to serving working women at every level and stage of their professional journey. Whether you’re a leader, an executive, or just starting your career, this merger is about empowering women to embrace their God-given potential in the workplace with confidence.

But we can’t do it without YOU. There is a place for you here at this table.

God works through the hands of women and this merger reflects His heart to unite and bring us together. So, we invite every woman to be part of this story—one where circles of trust, collaboration, and connection replace isolation. A story where women are empowered to grow in their God-given potential and to lift one another up.

This new chapter is about inviting women to the table—where your stories, your gifts, and your voice are essential to our shared mission and journey. We believe that together we can accomplish so much more than we could ever do alone. 

God is working through the hands of working women to bring His Kingdom to earth.

Will you join us on this journey?

Founded in 2008 by Kat Armstrong and Stephanie Giddens, Polished Network has been dedicated to empowering and equipping working women by providing the community they crave, the professional development they deserve, and the Gospel they need. Their mission is to help women live out their God-given potential—emboldened in their faith and making a meaningful impact through their work. At Polished, they believe that by fostering connection, growth, and faith, women can lead the lives they were meant for, creating lasting influence in their personal and professional spheres. Find their website here.

Founded in 2011 by Diane Paddison, 4word exists to support and connect women in the workplace, empowering them to reach their God-given potential with confidence. They foster vibrant communities and cultivate authentic relationships through digital content, community groups, and mentor programs. As the only global organization led by Christian women in business, dedicated to serving Christian women in business, 4word provides a unique space for professional women to grow in their faith, leadership, and careers while making a meaningful impact in the world.

Both Polished and 4word share a passion for supporting Christian working women by helping them realize their work matters to God, build confidence as leaders, and find authentic community. After praying over and exploring collaboration in 2023, both organizations realized we could do more together. This merger allows us to offer more resources, reach more women globally, and better serve Christian women in the workplace at every stage of their careers.

In addition to a shared passion, Polished Network and 4word share a presence in the same cities but majorly operate in different cities across the country; thereby expanding our reach and target audience nationally and globally.  We are truly excited about the opportunity to expand our borders and foster more connections and networking for our women.  Please share with your friends and colleagues in these new cities about 4word coming to their home!

The vision of both organizations is to continue to provide faith-based community and resources for Christian women in the workplace around the world. Our continued aim will be to help women integrate their faith and work in order to reach their God-given potential with confidence. Joining our organizations together broadens the potential impact and reach of our Kingdom-driven goals.

4word Community Groups and Polished Chapters and Collaboratories will continue alongside each other uninterrupted but united together.  Over the next several months, our combined leadership team will work with leaders to evaluate the best elements of both systems to improve and expand our offerings in each city and virtually. Our goal is to provide consistent, high-quality community support, with more options for women in the workplace to connect and grow. Our plan is to take the best from both organizations and leverage learning across all local groups.

4word Community Groups are the heart and soul of 4word’s mission. We would not exist without you! We deeply value our leaders and our participants, and invite you to continue to stay engaged with 4word. We plan to host several in-person and virtual gatherings to share updates and answer any questions as we move into 2025. Your support is crucial as we take our next steps together to serve more women. We value your involvement now more than ever as our organization experiences exponential growth.

• Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
• Join us on regular update meetings via Zoom.
• Share with other organizations, leaders, colleagues, family and friends in the cities in which 4word will now have a presence.
• Explore Polished Network’s existing resources and offerings here.
• Prayerfully consider partnering with us during this time of exponential growth by making a financial donation.

Polished Network’s podcast and blog will remain available through the end of 2024, and we plan to integrate these resources into 4word’s library of resources. We encourage you to follow 4word’s Work, Love, Pray podcast as the content will focus on the details surrounding each step of our collective journey together. 

Bringing 4word and Polished Network together will maximize the impact of both organizations’ sponsors and donors thanks to an expanded community of more women in more cities. This will enable us to provide increased exposure and improved engagement, including stories from women impacted by our programs.

The Polished podcast and blog will remain available through 2024. We encourage you to follow the 4word podcast as the content will focus on the details surrounding each step of our collective journey together.

We’ll continue partnering with businesses to provide leadership development, mentoring, custom workshops, and resources for Christian employee resource groups. The merger will enhance these offerings, making us a stronger, united organization.

We invite you to attend the 4word Gala, on February 22, 2025 which will combined both our organizations!  We will be unveiling our new mission and have some exciting things planned.  You don’t want to miss!  For the Boldly Conference taking place October 18, 2024, we are collectively committed to continuing and expanding this unique event, one of the only faith-and-work events designed by women for women. Stay tuned for updates as we plan for the future together!

We’re taking time to thoughtfully evaluate both Polished chapters and 4word community groups, ensuring we improve and better serve working women. Any changes that are made  will be communicated clearly, and we’ll involve program leaders in the process.

January 1, 2025, will mark a new chapter for the combined organizations. Polished Network will continue to operate independently until December 31, 2024, after which it will be integrated into 4word, and the Polished Network name will be retired.