The Female Quotient

The Female Quotient is an equality services company that provides thought leadership platforms to women, and develops solutions for organizations committed to closing the gender gaps at work. It is fueled by the ideas, ambitions, innovations, and empathy of working women around the world. It is a combination of live events, online forums, custom research, media, and advisory services. It identifies challenges, surfaces effective strategies, forges powerful networks, and ultimately sparks real progress.

CEO, The Female Quotient

Ipsos OTX

At Ipsos OTX, a multi-disciplinary team of researchers, strategists, digital natives and design technologists, our charge is to understand what is happening now that will dictate what will be happening next. We experiment, incubate, tinker and create. I also created The Ipsos Girls’ Lounge, the go to destination at industry conferences for women to authentically connect, collaborate and inspire each other to activate the change we want to see.

OTX become one of the largest and fastest growing research companies in the world in just nine years. At OTX I created new rules to redefine work/life balance, took risks and inspired a culture to thrive in a modern market. In 2010, OTX was acquired by Ipsos, a global market research company, specializing in advertising, loyalty, marketing, media and public affairs market research.

Founder & CEO

Founder and CEO of The Female Quotient

Shelley Zalis, CEO and Founder, of The Female Quotient (The FQ), and widely known as the “Chief Troublemaker”, is a trailblazing entrepreneur and global advocate for creating workplaces that work for everyone. She is redefining leadership and driving change across industries.

Under Zalis’s leadership, The FQ has grown into a leading media and events company with the largest global community of women in business, connecting over 7 million professionals across 30 industries in more than 100 countries. The organization produces premium events, editorial, and social content that connect top brands with influential leaders worldwide.

Renowned for The FQ Lounge™, immersive spaces at industry conferences and cultural events, including the World Economic Forum in Davos, Cannes Lions, CES, and the Super Bowl, Zalis has created platforms where leaders convene to share ideas, spark action, and foster workplaces where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

Previously, Zalis transformed the market research sector by founding Online Testing Exchange (OTX), which she later sold to Ipsos. She also co-created #SeeHer, an initiative promoting accurate portrayals of women and girls in media.

A sought-after thought leader, Zalis is a LinkedIn Top 20 Most Influential Voice and a contributor to TIME, Forbes, and IMD. Her accolades include the Matrix Award, Industry Legend Award, Mosaic Award, EY Entrepreneur of the Year, and a spot on the Global Leaders 50 List. In 2024, The Female Quotient was named one of Fast Company’s Brands That Matter.

Through bold leadership and innovative action, Zalis is creating a new blueprint for workplace transformation.

I always say, “When purpose meets passion, you’re unstoppable.” When you love what you do, it’s called passion; when you don’t, it’s called stress.

My father passed away seven years ago, and he taught me to live with a no-regret policy, which has become a guiding principle for me. I never want to look back and say, “shoulda, woulda, coulda,” and I never want to miss the moments that matter. His lessons taught me how to live and lead today with meaning, intention, and purpose.

When you align your purpose with your passion, you create a life you never need to escape from, one you’re proud to live every single day.

Shelley Zalis

Let’s not overcomplicate it. Love looks like showing up with kindness for others… and for yourself.

Kathleen Houlihan

The Monday motiviation we alllllll need 👏

Motherhood is taxing and tiring and just requires. so. much. energy. But don’t forget to have fun with it, especially with those who really get it.  

🎥 maikemohr via Instagram

Jamie Schwartz

In this week's edition of The FQ Newsletter: 

New Mexico is setting a new standard in the U.S., a country that ranks among the top three for the highest child care costs in the world.

Starting this month, child care will be free for every family, regardless of income. It’s a game-changer, saving parents an average of $12,000 per child each year.

This bold move builds on progress already made. Back in 2022, New Mexico became the first state to make child care free for most families, covering incomes up to $124,000 for a family of four. The results spoke for themselves: poverty rates fell, early educators got long-overdue wage increases, and subsidies finally reflected the true cost of care.

Now, the state is expanding the promise to everyone, backing the promise with major investment, from a $10 billion early childhood trust fund to higher pay for providers. When you invest in families, the whole economy wins.

Subscribe to read more: https://lnkd.in/gnMKEyrT

“Sisterhood is a promise that when one of us steps forward, we bring everyone else with us.”

It was an honor to attend the Glamour's Women of the Year Awards and hear Demi Moore speak so passionately about what true sisterhood looks like. It's not just the sisters we’re born with, but the ones we choose. The women who celebrate our wins, catch us when we fall, and and show us that vulnerability isn’t weakness, it’s strength in its truest form.

Because when one woman shines, we all shine. ✨

Kindness is contagious. How can you spread a little?

#WorldKindnessDay

Jaime Contreras

My failures have led to my greatest success. If you don’t try something new, you’ll never know. Keep trying; keep figuring it out!

Congratulations to Lauren Teixeira on her new role as Chief Commercial Officer for the Cadillac Formula 1® Team!

