The Ripple Effect
Moving Forward
Three women. Three different stories. One beautiful picture of what can happen when we invest in the life of a woman. What happens when you invest in the life of one woman? The impact rarely stops with her. When a woman grows in her faith, confidence, leadership, and sense of purpose, she carries that growth with her—into her home, her workplace, her relationships, and her community. And often, she turns around and invests in someone else. That’s The Ripple Effect. In this special Giving Week episode of the Podcast, Melissa Harrison sits down with three...
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Leading from a Healthy Place with Kobe Campbell
Moving Forward
What does it really mean to be a healthy leader — not just an effective, successful, or high-performing one? In this episode of the Moving Forward Podcast, Melissa Harrison sits down with licensed trauma therapist, bestselling author, and speaker Kobe Campbell for a conversation about the inner work of leadership — and how the stories, wounds, and emotional patterns we carry can shape the way we show up at work. Kobe explains that healthy leadership begins with congruence: understanding what is happening inside of us while also being able to respond appropriately to what is...
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Reaching the World Through The Chosen with Dr. Wendi Lord
Moving Forward
What does it take to bring The Chosen — one of the most-watched portrayals of the life of Jesus in history — to people around the world in their own language? In this episode of the Moving Forward Podcast, Melissa Harrison sits down with Wendi Lord, PhD, Vice President of Content Localization at , for a behind-the-scenes look at the global translation mission behind The Chosen. Wendi leads Come and See's large-scale translation and technology initiatives, with a goal of bringing The Chosen to the world in 600 languages — an effort that has already earned the show a...
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Moving Forward Without Striving with Ruth Chou Simons
Moving Forward
What happens when the drive that has helped you accomplish so much becomes the very thing that exhausts you? For many high-achieving women, achievement has been rewarded for most of their lives. Get the grade. Earn the promotion. Reach the goal. Build the business. Keep moving forward. But over time, it can become easy to confuse what we accomplish with who we are. In this episode of the Moving Forward Podcast, 4word President & CEO Melissa Harrison talks with bestselling author, artist, and entrepreneur Ruth Chou Simons about how to pursue meaningful work and God-given dreams without...
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Navigating AI with Wisdom with Melissa Peak
Moving Forward
Artificial intelligence is transforming the workplace—and many professionals and organizations are quietly asking one of two questions: Am I going to lose my job? or Is my organization already behind? In this episode of the Moving Forward Podcast, 4word President & CEO Melissa Harrison talks with Melissa Peak about how women and organizations can navigate AI transformation with wisdom, intentionality, and courage. Melissa is the Chief Growth Officer at Servant, the Founder and CEO of The CEO Project, and a member of the 4word Advisory Board. Drawing from nearly 30 years of experience...
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Stepping Into Your Voice with Dr. Merary Cruz Simeon
Moving Forward
Many women work hard, deliver results, and assume their work will eventually speak for itself. But as Dr. Merary Cruz Simeon shares in this episode of the Moving Forward Podcast, that is not always reality. In this conversation, 4word President & CEO Melissa Harrison talks with Merary about finding your voice at work, advocating for yourself with confidence and humility, and learning to use your influence with wisdom and discernment. Drawing from her own journey—from growing up in a Puerto Rican family and becoming a first-generation college student to serving in senior leadership roles...
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Finding a Sustainable Pace with Jo Saxton
Moving Forward
What if burnout is not only about how much you are doing, but also about the fears, expectations, and beliefs driving you? On today’s episode of Moving Forward, Melissa Harrison talks with author, speaker, and leadership coach Jo Saxton about becoming an unburdened leader. Jo explains why meaningful rest requires more than taking an occasional break. It begins by examining the internal messages, external pressures, and responsibilities shaping how you work, lead, and spend your time. Jo also shares practical ways to audit your life, identify what only you can do, and release...
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Taking the Next Faithful Step with Liz Bohannon
Moving Forward
What if powerful women were never meant to compete with one another, but to become each other’s greatest collaborators and allies? In the first episode of Moving Forward, Melissa Harrison talks with entrepreneur, author, and speaker Liz Bohannon about faith, business, leadership, loneliness, and the power of community. Liz shares how moving to Uganda changed her view of entrepreneurship and eventually led her to build Sseko Designs and merge with Noonday Collection. Liz also challenges the belief that two ambitious women cannot succeed together. She explains how honesty,...
