![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/d2d45aw5ucb5xn.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/01081833\/Lisa-Niver-Shelley-Zalis-Female-Quotient-orlando-reece-business-insider.jpg\")
<\/a>\nLisa Niver, author of BRAVE-ish, Shelley Zalis, founder of The Female Quotient, Orlando Reece, Head of Global Sales, Insider Inc. Photos by NYC Party Booth<\/a><\/p>\n
There are conferences \u2014 and then there are gatherings. Spaces where people don\u2019t just show up to exchange business cards, but to connect, share, think, and imagine a better future together.<\/p>\n
For me, AdWeek has always been one of those rare spaces \u2014 because of The Female Quotient.<\/p>\n
Where It All Began: Shelley Zalis and a Different Kind of Room<\/p>\n
The Female Quotient was founded by Shelley Zalis, a visionary force who saw something missing in corporate culture: not just seats for women at the table \u2014 but tables that women built themselves.<\/p>\n
The movement began at CES, where Shelley invited women to walk the floor together \u2014 because walking alone can feel isolating, but walking together feels like power.<\/p>\n
From that simple, bold act grew The FQ Lounge \u2014 a home base inside major global conferences \u2014 a sanctuary for women to gather:<\/p>\n
A place to meet. A place to recharge. A place to be heard. A place to show up fully \u2014 without apology.<\/p>\n
What started as women walking side by side has expanded into a global movement and a thriving community of leaders, creators, innovators, and changemakers.<\/p>\n
The Book-SHE-lf: Celebrating Women\u2019s Stories<\/p>\n
One of my favorite elements of the Lounge is the Book-SHE-lf \u2014 a curated library of books written by women, displayed in a space built for conversation.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s more than a shelf. It\u2019s a statement:<\/p>\n
Women\u2019s stories matter. Women\u2019s voices matter. Women\u2019s authorship matters.<\/p>\n
In 2023, I was honored to have my memoir, BRAVE-ish, included \u2014 and to sign books and meet readers. It remains one of the most meaningful moments of my author journey.<\/p>\n
In 2024, I was invited again \u2014 but I was deep in my book tour (airports, stages, interviews, suitcases with opinions). I promised myself: I\u2019ll be back.<\/p>\n
In 2025, I returned \u2014 and it meant even more.<\/p>\n
Returning to the Lounge in 2025<\/p>\n For three days, I signed BRAVE-ish inside the Lounge \u2014 surrounded by:<\/p>\n women I admire, women I\u2019ve learned from, and women I had just met but felt instantly connected to.<\/p>\n That familiar, powerful feeling returned: being in a space built for women, by women.<\/p>\n This year, I had the joy of reconnecting and connecting with:<\/p>\n Shelley Zalis, whose leadership continues to expand what community can mean<\/p>\n Orlando Reece, Business Insider<\/p>\n Holly Corbett, Forbes<\/p>\n Christyl Lucille Murray, Girl Scouts of the USA<\/p>\n Jennifer Baggett Brennan, co-author of The Lost Girls and journalist at The Washington Post<\/p>\n \u2026and so many new friends, colleagues, and co-conspirators in courage.<\/p>\n Books Are Not Just Stories \u2014 They Are Bridges<\/p>\n When someone picked up BRAVE-ish, we didn\u2019t just talk about the book. We talked about:<\/p>\n courage reinvention identity the beauty of starting again and how \u201csmall steps lead to BIG changes.\u201d<\/p>\n I write those words in every book not because they sound nice \u2014 but because they are true.<\/p>\n A Space That Makes Room for All of Us<\/p>\n The Female Quotient Lounge isn\u2019t just a lounge. It\u2019s:<\/p>\n a gathering place a platform a listening room a launchpad a reminder that we belong here.<\/p>\n When women share stories and space, we don\u2019t just change the conversation \u2014 we change the culture.<\/p>\n Gratitude<\/p>\n To Shelley \u2014 thank you for the vision and the invitation. To Erika and Paige \u2014 thank you for the warmth, coordination, support, and joy. To everyone who stopped by \u2014 thank you for trusting me with your stories. To The Female Quotient community \u2014 thank you for making the world feel wider, kinder, and more possible.