Finding Purpose in Work and Faith: With Barry and Linda Rowan

The Generosity NOW Podcast

Barry and Linda Rowan share their personal journeys of faith, exploring the intersection of work and spirituality. They discuss the importance of finding meaning in work, the power of surrender, and the role of generosity and stewardship in their lives. Barry introduces his book, 'The Spiritual Art of Business,' which aims to help individuals discover a life-giving perspective on work through guided meditations and reflections. The couple emphasizes the significance of living fully for God and the transformative power of surrendering one's life to Him

About our Guests

Barry Rowan

Barry Rowan is a Harvard Business School graduate who spent his entire career serving in C-Suite roles. He has been instrumental in building and transforming eight businesses, primarily in the technology and communication space, with one selling for $10 billion. His leadership experience spans both private and public companies, including Gogo (the inflight connectivity company), Vonage, Nextel Partners, and Fluke Corporation.

Based on his belief in giving back, Barry serves on both for-profit and non-profit boards, mentors young leaders, and leads international study trips. His non-profit boards have included InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Seattle Pacific University, Gordon College, the Gonzaga University Entrepreneurial Leadership Program, and advisory boards for Harvard Business School. He also served as president of Bellevue Christian School.

Deeply immersed in Scripture and the classic spiritual writers, Barry is deeply committed to contemplation and prayer which led him to complete a month-long silent retreat immediately following his retirement from a full-time executive career. His friends have dubbed him a “corporate mystic.”

Barry is married to Linda, his wife of over forty-two years, and they have two adult sons. Together they are now engaged in multiple lines of service including walking with the poor and investing in the next generation of leaders. Their commitment to the poor has taken them to Central America over twenty times. They are members of the National Leadership Council of World Vision and support local organizations breaking the poverty cycle through sustainable programs.

Linda Rowan

Linda earned her CPA and worked first in public accounting and then in corporate accounting, spending ten years in financial management roles with Hewlett-Packard before retiring to become a “tennis shoe mom”. As a “community entrepreneur”, she has started and led prayer groups, co-chaired capital campaigns, started the Parent Advisory Council at Seattle Pacific University, and invests her time in event planning for many non-profit organizations. Linda has served on nonprofit Boards for the past 40 years and is currently investing her time on the Legatus Denver Board, is a member of the Christianity Today President’s Council, World Vision National Leadership Council and Strong Women Strong World Advisory Council.

Linda and Barry combined their heart for the poor and investing in the next generation of Christ-following leaders as they led six trips to Central America with their family and Harvard graduate students. Based on their desire to continue investing in the intergenerational friendships formed on these trips, they designed a three-year experience called “An adventure with God” based on living a surrendered life: As God transforms us, he transforms the world through us. Linda is passionate about breaking the poverty cycle through sustainable programs with a current focus on bringing clean water and education to the “least of these” in remote areas of Central America.

In her spare time Linda enjoys skiing, golfing, biking, and traveling (she has visited all 50 states with their sons and visited 26 countries). Barry and Linda welcomed two beautiful daughters-in-law into the family and have three wonderful grandchildren.

Resources mentioned

The Spiritual Art of Business: https://www.ivpress.com/the-spiritual-art-of-business

Chapters 00:00Finding Meaning in Work 05:24Personal Journeys of Faith 10:55Navigating Work and Faith 17:57The Power of Surrender 22:31Generosity and Stewardship 32:46The Encore Calling and New Beginnings 34:33The Spiritual Art of Business