Never Bend Your Head: Standing Tall as Women in Business
“Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye.”
– Helen Keller
This quote has stayed with me for a while.
Not because it’s loud or dramatic, but because it feels quietly powerful. Especially as a woman in business.
Running a business isn’t just about strategy, numbers, or visibility. A lot of the real work happens internally. It’s in the moments when we question ourselves. When we wonder if we’re charging too much, speaking too boldly, or taking up more space than we should. When we soften our words, downplay our experience, or apologise before we’ve even started.
Command to be fearless
So when I read Helen Keller’s words, I don’t hear them as a command to be fearless or forceful. I hear them as a reminder to stand tall in who we are.
Holding your head high doesn’t mean you never feel doubt. It doesn’t mean you have all the answers or that everything feels easy. It means choosing not to shrink when things feel uncomfortable. It means allowing yourself to be seen, even when you feel vulnerable or unsure.
Recognising your skills
So many women bend without even realising they’re doing it. We add qualifiers to our sentences. We discount our skills. We hesitate before saying what we really think. We wait for permission that never actually comes.
Looking the world straight in the eye is about noticing those moments and gently choosing something different.
It’s responding to a business opportunity with confidence rather than hesitation.
It’s stating your prices clearly and standing by them.
It’s trusting that your experience has value, even if your journey doesn’t look like anyone else’s.
Women-only business spaces
There is something especially powerful about doing this in women-only business spaces. When women gather and show up honestly, something shifts. We see reflections of ourselves in each other. We realise we’re not the only ones who’ve felt nervous, stuck, or unsure. Confidence feels more accessible when it’s shared. Courage feels less lonely.
And the truth is, you don’t need to feel confident all the time to stand tall. You can feel uncertain and still show up. You can be learning and still lead. You can be growing and still take your place at the table.
How to Start Speaking Up
Many of us started our businesses for deeply personal reasons. Freedom. Flexibility. Purpose. A desire to do things differently. Over time, comparison and outside noise can pull us away from that original clarity. Standing tall can be as simple as reconnecting with why you began and letting that guide you again.
The next time you catch yourself minimising your work or your voice, pause for a moment.
Lift your head.
Take a breath.
Say what you were about to hold back.
And…
Not to prove anything to anyone else, but because you matter. Your work matters. And how you show up sets an example for other women watching quietly from the sidelines.
Helen Keller’s words remind us that strength is not always loud. Sometimes it’s steady. Sometimes it’s choosing not to bend.
Hold your head high.
Look the world straight in the eye.
Your business will feel different when you do.
And if you ever need any advice from any of the women in the room, please ask one of us to make an introduction if you are not sure about approaching them yourself, or ask us for help. We are more than happy to give it.
Thank you for reading this month’s blog, Never Bend Your Head: Standing Tall as Women in Business.
Kelly, Kelly, and Chloe,
Ladies That Do Networking