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s to What Comes Next<\/p>\n More voices. More stories. More courage. More books on more shelves.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s to all of us \u2014 finding our place, telling our stories, and being brave-ish together.<\/p>\n An honor to be back on the book-SHE-lf! AdWeek 2025<\/p>\n What an incredible honor to sign my memoir Brave-ish at AdWeek in The Female Quotient Lounge! Being part of the book-SHE-lf \u2014 surrounded by two dozen trailblazing female authors \u2014 was pure magic. I\u2019ll never forget watching readers reach for my book, sharing stories, and smiling as I signed each one with my favorite reminder: \u201cSmall steps lead to BIG changes.\u201d<\/p>\n Every conversation reminded me why I wrote Brave-ish \u2014 to inspire courage, connection, and the belief that every bold leap starts with one small step. Meeting fellow book lovers, celebrating women\u2019s voices, and being part of this empowering community filled me with gratitude. Huge thanks to everyone who stopped by, took photos, and helped capture these unforgettable moments. And to @thefemalequotient and @adweek (powered by @juucecharging) \u2014 thank you for championing creativity, authenticity, and women who lift each other higher.<\/p>\n I loved being back at AdWeek with The Female Quotient, signing Brave-ish in the Lounge and connecting with so many inspiring leaders, storytellers, creators, and changemakers. Some of my favorite moments were the people \u2014standing shoulder-to-shoulder with women (and allies!) who are shaping culture, amplifying purpose, and lifting each other higher. It was such a joy to share this experience with:<\/p>\n Shelley Zalis, Founder of The Female Quotient<\/p>\n Orlando Reece, Business Insider<\/p>\n Holly Corbett, Forbes, Consciously Unbiased<\/p>\n Christyl Lucille Murray, Girl Scouts<\/p>\n Jennifer Baggett Brennan, The Lost Girls \/ Washington Post\u2026and so many new friends I\u2019m excited to continue building with.<\/p>\n Being part of the Book-SHE-lf again \u2014 surrounded by powerful women authors \u2014 felt like coming home. I\u2019m still so moved every time someone chooses Brave-ish and shares what courage means to them. And a very special thank you to the entire TFQ team \u2014 especially Paige and Erika \u2014 for your kindness, coordination, warmth, sparkle, and support. You make everyone feel welcome and seen. I left feeling:grateful, supported, inspired and so incredibly honored. Thank you The Female Quotient and Advertisting week for making space for women\u2019s stories, women\u2019s leadership, and women\u2019s voices. Here\u2019s to courage, community, creativity\u2026 and being brave-ish together.<\/p>\n An incredible honor to be signing my book Brave-ish at AdWeek in The Female Quotient Lounge! Two years ago, I was here when the book had just been published \u2014 and now, after two years on tour and 10 awards later, it feels amazing to be back! So grateful to meet readers, connect with fellow book lovers, and see Brave-ish on the book-SHE-lf alongside so many inspiring authors.<\/p>\n AdWeek NYC 2023<\/a> in the Female Quotient Equality Lounge<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/R62_1256-1024x683.jpg\")
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\nThank you to Christyl Lucille Murray<\/a> for introducing me The Girl Scout Team. I loved being a Girl Scout!<\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Holly-Lisa-Jen-Braveish-683x1024.jpg\")
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\nI love spending time with the 2\/3 of THE LOST GIRLS<\/a>! Have you read it yet? It inspired me to write BRAVE-ish<\/a>! Holly Corbett<\/a>, Lisa Niver and Jennifer Baggett Brennan<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Erika-Paige-Lisa-Niver-Female-Quotient-Adweek-2025-1024x683.jpg\")
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\nTHANK YOU so much to the entire team at THE FEMALE QUOTIENT<\/a> especially Paige and Erika!<\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Lisa-Niver-Shelley-Zalis-1024x630.png\")
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