In this episode of Innovate and Elevate, Sharon is joined by Shelley Zalis, Founder and CEO of The Female Quotient, a media and experience company that advances gender equality in the workplace. Shelley is a pioneer in online research and the first female chief executive ranked in the research industry's top 25.

The importance of mentorship and community building is a central theme of Shelley’s career. She shares powerful advice for young women who are starting to build up their careers and addresses the concept of imposter syndrome, emphasizing how important it is to recognize and own your value. 

Shelley reflects on her journey as a self-proclaimed "Chief Troublemaker" and discusses how breaking rules has led to her success. She isn’t afraid to ruffle feathers and encourages everyone to practice self-advocacy, create new norms in the workplace, and challenge the status quo. 

Shelley highlights the need for better data and storytelling to change narratives around women in business and VC funding. She discusses her efforts to challenge existing statistics and uncover more nuanced data about female founders and diverse investors. This approach, she argues, is crucial for shifting perspectives and driving change in the industry.

Episode Outline

(01:27 ) Chief Troublemaker 

(06:12 ) Shut That B***h Up in Your Head 

(09:27 ) Data Driven: The Power to Tell New Stories

(13:40 ) Together We Rise: Closing the Mentorship Gap

Connect with Shelley 

• Follow Shelley on LinkedIn
• Learn more about The Female Quotient 

Additional Resources

• Shelley's column in Forbes   
• Shelley's article for Time Magazine: Women Drive Wealth. So Why Is Equity Still Inequitable? 

Connect with Sharon

• Connect with Sharon on LinkedIn: Sharon Kedar
• Follow Sharon on Instagram
• Learn more about Innovate and Elevate innovateandelevatepodcast.com
• Subscribe to Innovate and Elevate on YouTube
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This podcast is produced by The Wave Podcasting