Faith in Business Theme
Each year, Faith in Business focuses on a theme that reflects the contemporary world of work. It does so from a Christian perspective infused with freshness and creativity. The aim is to stimulate biblical and practical insight, discussion and initiative in the sphere of work and in the church contexts to which working Christians belong. This reflects our practical focus; any theological exploration is carried out with the ‘so what?’ in mind.
We bring each theme alive through our output and events throughout the year, most notably through our Faith in Business Monthly lunchtime webinars. All this activity culminates in the Faith in Business Cambridge Leadership Retreat, where a diverse cross-section of business leaders (including early-stage entrepreneurs) gather for two days of inspirational input, discussion, gathered worship, reflection, and prayer and ministry based on the theme.
The theme for the academic year 2025-26 is as follows.
Then Jesus came to them and said,
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."
Matthew 28:18 NIV
Why This Theme Matters
Power and influence are in rapid flux in today’s workplace. Patterns that have shaped organisations for generations are being dismantled. What is replacing them? And what does this mean for how we organise, plan, and strategise our work to remain relevant and impactful?
From Management to Influence
Only a few decades ago, the focus in workplaces and organisational studies was on management. Many business schools were even called 'institutes of management'. Today, the landscape looks very different. The entrepreneurial and digital revolutions, combined with the impact of COVID-19, have shifted priorities. Younger workers, especially Millennials and Gen Z, are less interested in management and more focused on influence.
A Generational Shift
Younger professionals want to make a difference through expertise rather than climb the corporate ladder. They see power as decentralised, not hierarchical, and often view formal titles as relics of outdated bureaucratic systems.
Social media and digital platforms allow them to build networks and influence thinking without relying on rigid structures. Viral content can have more impact than in-person meetings, making influence a more dynamic way to drive change.
The Rise of ‘Conscious Unbossing’
This shift does not reject leadership, it redefines it. Leadership now emerges organically through insight, imagination, expertise, entrepreneurship, and collaboration.
Some call this trend conscious unbossing: leading through ideas rather than accumulating formal positions of power. Digital influence often proves more effective than middle management in demonstrating leadership today.
Middle management, by contrast, is increasingly associated with stress, limited autonomy, inflexibility, and poor work-life balance. Many avoid leadership roles that involve bureaucracy, performance reviews, and team management complexities.
Faith in Business Perspective
As Faith in Business explores this theme for 2025–2026, we aim to bring both biblical and practical insights to the conversation.
Previous Faith in Business Themes