The Female Quotient

Culture is shaped by the stories we tell, the voices we amplify, and the leaders who lead with purpose. Brands have the power to reflect society in ways that are authentic, inclusive, and impactful. Join us in the FQ Lounge @ #AWNewYork25 to explore how bold thinking and conscious leadership are creating the change we want to see in marketing and beyond. RSVP: https://lnkd.in/eV2tZtGX

The future of space is female. 🌟 For the first time, women outnumber men in #NASA’s newest astronaut class. Six women and four men were selected from more than 8,000 applicants to train for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. This marks a powerful shift in a field dominated by men since 1959. Among them is Anna Menon, who has already been to space, flying higher than any woman in history on SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission. This milestone proves what we've always known: when women have a seat at the table, or in this case, the spacecraft, we all go further.

Sometimes the best part of getting ready isn’t the red carpet, it’s the group chat hyping you up. Here’s to dressing for joy, for friendship, and for the #girlies who always cheer the loudest. 💄

In this week's edition of The FQ Newsletter: From Goldman Sachs VP to beauty mogul, Nancy Twine won’t settle for breaking barriers, she’s shattering them. At 29, she became the youngest Black woman to launch at Sephora with Briogeo, her clean hair care brand that scaled to a 9-figure exit. When Sephora said her scalp care product was "unsexy gray goop," she put her money and reputation on the line… and it became their #1 shampoo, sparking an entire movement. Now Nancy has her sights set on uplifting the next generation of Black and BIPOC founders, so they can reap the benefits of her life’s work and not have to fight alone. Nancy proved that sometimes the best qualification in business is the audacity to bet on yourself and the courage to bring others along with you on the climb. Subscribe to The FQ Newsletter to read about Nancy's journey from Wall Street to building beauty's next big thing: https://lnkd.in/g-Xy24Tm

For too long, women’s pain has been underestimated and ignored. A common misconception is that women are “built to endure more pain” because they give birth or routinely experience debilitating period cramps. This myth has led to women’s pain being dismissed and undertreated in medical settings. Research shows otherwise. Women experience pain differently, and often more acutely, than men. They are also more likely to develop chronic pain, yet clinical trials have historically excluded them or relied on male-only samples, leaving women without the care they deserve. As Dr. Sean Mackey of Stanford University explains, “Sex differences aren’t just stronger or weaker — they are often entirely different wiring diagrams.” Neuroscientist Karen Davis adds that failing to account for those differences is “a disservice to patients who are suffering from different types of pain.” Pain is not one size fits all, and neither is care. Listening to women, investing in inclusive research, and challenging outdated assumptions are critical steps to closing the gender gap in #healthcare.

A professional pool player was on standby to make that shot after the live taping, but turns out, he wasn’t needed! Mary Tyler Moore sank the difficult shot herself during a live taping of The Dick Van Dyke Show. It was unexpected, but as the great actress she was, she stayed in character and carried the scene flawlessly. Moore was ahead of her time in more ways than one: she changed the way women in the entertainment industry were perceived, she was a steadfast and outspoken champion of #genderequality, and she improved representation for women, both on screen and behind the camera. In fact, by the mid-1970s, her production company had hired more women than the entirety of CBS (the network that broadcasted the hashtag #MaryTylerMoore Show) and employed more female writers than any other sitcom at the time. Here’s to sinking the shot, and leaving a legacy that still inspires today.

Shelley Zalis' father taught her one of the greatest lessons about life. It’s not about the number, it’s about how you live. Age should never define whose voice matters. Our impact isn’t measured in years, but in how we choose to use them. That’s wisdom we can all carry forward. #FQLeaders

"But, I am a mom." 🤔 Early in her career, Reese Witherspoon was told that #motherhood would hold her back. Instead, she embraced it, on and off screen, proving that moms don’t diminish the story, they create it. Here's to every mom who shows that raising families and building careers don't have to be separate chapters, they’re all part of one incredible story.

Stand out, disagree, say ‘no’ and stand up for what you #believe in. In the words of Halsey, please be inconvenient! 👏

Congratulations to our very own President, Talia Bender Small, for being recognized at the New York Women In Communications Trailblazer Awards! The Trailblazer Awards recognize women who are breaking barriers, shaping industries, and creating new opportunities for others to rise. Talia embodies that spirit in every sense. Through her leadership, vision, and tireless passion for advancing women in the workplace, she has not only strengthened The Female Quotient, but also amplified the voices of countless women across industries. At The FQ, we see firsthand the impact she makes every day, building community and inspiring all of us to think bigger and bolder. We couldn’t be prouder! Read more: https://lnkd.in/gybabjMr