Lauren has been amazing to work with at The Female Quotient, and I’m thrilled to celebrate her next chapter. She’s been instrumental in elevating The Female Quotient Lounge and F1 ACADEMY at F1 races around the world, bringing together partners who are serious about changing the face of motorsport and championing women.

With experience spanning Formula 1, major sports organizations, and global event operations, Lauren knows how to make big moments happen. She’s led strategy and events for top-tier sports and entertainment brands, served as Head of Business Operations for F1 Academy, ran Paddock Club & Industry Relations at the F1 Miami Grand Prix, and led marketing for the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium.

Now, as she joins Cadillac F1, she’ll be driving operational alignment across partnerships, marketing, commercial ops, events, and shareholder comms.

Lauren, you’ve already done so much to move this industry forward. I am so proud of you and can’t wait to see what you do next. Let’s go! 🏎️

I call them heartbeat moments.

The times when your head and your heart are not in sync, and you have to decide which one to follow. Your head is rational, logical, status quo. But your heart? That’s where your truth lives.

When I sold my company of 250 employees to a global organization of 16,000, I found myself sitting at a board table with 24 men and 2 women, watching my former team being discussed like chess pieces. I felt tears in my eyes. I knew every one of those people; their passions, their strengths, their dreams. And I spoke up.

Later, I was pulled aside and told, “There’s no room for emotion in the boardroom.” I had just sold my company. I was supposed to adapt. But my heart was pounding, and I knew I couldn’t stay quiet.

So I wrote a speech called “Bring emotion to the boardroom.” Because emotion is not weakness. It is all about connection, empathy, and passion.

If we want to build workplaces that are human and visionary, we need to bring our full selves, heart included, to the table.

Energy is currency. Pay attention to how you’re spending it, what replenishes it, and how you protect it.

Bobbi Jo Gonnello

🚨 Speaker Drop!

We’re back for The Female Quotient's 2nd annual AI Summit in NYC and the lineup is next-level. These trailblazers are shaping the future of AI with one powerful principle: trust. From rewriting policy to designing ethical products to building public confidence, these leaders are putting humanity at the center of innovation, proving that integrity is AI’s greatest advantage.

Join us to hear from:
✨ Venus Williams, Tennis Champion, Entrepreneur, and Co-founder, Palazzo.ai
✨ Arianna Huffington, Founder & CEO, Thrive Global
✨ Linda Yaccarino, CEO, eMed
✨ Jennifer Van Buskirk, Senior Vice President, Business Operations, AT&T Business
✨ Cathy Hackl, CEO, Future Dynamics 
✨ Caitlin Sarian, Founder and Influencer, Cybersecurity Girl
✨ Chris Lamontagne, President, Fanatics Collect
✨ Jill Cress, Chief Marketing and Experience Officer, H&R Block
✨ Francine Katsoudas, EVP and Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer, Cisco
✨ Kristen O'Hara, VP of Agency, Platforms & Customer Solutions, Google
✨ Colie Edison, Chief Growth Officer, WNBA
✨ Maria Black, President and CEO, ADP
✨ Sofia Hernandez, Global Head, Business Marketing & Commercial Partnerships, TikTok
✨ Gary Brantley, Chief Information Officer, NFL
✨ Cheryl Guerin, EVP, Global Brand Strategy & Innovation, Mastercard
✨ Michelle Vaz, Managing Director, AWS Training and Certification, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
✨ Nadja Bellan-White (she/her/ella), CEO, M+C Saatchi North America
✨ Jana Jakovljevic, SVP of Partnerships, Cognitiv
✨ Christina Cubeta, Chief Marketing Officer, Scope3
✨ Sarah Cooper, Director, AI Native, AWS Generative AI Innov Center, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
✨ Melinda Han Williams, Chief Data Scientist, Dstillery
✨ Zoe Ruderman, Chief Content Officer, ADWEEK
✨ Taryn Crouthers, CEO, SPCSHP
✨ Nick Tran, President & CMO, First Round
✨ Diana Haussling, CEO, Hello Products
✨ Liz Bacelar, Global Head of AI & Advanced Analytics, Under Armor
✨ Kaveri Camire, Senior Vice President, DXC Technology
✨ Dhruv Patel, Chief Product Officer, ROKT
✨ Adrienne Lahens, Co-Founder and CEO, Infinite Studios
✨ Stu Solomon, CEO, HUMAN Security
✨ Erica Spoor, SVP, Business Strategy & Growth, Sparks

…and more to be announced soon, stay tuned!

Hope to see you there! RSVP here:  https://lnkd.in/eMGhtuYP

Leave it to Alanis Morissette to turn perimenopause into poetry.

When she described it as “a chrysalis transforming into a butterfly with a machete,” I couldn’t help but smile because that’s exactly what this stage of life feels like. It’s transformation with power. Change with clarity. Growth with grit. 🦋

Alanis Morissette turns perimenopause into poetry

Seeing more women step into roles where their decisions shape entire industries gives me hope for the future.