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Introducing Moving Forward: Faith, Work & Leadership for Christian Women
Moving Forward
The Work, Love, Pray podcast is now Moving Forward. Hosted by Melissa Harrison, President and CEO of 4word, Moving Forward features honest conversations with remarkable women navigating faith, work, leadership, relationships, career transitions, and calling. Each episode explores the decisions that shape us, the setbacks that refine us, and the courageous steps that lead toward greater purpose and impact. You’ll hear practical wisdom and faith-filled encouragement for becoming the woman and leader God created you to be. Even when you do not have everything figured out. Because Christian...
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Resiliency: Embracing God's Promise
Moving Forward
In this episode, host Jordan Johnstone speaks with Sharon Beach, a remarkable individual whose life story exemplifies resilience. Sharon shares her harrowing experience of being kidnapped and the strength she found in her faith to escape and recover. In this conversation, Sharon shares her profound journey of healing and resilience following her traumatic experiences. She emphasizes the importance of forgiveness, the role of faith in overcoming obstacles, and the significance of surrounding oneself with supportive people. Key Takeaways Resiliency is defined as embracing God's promise for our...
info_outlineMany women work hard, deliver results, and assume their work will eventually speak for itself. But as Dr. Merary Cruz Simeon shares in this episode of the Moving Forward Podcast, that is not always reality.
In this conversation, 4word President & CEO Melissa Harrison talks with Merary about finding your voice at work, advocating for yourself with confidence and humility, and learning to use your influence with wisdom and discernment.
Drawing from her own journey—from growing up in a Puerto Rican family and becoming a first-generation college student to serving in senior leadership roles inside major global organizations—Merary reflects on the moments that taught her to ask for opportunities, name her accomplishments, and stop assuming that hard work alone would move her career forward.
She also challenges women to use their voices with discernment. Unmuting your voice is not about speaking up about everything. It is about understanding where your voice can make a difference, paying attention to God’s nudge, and being willing to speak when the moment matters.
The conversation goes deeper into the inner work behind healthy leadership as well. Merary explains why healing matters if we want to fully activate the gifts God has given us and why ambition itself is not the enemy—the deeper question is what we are working out of.
And ultimately, stepping into your voice is not only about advancing yourself. Merary encourages women to use their influence to advocate for others, create opportunities, share what they have learned, and help someone else move forward.
In this episode, we get into:
Your work won't always speak for itself.
Have the courage to advocate for what you bring.
Use your voice with wisdom and discernment.
Listen for God's nudge before you speak.
Your voice can help others move forward.
Influence isn't only about advancing yourself.
You’ll also hear about:
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Finding your voice and advocating for yourself at work
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Why speaking about your accomplishments is not the same as bragging
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The role of healing in leadership and personal growth
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How to know when your voice can make a difference
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Ambition, achievement, and what is driving you
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Using influence to advocate for other women
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Living out your faith in the workplace
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Staying open to where God may be leading you next
About Dr. Merary Cruz Simeon
Dr. Merary Cruz Simeon is an executive, author, speaker, and leadership strategist with decades of experience leading within major global organizations. She is passionate about helping women recognize their potential, use their voices, and step into positions of influence while remaining grounded in purpose and faith.
She is the author of H.E.R.A.C.T.: Activate Your Potential and is known for her work around leadership, healing, sponsorship, multicultural women, faith in the workplace, and creating opportunities for others.
🔗 Learn more about Merary: HERE
About Melissa Harrison
Melissa Harrison is a journalist, nonprofit leader, and President & CEO of 4word. She is passionate about helping women integrate faith, leadership, and purpose in the workplace. As host of the Moving Forward Podcast, Melissa brings a storyteller’s perspective to honest conversations about work, calling, growth, and the courage to keep moving forward.
🔗 Learn more about Melissa: melissaharrison.net
Follow Melissa on LinkedIn and Instagram
About 4word
4word is a global community for Christian women in the workplace, helping women grow in their faith, thrive in their work, and become the women and leaders God created them to be.
Find out more about 4word 👉 https://4wordwomen.org/