The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Shelley Zalis, Founder & CEO of The Female Quotient. Founded in 2007, The Female Quotient (The FQ) is an equality services company that provides thought leadership platforms for women and develops solutions for organizations committed to closing the gender gap in the workplace.

Co-Hosting this episode with PVSB is Jacqui Dynowski, co-host of SheCommerce Podcast.

Follow Shelley on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleyzalis/

Follow The FQ online at: https://www.thefemalequotient.com/

Shelley answers these questions:

1. What's the most compelling ROI data you've seen from CPG companies that have actually closed their internal gender gaps — and what did they do differently?
2. How big is that disconnect, and what's the cost to brand relevance when leadership doesn't reflect the shopper?
3. How have CPG companies — historically some of the biggest advertisers in the world — performed on the Gender Equality Measure (GEM) score, and where is the biggest gap still?
4. How do you counsel companies that are getting squeamish — and what do you say to those who argue that pulling back is a business-neutral decision?
5. For CPG companies deploying AI in marketing, hiring, and consumer insights, what guardrails should they be building in?
6. How are you seeing CPG executives use those spaces differently than other industries — and what conversations are you hearing most from women in the retail media and commerce ecosystem?
7. In CPG, where field sales, trade roles, and supply chain jobs often require significant travel and irregular hours, how should companies redesign work structures to stop losing women mid-career?
8. What does it look like when a male CPG CEO truly leads on this — versus when it's performative — and how can listeners of this podcast who are male executives actually show up differently starting Monday morning?
9. What do you see as the unique opportunity that Cannes creates for driving meaningful equality commitments from CMOs and brand leaders — versus it being another cocktail-party conversation that doesn't translate back to the office?
10. What are the two or three metrics that CPG companies should be tracking internally that most of them currently aren't — and how do you hold leadership accountable when the numbers don't move?

CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com
FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com
SheCOMMERCE Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/
Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.com
Lara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/

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