Why Most People Misunderstand Their Calling in Life

Deborah Tepley from the Anglican Church in North America shares how she discovered her calling and transformed her career to lead faith-based organizations effectively. This is the story of a remarkable journey from teaching English in Russia to becoming an executive director — and what mission-driven leaders can learn from it. In this conversation, you'll learn: ✅ The pivotal moment that reshaped Deborah's career path ✅ How international experiences broadened her leadership perspective ✅ Concrete strategies to professionalize and elevate faith-based organizations This episode is for mission-driven leaders who aspire to create impactful change within their communities and organizations. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 – Welcome to the Hart & Hustle Podcast with Deborah Tepley 0:21 – Deborah's passion for purpose-driven work 0:33 – Overview of the Anglican Church in North America 0:50 – Deborah's early calling to ministry 1:47 – The role of the Peace Corps in shaping her outlook 2:29 – Insights from teaching English abroad 3:10 – Understanding the American perspective through global experiences 4:37 – Transitioning to organizational leadership 5:00 – Lessons learned from teaching in a foreign system 6:31 – Day-to-day responsibilities as an executive director 7:23 – Defining a new vision for faith-based service 8:48 – The importance of reevaluating your calling 9:17 – How to elevate your organization through professionalization 📊 KEY TAKEAWAYS: - A transformative experience can lead to unexpected career paths. - Understanding different cultures enhances leadership effectiveness. - Organizational development requires a blend of faith and strategy. - Professionalizing leadership roles can drive mission impact. - Continuous self-evaluation is crucial for fulfilling one's calling. 👤 ABOUT DEBORAH TEPLEY: Deborah Tepley is the Executive Director at the Anglican Church in North America, where she leads efforts to support over a thousand churches across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. With a rich background in both education and ministry, she brings a wealth of experience in organizational leadership and community service. 🔗 Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahtepley/ 🔗 Organization Website: https://acna.org 🎙️ ABOUT HART & HUSTLE: Hart & Hustle brings you weekly conversations with mission-driven leaders solving real problems in healthcare, education, and community services. Every week, hosts Keenan Hart and Efrain sit down with nonprofit executives, operations directors, and innovators to uncover practical strategies you can implement in your organization. Subscribe for weekly insights on nonprofit leadership, operations, and scaling mission impact. 🔗 CONNECT WITH US: - FRANSiS™ Website: https://fransis.ai - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fromfransis #NonprofitLeadership #MissionDriven #LeadershipInsights