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Paths of Faith and Leadership: Five Careers Shaped by and Aligned with Religion

In: Contemporary Careers and Occupational Fields

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Meyer

    (WU Vienna University of Economics and Business, Department of Management)

Abstract

This chapter introduces five compelling journeys where religious conviction and professional ambition converge, revealing how diverse spiritual traditions influence leadership and personal transformation. In Austria’s neo-corporatist welfare state, the relevance of religious organizations goes far beyond churches (Pennerstorfer & Schneider, 2022). For instance, two of the largest social service-providing nonprofits belong to the Catholic (Caritas) and Protestant-Lutheran (Diakonie) realms, as do many health care providers, youth work, and educational nonprofits. For more than 150 years, these church-associated organizations have played a major role in welfare provision both in Austria and in Germany. In Germany, Caritas, with almost 700,000 employees, and Diakonie, with 600,000 employees, are amongst the largest private employers in Germany, larger than Siemens and Volkswagen ( https://www.cio.de/top500 ). Thus, churches and associated organizations constitute a highly relevant part of the labor market in Germany and Austria (Mayrhofer & Meyer, 2022). Hitherto, this religious realm was rarely conceived as a career field.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Meyer, 2026. "Paths of Faith and Leadership: Five Careers Shaped by and Aligned with Religion," Springer Books, in: Michael Meyer & Astrid Reichel & Thomas M. Schneidhofer (ed.), Contemporary Careers and Occupational Fields, chapter 0, pages 231-243, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-3-032-06270-3_14
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-06270-3_14
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