CHAPTER 1: Toward a Science of Workplace Spirituality: Contributions From the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality

How does Coca-Cola senior executive Bonnie Wurzbacher find meaning in selling carbonated brown sugar water? Claiming that “there is no such thing as meaningful work” and that “you must learn to bring meaning to it,” the company’s 27-year veteran concluded that she could entwine her successful career with her Christian spirituality (Lowe, 2011, p. Business 3). Convinced that “the way we participate with divine intention” is through our work, Wurzbacher maintains that the role of business is to advance the economic well-being of communities around the world. She now leads the company’s North American global customer management teams and has developed the global 5 BY 20 program, an initiative designed to empower 5 million female entrepreneurs by 2020. The fuel behind the fire for Bonnie Wurzbacher is her sense of business as a spiritual calling.