Triumph Over Your Career Barriers with Shelley Zalis

Shelley Zalis is the CEO of The Female Quotient, a media company that fiercely champions gender equality in the workplace. Through research, content, and collaboration, she and her team foster one of the largest networks for women leaders striving for excellence. Here, she maps an actionable path to help us tread through our greatest challenges. 

Women regularly face barriers in and out of the workplace. What advice do you have for those who feel that their setbacks are unsurmountable?

Setbacks are just setups for comebacks. Every problem has a solution—it’s all about perspective. There are two types of people in this world: those who focus on what’s been done (followers of the status quo) and those who see possibilities. Be the one who sees possibilities. Look for the “yes” in every situation. Don’t let a setback trip you up; reframe the problem, turn it on its head, and see the opportunity hiding inside.

With every door that closes, a window opens—and remember, you’re the one who can open it. Surround yourself with people who believe in you, but first, you must believe in yourself. If you don’t, why would anyone else? There’s always a community ready to lift you up. Lean on them. Ask for help. Strength isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about having the courage to keep going.

How can organizations address the stigma surrounding “career failure” and its disproportionate impact on women? 

Organizations need to reframe “failure” as “risk-taking.” The word “failure” feels final and negative—who wants to be set up for that? But risk? That’s where curiosity and innovation thrive. Without risk, you’ll never know what’s possible.

Encourage your teams to ask: Would I rather take a risk and learn, or regret not trying at all? In the worst-case scenario, you learn from a mistake; the best case is to innovate and break barriers. No risk, no reward.

Women often face harsher judgment for missteps, but mistakes are life lessons, not career-ending events. Companies can foster a growth mindset by celebrating risks taken, not just the wins achieved. Leaders must model this by openly sharing their failures and how they grew from them. Normalizing risk and reframing mistakes as feedback will encourage women—and everyone else—to take bold, fearless steps forward.

What challenges have your organization faced in trying to close the gender gap? What are some foreseeable solutions? 

The World Economic Forum predicts it will take 134 years to close the gender gap. That’s unacceptable. Here’s the reality: equality is possible if leaders prioritize it. In fact, it’s the only global goal that can be achieved within a CEO’s tenure.

Leaders can’t fix every global problem during their careers, but they can close the gender gap in their workplaces. History shows us that we can create monumental change when we prioritize it: the internet was created in 25 years, we sent humans to the moon in 10 years, and we developed vaccines for a global pandemic in under a year. The same focus and urgency can—and must—be applied to equality. We don’t need 134 years to figure out how to pay Sally the same as Paul for the same job.

One of the biggest challenges is moving companies from good intentions to intentional actions. Supporting equality in theory is not enough—companies need measurable goals and accountability. Leaders measure what matters because what gets measured gets done. Closing the gender gap requires rewriting the rules of the workplace so everyone can thrive.

How can women leaders in your network strategically lean on a community to overcome imposter syndrome, rejection, and uncertainty? 

Let’s stop calling it “imposter syndrome.” Both men and women experience self-doubt, but women tend to internalize it, and men ignore it. That voice of doubt isn’t real—so stop giving it power. Shut it down.

Rejection and uncertainty thrive in isolation, but community is the antidote. Surround yourself with women who’ve faced these challenges and come out stronger. Their stories will remind you that you’re not alone and will help you silence that inner critic. Lean on your network for advice, mentorship, and honest conversations.

Here’s the secret: the more you lift others up, the more you lift yourself. When we come together as a community, we create a superpower that helps everyone thrive.

What are some actionable ways women can empower one another and collectively advance equality?

A woman alone has power, but together, we have impact. That’s the power of the pack, and it’s what drives our global community of over 6 million women across 30 industries and 100 countries.

Collaboration is everything. Amplify each other’s voices. Share opportunities. Be intentional about mentorship and sponsorship. When you’re in the room, don’t just take a seat—pull up a chair for someone else. Speak someone’s name in rooms they’re not in.

Join forces at spaces like the Equality Lounge® where women gather to collaborate, connect, and create change, or simply show up for one another in everyday moments. Every action counts.

Equality is a team sport. Women don’t need to be “empowered,” as we have the power within us. When women use their power to help one another, that is how we play to win.