Episode
Episode 93: Stop Asking Permission with Shelley Zalis
- Podcast
- The Digital Marketeer
- Published
- Mar 31, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2923
- Processing state
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Summary
Part of our "Badass Women in Media" series brought to you by our amazing sponsor Equativ. The incredible Shelley Zalis (CEO of The Female Quotient) launched the Girls’ Lounge in a Four Seasons bedroom with 50 women and turned it into a 7.5-million-member global movement. She reveals why she refused $250K in funding to keep the name at Davos, how she rewrote workplace rules by leaving at 5 p.m. without apology while raising three kids, and why empathy and compassion are the most critical leadership skills today. Plus: the moment she ripped her hair out of a ponytail in front of a legend in a purple leather suit and stopped apologizing for being a woman. If you've ever waited for permission to be yourself, this will light a fire. About Shelley Zalis: 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 LoungeTM, 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…