Shelley Zalis is a force of nature who refuses to play by anyone else's rules. As the founder of The Female Quotient and a pioneering researcher, Shelley has made it her mission to rewrite the playbook for women in business. From transforming online research when everyone said it couldn't be done, to creating the "Girls' Lounge" at male-dominated conferences, Shelley's career is a masterclass in following your heart and bringing others along for the ride.
In this episode, Shelley shares her journey from being the "only and lonely" female CEO in market research to becoming the "Chief Troublemaker" championing women's voices in the workplace. With infectious energy and bold ideas, she challenges us to rethink everything from how we use language to how we structure parental leave. Get ready for a conversation that will leave you inspired to create your own "heartbeat moments" and lead with authenticity.
5 Uplifting Lessons from Shelley Zalis
- Embrace the power of the pack. One woman alone has power, but collectively we have impact. Bring others along to create real change.
- Be a bold pattern maker. Don't wait for the "right time" – be willing to go first and create new possibilities for others.
- Follow your heart, not just your head. Trust your instincts and be willing to take risks when you believe in something.
- Embrace authenticity. Lead like yourself, not like someone else. There's power in bringing emotion and your true self to work.
- Choose risk over regret. It's better to take a chance on your dreams than to look back wondering "What if?" Trust in your ability to find solutions.
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SHELLEY ZALIS
CEO, The Female Quotient
Known as the “Chief Troublemaker,” Shelley Zalis is a trailblazer for women in the workplace.
She is an internationally renowned entrepreneur, a pioneer for online research, a sought-after
speaker, a well-known thought leader, and a devoted mentor.
As founder and CEO of The Female Quotient, Zalis is in the business of equality™. Her mission
is to change the equation and close the gender gap in the workplace. Together with Fortune 500
companies, impact organizations, and conscious leaders, The FQ curates experiences, media,
and solutions that advance gender equality. The FQ has forever altered the business agenda
through its signature Equality Lounges® advancing equality at the largest global business and
industry conferences, including Davos, CES, SXSW, Cannes and more.
Prior to The FQ, Zalis became the mother of online research when she founded OTX (Online
Testing Exchange), which quickly grew into one of the world’s largest research companies and
earned Zalis distinction as the first female chief executive ranked in the research industry’s top
25. She sold OTX to Ipsos in 2010, where she led global innovation in over 80 countries.
With a bold approach to leadership, business, and life, Zalis is an acclaimed speaker and
dynamic moderator who has interviewed top-level CEOs, notable celebrities, and prominent
female figures. In addition to being an exclusive contributor to TIME, Zalis authors a Forbes
column, and has been named the #18 most influential voice on LinkedIn in the world.
A firm believer in giving back with generosity, Zalis is also the co-founder of #SeeHer, a
movement led by the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) to increase the accurate
portrayal of women and girls in advertising and media, has been honored as an “Industry
Legend" by the AdClub, received the Matrix Award by New York Women in Communications
and is a member of several equality boards.
You can follow Zalis on LinkedIn and Instagram.
