Faith & Work Forum Highlights | Emilia Gore with Ava Flory
We loved launching this year’s Faith & Work series on September 20 with TH superstar Emilia Gore (UVA ‘15 and current TH board member), expertly interviewed by 4th year Ava Flory! Under the streaming sunlight of a gorgeous September afternoon, we welcomed both students and community members of all ages to hear Emilia’s insights, which inspire and encourage people at any stage of their lives or careers. Please enjoy an overview of the thoughtful perspectives that Emilia shared below, including some “nuggets” of wisdom to encourage you in your everyday!
Although pressure and stress from many directions often burden students in their career planning and job search process, Emilia offered a voice of calm, grounded in finding rest and security above all in the Lord.
She invited students to pause and intentionally cultivate times of stillness before the Lord even in what sometimes feels like a whirlwind with the internship/job search. She shared from experience about how these spaces often open the heart and mind to recognize what “lights you up” and encouraged students to heed those internal pulls in discerning their vocational steps. Listen to her guidance, which encourages not just students but also people at any stage of life or career!
Throughout the conversation, Emilia spoke of vocation as a space where God works in astonishing, sometimes surprising ways for purposes often beyond what we ever imagined. She shared about various transitions in her career, sometimes by choice and other times by external circumstances like the pandemic, and how they provided opportunities to deepen her faith and receive God’s direction for her next steps. Hear Emilia’s approach to discerning with the Lord when to seek a new role or next step vocationally.
Emilia’s work across sectors enriched her perspective on vocation and especially equipped her to offer poignant insights to students considering a wide range of career paths. As she spoke about her journey through the worlds of business, nonprofit, and government, she reflected on both distinctions and similarities. Listen to her eye-opening, perhaps surprising comments.
Despite seemingly stark differences across sectors, Emilia acknowledged that they all share stress of deadlines, priorities, and professional relationships. Amidst this daily professional challenge, she pointed to the wealth of the Christian tradition for remaining grounded in the ultimate truth and purpose as believers. Hear Emilia’s testimony of finding support from the saints.
Emilia also sought to demystify the sometimes intimidating prospect of networking, framing it as building connections that you never know how God might use. Hear her fresh view of this prominent aspect of professional life. We appreciated how her story illuminates how God writes our stories both through His sovereign leading and His empowering Spirit.
Thank you to Emilia for sharing your hopeful, experienced perspective on this topic with our community, and to Ava for skillfully directing the conversation!