For Women Who Are Unapologetically Ambitious and Fiercely Informed

We talk a lot about female founders now, but before 2010, it's as if history and the media totally forgot there were women changing the game. Shocking. Case in point: Fran Maier - the woman who co-founded and launched Match.com before “swiping right” was even a thing. And while she should be proud, she has regrets. But she didn’t stop there. In this week’s episode of Takin’ Care of Lady Business®, Fran shares how she went from helping people find love to helping parents survive what comes after the match. 😉 As the founder and CEO of BabyQuip, she’s building a platform that gives moms flexible, meaningful work that fits their lives proving, once again, that women don’t just adapt to the moment, we define it.  

With Love & Lady Business,
JJ

In today’s edition:
— Risk, Reinvention and Rewriting the Rules with Fran Maier
— Finally cutting ties with that toxic patriarchal Bro Co?  If you signed a non-compete, you need to know this!!  
— How Your Boss's Home Life Affects You

“By focusing on women, that made us really focus on keeping it safe and clean and trustworthy, and that’s why Match won”

Key Takeaways:
 — Why focusing on women consumers was the secret to Match.com’s early success
— Asking for help (and sometimes demanding it) can change everything
— Every ending can be the start of your next act
— Never shrink your ambition to fit the room
— Take the risk and stop waiting for permission

Finally cutting ties with that toxic patriarchal Bro Co?  If you signed a non-compete, you need to know this!!

Three Things You Should Know About Non-Competes - 

1. They’re finally getting what they deserve - banned - but not everywhere.
The FTC dropped a bomb in 2024, voting to ban most non-competes because they don’t “protect trade secrets” — they protect power. While it is currently embroiled in massive lawsuits questioning it's enforcement, if it survives the lawsuits (and it should), 30 million workers will finally be free to take their talent and their worth wherever they damn well please. What's a capitalist society where people can't make money - hypocrite much? 

2. Most of them aren’t even enforceable.
California, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and North Dakota already told corporate America to stop being so needy - why so insecure corporate America?  Even in states where non-competes still exist, courts are getting over them fast. If your boss made you sign one, don’t panic - it might be about as binding as a pinky promise after tequila shots.  

3. They’re not about loyalty — they’re about leverage.
Companies love to sell non-competes as “protecting innovation,” but what they’re really doing is protecting their own egos and profit margins. They keep wages low, women stuck, and the playing field rigged. The real disruptors are the ones who walk away, take their clients, and start something better

How Your Boss's Home Life Affects You

Ever feel like you are the only one asked to get coffee despite having a C-Suite role?  It's probably not you - it's probably your boss's household dynamics.

Lady Bits:

🎙️: Watch JJ talk about Asking For What You Deserve

👀: What if we shifted the script and asked the male CEOs the questions we get asked? Their faces say it all.

👏: The Second Shift got acquired!! We love when our friends WIN!!!! 

😳: Centuries of history being demolished at the East Wing of the White House and for what?

💰: I was today years old when I heard about this - and it could save us all money.

🤖: And so the gender bias in AI continues.

📖: Dina LaPolt - Street Smart - Not only is Dina badass, she has also been a friend and supporter for years. Check it out

Hi, I’m JJ.

Since starting the Justice Dept, we have increased women's wealth by over $100MM in just over 5 years. Want to know what inspires me to do this work, other than making women money? My clients' surprised reaction when we manage to get them much better terms for themselves and their companies, whether via talent agreements, employment, severance, partnerships, asset sales or investments. They often admit that they never thought they could get that result. Not even hoped. This blows my mind. As we know at The Justice Dept. you are all worth everything you ask for and more. Reach out and we’ll show you how!
x TJD