For Women Who Are Unapologetically Ambitious and Fiercely Informed

Let’s be honest - shit is expensive right now.  I just bought chicken tenders for my kids (yes they still eat them) for $12.50 that were $7 not even 4 years ago. As a single mom with a poverty mentality, I live with a constant fear - will I have enough? Enough to care for my kids. Enough to keep building my business. Enough to walk away from anything that doesn’t serve me.

That fear isn’t irrational. It’s systemic. Women have been shut out of financial power for generations, told to be grateful for less, to stay silent about money, or to hand it off to someone else, because, ya know, philanthropy (although your husband is asked to invest it).

But here’s what I know: when women have their own money, everything changes. We don’t just survive. We lead. We invest in our futures. We support other women. We leave jobs, marriages, and situations that are holding us back.

Having your own money isn’t just security. It’s freedom. It’s power. It’s peace of mind.

In my conversation with executive coach Keren Eldad on Takin’ Care of Lady Business, she said something that I see every day in my work:
“Money is a mirror. It reflects your self-worth and what you believe you're allowed to have.”

Let that fucking sink in. When we under-ask, under-charge, or avoid the conversation altogether, we’re not just limiting our bank accounts. We’re reinforcing the belief that we’re not worthy of more. But we are. And we have to start acting like it.

And about that old saying, money doesn’t buy happiness. I said it in that episode, but I don’t fully believe it - see I still have my own work to do. Because money does bring happiness when it brings freedom. The freedom to choose, to walk away, to rest, to invest in yourself and your future.

Let’s stop whispering about it. Let’s stop waiting to be invited into the room. Talk about money. Ask for more. Teach your daughters. Support your friends. Build your own.

Because when we take care of money, money takes care of us.

With Love & Lady Business,
JJ

In today’s edition:
— Keren Eldad on Chasing The Wrong Dream
— Three tips to Build Powerful Partnerships To Transform Your Business
— How many Female CEOs can you name?

“Do something. You will probably, very likely, get a lot more than you hoped for.”

Key Takeaways:
 — Why success can feel empty (even when it looks perfect)
— How to recognize you're living a GILDED life, not a golden one
— The difference between high standards and perfectionism
— How self-awareness (not hustle) changes everything
— What it means to own your success instead of being owned by it

Three Tips to Build Powerful Partnerships To Transform Your Business

At The Justice Dept., we help brands and talent create partnerships that do more than just make headlines. They build a legacy. One of our favorite examples of our work was the partnership between Joylux, a women’s health tech company focused on menopausal wellness, and Halle Berry and her company ReSpin, wherein Joylux hired us to identify the right partner, then close the deal. This wasn’t a typical endorsement deal. It was a values-driven business move. Halle came on board as an investor and Chief Communications Officer, lending her platform and her personal experience to a mission she truly believes in: breaking the stigma around aging and sexual health.

Here are three ways to make them successful:  

1. Align on Purpose, Not Just Product
Joylux and Halle are mission-aligned. They both care deeply about destigmatizing menopause and empowering women to take control of their health. When partners share a purpose, trust is built. And trust is what drives customer loyalty and long-term success.

2. Let Each Partner Bring Their Strength
Joylux brought the research, technology, and customer insight. Halle brought cultural capital, authenticity, and a global platform. The best partnerships are built when each side plays to their strengths and creates something bigger together.

3. Make It Real, Not Just Marketable
This wasn’t a slap-your-name-on-it deal. Halle shaped the messaging. She’s not just attached to the brand. She’s part of the mission. And that authenticity shows up in every customer interaction.

How many Female CEOs can you name?

Watch Fortune.com asking New Yorkers if they know of any Female CEO's. This is a travesty - we need to know their names!!  

Lady Bits:

Attend:  JJ’s Panel for Gritty in Pink: InvestHER Roundtables
https://www.instagram.com/p/DKSZNgSvLh4/?hl=en
Free RSVP: https://partiful.com/e/GNqgHpO0zpMMdtvQwkS5

Follow:  Love Loretta Lynn?  Patsy Cline?  Dolly?  Well meet Belle Franz - https://www.tiktok.com/@bellefrantz?lang=en You are Welcome!! 

Listen:  Real Money with Lisa Chastain podcast : From Jay-Z to Justice: Power, Equity, and Owning Your Worth | Real Money with Jennifer Justice
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-jay-z-to-justice-power-equity-and-owning-your/id1605839311?i=1000710544479

Read: How Far Will AI Go To Defend Its Own Survival? PRETTY FUCKING FAR!  This is scary and we should all know about this.
https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/far-will-ai-go-defend-survival-rcna209609

Hi, I’m JJ.

Since starting the Justice Dept, I have increased women's wealth by over $100MM in just over 5 years. Want to know what inspires me to do this work? My clients' surprised reaction when I manage to get them much better terms for themselves and their companies, whether 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

“Taking Care of Lady Busine$$” sponsor!  Welcome Medjet, the top-rated air medical transport and security response membership for travelers. If you’re hospitalized or your safety is threatened while traveling, they can get you moved home…if you’re a member.