Page 145: Rob Wallstrom: Vera Bradley CEO Pursuing Call to be a Pastor
The Unfolding
Northwestern Media
4.9 • 867 Ratings
🗓️ 9 December 2022
⏱️ 45 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
When God calls you to something, sometimes it takes years before it actually comes to pass. Rob Wallstrom has had a very successful career as a retail executive, leading companies like Vera Bradley and Saks Fifth Avenue's outlet division. But years ago, his goal wasn't to lead companies. As a teenager, he felt a clear call from God to be a pastor. It's been 35 years since then. Now, it seems to be time to pursue that dream. If you find yourself in a season of waiting, Rob's story will encourage you.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Page 145 of the unfolding is the story of Rob Wallstrom. |
| 0:05.2 | This transition for me is the sadness of leaving, an excitement about where you're going, |
| 0:09.8 | and you kind of know, but you don't know. |
| 0:11.6 | And that's where I feel I am. |
| 0:12.7 | First time of my entire life, I would say I feel this way. |
| 0:15.0 | And it's the most open-handed, most peaceful, and I don't know what tomorrow brings. |
| 0:20.3 | God's story has been unfolding. |
| 0:23.5 | Since the beginning of time. |
| 0:26.6 | He invites you to be a part of it. |
| 0:32.9 | Another page in the unfolding. |
| 0:44.9 | Thank you. another page in the unfolding. Hi, this is Meredith Foster. |
| 0:47.3 | You know, there are many examples in Scripture of waiting for God's calling to become |
| 0:51.2 | reality. |
| 0:52.3 | Abraham waited 25 years to become the father of Isaac. It was more |
| 0:56.0 | than 15 years after he was anointed that David became king. Sometimes God calls us to something, |
| 1:02.2 | but the journey to get there is much longer than we expect. For Rob Walsstrom, that journey has been |
| 1:07.3 | decades long. Rob is at a very successful career as a retail executive. In 2013, |
| 1:13.4 | he became the first person without a family connection to run Vera Bradley. Before he became the |
| 1:18.6 | president and CEO there, he was president of the outlet division of Sacks Fifth Avenue, |
| 1:23.2 | which came on the heels of being general manager of SAC's flagship store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. |
| 1:29.2 | But years before, his goal wasn't to lead companies. |
| 1:32.5 | He didn't set out to be a successful executive. |
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