Christian women today have many female mentors and role models from Biblical days on which to base their businesses and leadership ventures. The qualities and characteristics of these women have long provided patterns for running successful businesses, as well as for involvement in government, legal affairs, community organizing, and even military operations. Most of these women were married and some worked from their homes. The activities of these women are often not discussed, leaving unknown some of the best forms of motivation and encouragement for contemporary women. This article presents a brief overview along with the qualities and skills of just 7 of the best Biblical women in business and leadership who have lessons to share today.

1. Rahab: Joshua 2:1-22; 6:17-25. Rahab was a businesswoman who ran a lodging place and supported her family members. Often misrepresented as a prostitute, there is no evidence for this in the Bible. She became known for her willingness to take great risks to negotiate with new people for the protection of herself and her family. Running a lodging facility meant being able to manage a workforce, keep customers happy, and meet the needs of people of all backgrounds. She was also meant to be misunderstood by those who did not understand this non-traditional business role for women. Rahab’s leadership qualities and skills included being hardworking and wise, having a business plan, management skills, and negotiation skills.

2. Lydia: Acts 16:14-15, 40. Lydia was a well-known businesswoman who dyed and sold purple cloth. Royalty and the wealthy wore purple cloth. That meant she had a high-end target market. Her business had to provide a consistent, high-quality product to meet the standards and needs of a wealthy clientele. She also had employees, which means that her company provided jobs for people in her community. Lydia was a businesswoman who probably would have had a corporate structure. She displayed qualities and skills including managing and growing the organization, training and developing employees, and strong target market skills.

3. Priscilla: Acts 18:1-3; 24-28. Priscilla worked alongside her husband, Aquila, as partners in a tent that did business out of her home. She was first mentioned as the mentor of the great Apollo, whom she helped mentor to preach with more direction and authority. She also traveled widely as an evangelist. Her qualities and skills consisted of working harmoniously in a business partnership, running a home-based business, business development and growth, multitasking, coordination, human relations, and mentoring skills.

4. Hulda: 2 Kings 22:14-20: 2 Chronicles 34:22-28. Hulda was a prominent prophetess and a married woman who was sought out by the king’s advisers for advice on spiritual matters. Hulda was known to be honest, highly intelligent, and a scholar of the scriptures. Qualities and skills that she shares with contemporary Christian women include being a strategist, teacher, strong communicator, lifelong learner, and a leader who counseled others and made difficult decisions.

5. Phoebe: Romans 16:1-2. Phoebe was a preacher who worked closely with the Apostle Paul. She was sent by Paul to teach and preach the gospel to the new believers in Rome. Paul strongly urged the believers there to accept her preaching and support her while she was in Rome. Phoebe understood the right time to approach others with new ideas and came up with the right introductions. She went to Rome as an evangelist and some believe her as a deaconess. The qualities and skills that Phoebe presents are project manager, evangelizer of new ideas, teacher, preacher and collaborator.

6. Deborah: Judges 4 – 5. Deborah was the first woman to be a judge of a nation. She was willing to take on necessary difficult tasks that others would not. Through her leadership the laws of the land were understood and she promoted ethical behavior through the law. Deborah led the Israelite army to a victorious battle in a particularly difficult war situation when her general refused to participate in the battle without her. Deborah was a powerful legislator with qualities and abilities as an Army Commander, large group leader, decision maker, motivator, judge, and political official.

7. Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, Acts 8:27. The Candaces were female rulers of the African nation of Ethiopia (also known in ancient times as Kush). Unlike the queens of other African nations at the time, the queens of Kush, who were independent rulers, were known as Candaces, a distinctive title that existed for 500 years. Una Candace received the information on spiritual matters from her treasurer, who was baptized by the Apostle Philip during a long trip on state business. She was receptive to new and better ideas to benefit those she represented. These powerful women had the qualities and skills to be national political leaders, rulers, and warriors. They were decision makers, negotiators and goal oriented.

Christian women in business have some terrific role models of Biblical women for doing business and leading in these contemporary times. The few examples given in this article only highlight the types of activities women had as church and spiritual leaders. These women were ministers, servant leaders, organizers, motivators, and persuaders. They used effective communication skills, organized events, meetings and services at the church. Knowing its lessons can inspire women, even in these modern times, to reach for higher goals.