Susan Springsteen is the co-founder of nth Solutions and President and CEO of H2O Connected, a woman-owned water technology company based in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. In this conversation, Susan shares how a faith-driven approach has shaped every dimension of her leadership journey — from her early days managing investments at Morgan Stanley to building two technology companies rooted in community impact and Christian mission. She opens up about what it means to run a business as a calling rather than a career, and how locating her companies in a high-poverty city was a deliberate, God-led decision to spur economic development and give people real opportunities.
Susan dives into the nuances of Christian women in leadership — navigating the tension between confidence in the boardroom and conviction at home, the importance of stewardship over ownership, and why busyness is one of the enemy's most effective tools. She also shares a remarkable story of a funding miracle that happened just days before recording, a reminder that faith in business isn't theoretical — it shows up on a Thursday afternoon when payroll is due on Friday.
Key takeaways:
Leadership ability and task excellence are two different skill sets — you don't have to be the best at something to lead effectively
Business as mission means intentionally using your company as a vehicle to serve people, spread values, and create opportunity in underserved communities
Stewardship, not ownership, is the mindset shift that changes how you lead, invest, and make decisions
Not all money is good money — mission alignment with your investors matters as much as the cheque they write
The enemy's greatest weapon against mature Christian women isn't doubt — it's busyness; guard your prayer time fiercely
Younger Christian women are missing out by not actively seeking wisdom from the generation ahead of them
"Obey God and leave the consequences to him" — practical advice for faith-driven entrepreneurs facing impossible decisions
Connect with Susan Springsteen: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-springsteen-58788144/ H2O Connected: https://www.h2oconnected.com LeakAlertor 6000 (consumer product): available on Amazon
Pick up Threads of Wisdom Trailblazers on Amazon to read Susan's full story alongside 14 other Christian women leaders.
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– Caroline and the Threads of Wisdom podcast team
Connect with Caroline A. Mendez on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolineamendez
Visit the Threads of Wisdom devotionals on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Threads-Wisdom-TRAILBLAZERS-Devotional-devotional/dp/B0F48K346C/
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Threads of Wisdom is the podcast passing on what Christian women in leadership have spent decades earning. Hosted by Caroline A. Mendez — author, coach, ordained minister, and advocate for Christian women in business for over 20 years — each episode features an honest, unfiltered conversation with a vetted Christian businesswoman living out her faith at the highest levels of her industry. From Gen Z to Boomers, across profit and non-profit, every guest brings real stories, hard-won perspective, and practical wisdom that goes far beyond the boardroom.
If you're a Christian woman navigating leadership, entrepreneurship, or building a business rooted in faith, this podcast was made for you. Tune in each week for conversations that challenge, equip, and inspire — and leave every episode with one piece of wisdom you can put to work today.