Lyndsey Corona has just been named U.S. CEO of Ogilvy, the largest region of one of the world’s most influential creative agencies.

I’ve had the privilege of watching Lyndsey lead with heart, vision, and creative ambition. Her work guiding WPP’s partnership with Verizon showed her gift for building trust with consumers and inspiring teams to deliver meaningful work.

Women hold less than 10% of CEO roles across major U.S. companies, which makes this moment even more meaningful.

Congratulations, Lyndsey. I cannot wait to see the mark you make in this next chapter!

This story really stopped me in my tracks. As someone who has always believed that caregiving has no gender, reading about a father discovering “motherhood” in his own way moved me deeply. 

I believe equity begins at home, in how we show up for the people we love. This reflection by Jason Diamond is such a powerful example of what happens when we lead with empathy, presence, and purpose, no matter what role society tells us we’re “supposed” to play. 

Parenting isn’t feminine or masculine. It’s human. And it’s the foundation of how we build more equitable families, workplaces, and communities. It made me think about how much our identities shift when we care for someone else and how much possibility there is when we let go of old narratives.

If you’re thinking about parenting, partnership, or the future of care, this one is a must-read: https://lnkd.in/gnRY-xvM

People say your network is your net worth. I like to say your network is your net wisdom.

The best advice comes from those who have been there and done that. No one person has all the answers, but together we do.

Surround yourself with people who want the best for you and who remind you that anything is possible. Every conversation is a classroom. Every connection expands your perspective. And perspective is power.

The future belongs to the wisely connected. Your network is your net wisdom. Let’s connect. Let’s share. What is the best life lesson you have learned recently?

Read more in Forbes: https://lnkd.in/g25iMVyD

I hire for passion and train for skill.

Passion is what drives great teams. It turns ideas into impact.

When I’m building a team, I look for people who care deeply about what they do. People who bring energy, curiosity, and heart. Passion is contagious. It creates an environment where everyone feels inspired to show up as their best self.

Culture doesn’t come from the top down. It’s not from a CEO’s memo or a company handbook. Culture is built by every single person, every conversation, every collaboration, every moment of trust and accountability.

The best cultures are created when we surround ourselves with people who push us out of our comfort zones. People who challenge us, expand our perspective, and bring strengths we don’t have.

None of us have it all, but together, we do.

Winning in sports or succeeding in your career: Both take honesty.

If you’re not where you want to be, ask yourself why. Only you know the truth…the habits, fears, or patterns holding you back. When are honest with yourself, you eill find ways to move forward and be better, step by step.

Dion Harrison

In this week's edition of The FQ Newsletter: 

"Dementia plays out differently in everyone's home and you have to do what's right for your family dynamic and what's right for your person."

Emma Heming Willis is showing us the quiet, heart-wrenching strength that caregivers carry. Managing her husband Bruce Willis’s progressive frontotemporal dementia (FTD) disease, an early-onset form of dementia affecting about 50,000–60,000 Americans, she made the painful but necessary choice to move him into a one-story home close to their family home that is tailored to his care needs. FTD requires a calm and serene environment, and this move has given Bruce stability, while also allowing their teen daughters to simply be kids again. "They can have playdates and sleepovers again and not have to walk around tiptoeing," Emma shared with People.

Emma is shedding a light on the impossible choices caregivers make every day. A 2025 study from AARP shows that 63 million Americans are family caregivers, a 50% increase from 2015. Caregiving is love. It’s sacrifice. It’s resilience. But too often, it’s met with judgment instead of understanding. 

Subscribe to read more: https://lnkd.in/gnMKEyrT

Huge congratulations to Keena Grigsby on her new role as Chief Marketing Officer, Vice President at Samsung Electronics America!

Keena has built an extraordinary career with nearly 20 years across finance and marketing, always pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. From her early days at Verizon to shaping the Beats by Dre story at Apple and leading game-changing campaigns at Microsoft, she brings both depth and vision to everything she touches.

In her new role supporting Samsung’s U.S. Mobile Experience business, I have no doubt she’ll continue to elevate how the brand shows up and connects with customers around world.

What I admire most? Keena sees marketing not just as an art, but as a responsibility to amplify voices, shape culture, and drive impact. So proud of you, Keena. This is only the beginning.

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Shelley Zalis's Linkedin Analytics

Shelley Zalis

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Shelley Zalis's Best Posts (last 30 days)

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Shelley Zalis

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Shelley Zalis's LinkedIn Performance

What is Shelley talking about?

Shelley Zalis's Best Posts .css-1emoo84{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:400;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);}(last 30 days)

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Shelley Zalis's Linkedin Analytics

Performance ScoreShelley Zalis's LinkedIn Performance

Shelley Zalis's Best Posts (last 30 days)