EP 44 with Katie Modrau: Inexperienced and Underqualified: How to Learn as You Lead

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In this episode, Christine Caine welcomes Katie Modrau, country manager for A21 South Africa. Katie’s story is one of needing to lead and pilot in areas where she was young and underqualified. “Don’t fake it ‘til you make it,” advises Katie, “but learn where your limitations are.” Christine and Katie encourage us to trust that God has put us in the places he has, while remembering it’s our responsibility to learn, grow, and improve our skills in order to steward those opportunities well. Listen in as Katie shares the sobering reality of A21’s work in South Africa and be reminded that God has you where you are for a reason and that no matter how underqualified you feel, you can learn and grow as you lead.

Show Notes:

Remain flexible

Katie had plans to pursue a career in Occupational Therapy, but her life was irrevocably changed when she heard about human trafficking. Even when you feel underqualified and inexperienced, you can move forward and steward God’s opportunities.

Learn Your Limits

Leaders often have to pioneer new things, which means needing to grow and learn on the job, knowing our limits and being honest about them. God uses life experiences to equip us so we can equip others and be patient as they are learning. 

Learn as You Go

Katie encourages us to put in the work to develop skills to steward our opportunities well. Faith doesn’t just mean “winging it.” We need to commit to developing strengths and skills for the tasks God has given us.

Leading a Tired Team 

To ensure her workers can go the distance, Katie puts practices in place like vacation time and counseling opportunities, but reminds us that each person is responsible to implement those. We are responsible for implementing our own boundaries in the ebb and flow of life’s challenges.

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Follow Katie on Instagram @KatieModrau. Katie Modrau has her honours in Occupational Therapy (BSc OT) from University of Cape Town and has been working for A21 for the past 13 years as South Africa's Country Manager. 

Follow Christine @ChristineCaine

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