In this episode, Melissa Harrison, Executive Director of 4word, and Catherine Gates, Executive Director of Polished Network, share their initial reactions to the decision to merge organizations, the vision for unity, and the importance of collaboration in serving Christian women in the workplace. The conversation also highlights the Taste of 4word Roadshow and the excitement surrounding the changes expected in 2025, emphasizing the commitment to support and empower even more Christian women in the workplace through this merger.
Melissa Harrison is a bilingual journalist with more than 20 years of experience in television and radio news. She has worked as a news anchor and reporter in six different television markets including WNBC in New York City and WFAA-TV in Dallas/Fort Worth. Melissa has also worked as a writer for ABC’s World News Tonight and as a morning news anchor for CBS Radio.
Melissa founded PURE in New York City in 2004 where she served Christian women leaders through events and retreats until 2016. She also served women executives at the C-Suite level through the CEO Forum from 2021 until 2023.
Melissa is currently an Executive in Residence at SMU where she teaches Digital Media. She earned her master’s in Journalism from Columbia University and her bachelor’s in Spanish and Communications from Baylor. She also studied with Syracuse University at the Instituto Internacional in Madrid, Spain. Melissa speaks frequently at conferences and industry events across the globe including recently in Chile, Indonesia and The Philippines.
Melissa and her husband live in Dallas with their three young children.
Catherine Gates is Executive Director for Polished Network, a national non-profit that emboldens women in their faith and work. She is the author of The Confidence Cornerstone: A Woman’s Guide to Fearless Leadership. Catherine’s career journey has been diverse and circuitous, ranging from software development and consulting, to project management, marketing, sales and leadership training, to nonprofit leadership. She has been helping people integrate their faith and work since 2013. Catherine has contributed to several faith-and-work Bible studies, numerous YouVersion reading plans, and books from other authors including the iWork4Him and sheWorks4Him publications. She is a powerful speaker and frequent podcast contributor.
Catherine holds a bachelor’s degree in Christian Leadership. She is on the steering committee for the National Faith & Work Association (NFWA.org). She is passionate about helping people achieve more of their God-given potential with confidence by integrating faith into every area of life.