What does it mean to lead with integrity? Jillian unpacks this with Sarah Bowden, co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of The Worthy Co - a social enterprise where 100% of every purchase benefits survivors of trafficking, prostitution, and exploitation. There they learn to craft jewelry, candles, and apparel, all while earning a living wage in a supportive space of like-minded women.

Sarah was serving the trafficking survivor population and noticed them facing the same hurdle over and over: the inability to find a good job due to their backgrounds. She jumped into starting the company with a focus on nurturing their skill set, so they could become self-sufficient and open doors for themselves.

This week she discusses the growth of the nonprofit, the challenges of being a social entrepreneur, and her top 3 tips for leading businesses with integrity.

Takeaways from this episode
- The Worthy Co serves as a springboard for women with tough backgrounds and teaches them soft skills to expand opportunities beyond minimum wage jobs, while providing them a valuable female network.
- It can be tempting to exaggerate statistics like reach in a nonprofit, but the value of building relationships with people cannot be underestimated.
- Be careful about having a savior mentality and viewing your do-good initiative as a rescue mission. Don’t do for people what they can do themselves - simply be a steward.
- People don’t choose the upbringing they have. Where someone is born (and to whom) is up to chance, so bear that in mind and keep your humility.
- It’s okay to not be the expert and show your team that you don’t have all the answers.
- Prioritize your emotional health so you’re in the right mindset to keep your integrity. You’re not at your best when you’re not caring for yourself.
- Your actions evangelize your values. If you model being a workaholic to your team, it’s difficult to assure them that such behavior isn’t the expectation.