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Women in Business: What It Takes to Lead with Integrity

Updated: May 28

Because leadership isn’t about ego, it’s about example.


As a woman in business, I’ve heard it all. 

“Too emotional.” 

“Too strong.” 

“Too soft.” 

“Too much.”


But what I’ve learnt, after building multiple businesses while living with chronic illness and disability, is this: You don’t have to play by anyone else’s rules. You just have to lead with integrity.


At Justine Martin Speaker, I speak to audiences around the world about resilience, purpose, and real leadership. Not the shiny, filtered kind but the authentic, values-driven kind that makes a real impact and builds a real legacy.


Here’s what it truly takes to lead with integrity as a woman in business and why the world needs more of it.


 1. Integrity Means Knowing Your Values and Living Them Loudly


Integrity starts with clarity. You have to know who you are, what matters to you, and what you stand for.


💬 Ask yourself:

  • What will I always say yes to?

  • What will I never tolerate?

  • What values do I want my business to be known for?


Then, lead from that place even when it’s hard, unpopular, or slower than the shortcut.

Because true leadership doesn’t just speak values, it lives them.


2. Integrity Means Owning Your Story


As women, we’ve often been taught to shrink, smooth the edges, or hide our scars. But integrity means bringing your whole self to the table.


Your lived experience, your setbacks, your comebacks, your stumbles and strengths are not liabilities. They’re your leadership credentials.


I don’t hide the fact that I have MS, cancer, or an acquired brain injury. I lead with those truths. Because they shaped the woman, leader, and speaker I am today.


Authenticity builds trust. And trust builds impact.


3. Integrity Means Saying No (Even When It Costs You)


Not every opportunity is the right opportunity. Leading with integrity means turning down:

  • Clients who aren’t aligned with your values

  • Deals that compromise your ethics

  • Shortcuts that could hurt people in the long run


It’s not always easy. But the peace of knowing you didn’t sell out your soul? That’s priceless.


4. Integrity Means Lifting Others as You Rise


Real leaders don’t gatekeep. They don’t hoard wisdom, power, or opportunities. They build tables longer than their own spotlight.


As women in business, we have the chance to change the game for the next generation.

  • Share your knowledge

  • Mentor other women

  • Champion diversity

  • Celebrate other people’s wins.


Because integrity isn’t about how high you climb, it’s about how many people you bring with you.


5. Integrity Means Leading Yourself First


Leadership isn’t just about managing others. It’s about managing your mindset, your habits, your energy, and your growth.


You can’t lead others well if you’re burnt out, disconnected, or out of alignment.


So take care of your nervous system. Honour your limits. Stay in therapy or coaching. Keep learning. Keep checking in with your own inner compass.


The more anchored you are in yourself, the stronger your leadership becomes.


Final Thoughts: Leadership with Integrity Isn’t Always the Easiest Path, But It’s Always the Right One


Leading with integrity as a woman in business might mean:

  • Saying no more often

  • Growing slower but stronger

  • Standing alone, sometimes

  • Being underestimated and still rising anyway.


But it also means:

  • Leading with peace

  • Attracting the right people

  • Making a real difference

  • Becoming the kind of leader you once needed


So here’s your reminder: You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be real. And integrity? That’s your power move.


Want to book a speaker who leads from the heart, speaks from experience, and inspires action through authenticity? Let’s connect.



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I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land where I work and live. I pay our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging. I celebrate the stories, culture, and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.

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