Wisdom-Based Business

'Dr. Hannah Stolze serves as codirector of Wheaton's Center for Faith and Innovation--a place for top Christian executives to strengthen their marketplace leadership by examining best practices, reflect on biblical principles, and enjoy cutting-edge research. This rare combination of Christian conviction, business acumen, and academic rigor is on full display in Stolze's new book, Wisdom-Based Business. Readers will profit by gaining a more biblical and more practical understanding of what it means to do business for the glory of God.' * PHILLIP RYKEN, president, Wheaton College *
'In Wisdom-Based Business, Dr. Hannah Stolze first takes us to Proverbs and specifically Proverbs 31 with particular emphasis on verses 10-31 (the Noble Woman), which 'captures a woman who is leading a global company in ancient Israel to the benefit of everyone with whom she interacts.' In a scholarly way, she takes us into other passages of Old Testament scriptures to support the premise that 'all work can be a form of worship to God and service to others.' Stolze then takes us through eleven 'case studies' that solidify biblical teachings on how we should, as God's people, conduct business. In each case study, we better understand how we can take our faith into the workplace. Each case study introduces companies and their leaders who have exemplified one or more tenants of our Christian faith. Each chapter concludes with questions to help reinforce the lesson taught and to be learned. Wisdom-Based Business holds together well in its entirety, but each chapter also stands alone. I particularly enjoyed and found beneficial chapters on the 'Virtue of Profit,' the 'Foundation of Servant Leadership,' 'Supply Chain Orientation,' and 'Comparative Advantage.' Wisdom-Based Business is a challenging read, but Stolze's writing style quickly absorbs the reader into each chapter.' * PHILIP M. PFEFFER, president and CEO of Treemont Capital, Inc., retired president of Random House, Inc *
'In Wisdom-Based Business, Hannah Stolze takes the integration of Christian faith and business to an unprecedented level of depth and precision. With impeccable exegetical rigor, she mines the wealth of practical business wisdom in the Bible, overlooked and overspiritualized since the dawn of the industrial revolution. She begins by recognizing, correctly, that the business woman of Proverbs 31 is actually a business woman, not a metaphor for wifely domesticity, and then proceeds to uncover passage after passage about business, hidden in plain sight. But what does this abundance of biblical wisdom mean in a world of data-driven management? As a professor of logistics, Stolze's knows this world cold, and she demonstrates how the biblical material undergirds, enriches, and, at times, challenges twentyfirst century empirical management science and practice. A lot in contemporary business is not godly, but it could be. Business can--and should--be a preeminent mission for people of faith seeking to make the world a make better place. Wisdom-Based Business shows how.' * WILL MESSENGER, chief editor, Theology of Work *
'In Wisdom-Based Business, Stolze brilliantly connects winning business practices to biblical truths. She leverages academic research and thoughtfully curated business cases to prove that business leaders can simultaneously pursue--and achieve--both profit and purpose. A must-read for all business leaders who strive to honor God in their calling.' * KRISTIN COLBER-BAKER, global head, talent development, Mars, Inc *
'More than ever, this generation of business students and experienced professionals want to connect their work with the deeper purpose of human and societal flourishing. Where is wisdom found that can provide such elemental guidance? This ground-breaking book from Professor Hannah Stolze, anchored in her thorough grasp of management research and coupled with her deep dive into Old Testament wisdom literature, provides just such new and exciting possibilities for business and business professionals. As you follow the author's intriguing story of discovery, Wisdom-Based Business reveals to the reader a business model grounded in evidence-based business research yet revealed clearly in an ancient Old Testament poem. This is the book that, if followed, has the potential of influencing and guiding Christians in business for decades to come.' * GARY LINDBLAD, dean, Crowell School of Business, Biola University *
'Wisdom-Based Business is a needed invitation and illustration of the adventure for followers of Jesus to shatter the daylight between faith and vocation, sacred and secular, and to experience the wisdom of God prevail across all domains of life, including the heart of industry. Hannah Stolze's passionate curiosity of the intersection of faith and industry--particularly heavy industry, rigorous supplychain-intensive enterprises--is a needed advancement of the discussion about faith and work from the academy to the boardroom. I pray readers will be moved to pursue great business, greater purpose, and integrated faithfulness from the spurring of this book!' * MIKE SHARROW, CEO, C12 Group *