Who We Are

Atul Dighe at Epic Church in 2025

Our Vision

Restore meaning to humans and their work — from San Francisco to the world.

At the Center for Sacred Vocation, we believe every person’s work — whether paid, unpaid, creative, or service-oriented — carries purpose and potential. Our vision is to help individuals and organizations reconnect with that deeper calling, cultivating work that is meaningful, virtuous and life-giving.

Our Values

Our work is guided by five core values that define both who we are and how we serve others:

You are created to work.

Work is not a burden or mere survival; it is a gift, an opportunity to contribute, grow and participate in the flourishing of others.

You are more than your work.

Your identity is not defined by output or titles. Every person has intrinsic worth beyond what they produce.

Your vocation is sacred.

Work, when approached as vocation, carries dignity, responsibility and a deeper connection to our calling, the world and community.

Your character matters most.

Skills and achievements are important, but the person you are in the doing matters even more. Integrity, humility and wisdom guide our choices.

Your vocation is for others.

Work is not solely about personal success; it is a platform for service, impact and contribution to the lives of others.

You are created to work.

Work is not a burden or mere survival; it is a gift, an opportunity to contribute, grow and participate in the flourishing of others.

You are more than your work.

Your identity is not defined by output or titles. Every person has intrinsic worth beyond what they produce.

Your vocation is sacred.

Work, when approached as vocation, carries dignity, responsibility and a deeper connection to our calling, the world and community.

Your character matters most.

Skills and achievements are important, but the person you are in the doing matters even more. Integrity, humility and wisdom guide our choices.

Your vocation is for others.

Work is not solely about personal success; it is a platform for service, impact and contribution to the lives of others.

The Sacred Vocation Team

LaVonda Baldwin

DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR SACRED VOCATION

LaVonda Baldwin is a nonprofit executive, vocational leader & executive coach, committed to helping people live and lead with clarity, expansive vision and sacred purpose. She serves as Executive Director of Oasis for Girls, where she advances leadership development and supports girls and young women in thriving personally, interpersonally and professionally. She also serves as Director of the Center for Sacred Vocation at Epic Church San Francisco, with a vision for guiding individuals and communities in discerning the integration of faith, work and calling.

Earlier in her career, LaVonda served as a U.S. diplomat in public diplomacy, strengthening cross-cultural understanding and collaboration between people and nations– an experience that continues to shape her approach to leadership, systems and formation across diverse contexts. Alongside her organizational leadership and ministry work, she coaches high-capacity leaders navigating seasons of transition and growth, with a particular focus on peace as an internal and practical infrastructure for life and leadership.

Across sectors, LaVonda’s work centers on partnering with people to name what matters most and align their lives and pursuits accordingly.

Ben Pilgreen

LEAD PASTOR OF EPIC CHURCH

Ben is the founding and lead pastor of Epic Church in San Francisco which he started in 2011. Ben loves coaching leaders, whether in church or in business. He serves as the Bay Area Regional Leader for the Strategic Launch Network and is the author of Bring It Out: How to Cultivate the Unique Gifts and Assignments You’ve Been Given.

Ben Pilgreen

LEAD PASTOR OF EPIC CHURCH

Contributors

Atul Dighe

Atul has over thirty years of experience advising large corporations, non-profit organizations, and governmental agencies on questions on strategy, innovation, and the future. As a leader of the strategy, innovation, and insights research teams at Gartner, Atul works with thousands of the world’s largest and most progressive organizations to enhance their strategic ability to positively impact change.

Bea Moraza

Beatriz has dedicated her career to the formation of young hearts and minds at Donum Dei Classical Academy, a classical Christian school in San Francisco. As a member of the school’s founding team, she helped bring the academy’s vision to life — first as a lead kindergarten teacher and now as the Early Childhood Education Coordinator, where she serves students, families, and colleagues with equal care and intention.

Ben Chelf

Ben is a technology entrepreneur, investor, and operator. Most recently, he was one of the co-founders of Sol, a consumer hardware company that reimagined the reading experience in wearable form. Ben has been deeply involved in venture formation and founder development. He is a Founding Partner at Elementum Ventures and was previously a Venture Partner with Praxis.

Eugenia Rao

Known by the community as a cultural translator, Eugenia capitalizes on her understanding of cross-cultural commonality to serve US Inbound / Foreign Owned Enterprises from Asia-Pacific (APAC). As a Tax Partner for PwC, Eugenia leads PwC's APAC inbound tax practice in the San Francisco Bay Area, which was created to provide integrated worldwide support for global companies.

Jonathan Mayes

Jonathan is CEO of Jonathan Mayes Consulting, and former Senior Vice President, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer for Albertsons Companies, one of America’s largest grocery and pharmacy chains. Jonathan is an internationally-known speaker on diversity, equity and inclusion topics, and has frequently presented at conferences, major universities, and corporations across the U.S.