Backstage Pastors Episode 6: Women’s XP Group and Developing Female Leaders w/ Kadi Cole

In this episode, Kadi Cole joins the Backstage Pastors™️ to discuss her unexpected journey into ministry and her passion for developing female leaders in the church. She shares how her experience as often the only woman in leadership led to the creation of the Women Executive Pastor (WXP) Network, now supporting hundreds of women in executive roles.

Kadi explains the importance of mentorship, coaching, and especially sponsorship—highlighting how women are often overlooked in leadership development due to systemic habits rather than theology. She challenges male leaders to rethink how they view and support female leaders, emphasizing equal access to development resources and opportunities.

The conversation also explores the unique challenges women face in leadership, including isolation, lack of role models, and navigating expectations. Kadi encourages churches to intentionally create pathways for women to grow and remain in ministry long-term.

Resources Mentioned

🗣️Follow Kadi – kadicole

📕Developing Female Leaders by Kadi Cole – https://a.co/d/04rZ0KZa

💻Women Executive Pastor Network) – https://wxpastors.com

💻https://kadicole.com

💻https://femalechurchleaders.com

🎙️Female Church Leaders Podcast – https://thefemalechurchleaderspodcast.buzzsprout.com/ 

From Our Partners

💻 ⁠The Church Hub⁠: The Church Hub serves pastors, ministry leaders, and their spouses through equipping and training resources. Learn more at https://thechurchhub.org

Connect with Phil Taylor

✉️ ⁠Get Phil’s Newsletter

✉️ ⁠⁠phil@backstagepastors.org⁠⁠

🗣️ ⁠⁠@philtaylorxp⁠⁠

📚 ⁠Books by Phil⁠

💻⁠backstagepastors.org⁠

💻⁠plainjoestudios.com⁠

Connect with Tyler Drewitz

✉️ ⁠⁠tyler@myxp.church⁠⁠

🗣️ ⁠⁠@tylerdrewitz⁠⁠

💻 ⁠myxp.church⁠

💻⁠ridgelineprinting.com⁠

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CHAPTERS

[00:45] Introducing Kadi Cole

[02:00] An Unlikely Ministry Journey

[04:00] Birth of Women Executive Pastors Network

[06:00] The Power of Female Community

[09:20] Why Women Need Dedicated Spaces

[12:40] Supporting Women in Leadership Growth [17:00] Mentorship, Coaching & Sponsorship

[24:00] What Male Leaders Often Miss

[31:20] Encouragement to Stay in the Calling

Editing and Support by The Good Podcast Co.