International Women’s Day Q&A with Our Founder & CEO, Melisse Shaban
In honor of International Women’s Day, we sat down with Melisse to get her take on the female role in today’s society. Watch the full video here.
On International Women’s Day, what is the most important message you want to send out to young women thinking about their careers?
Take your power. Don’t let anyone treat you or make you feel less than who you think you’re capable of being. You’re capable of anything. My daughter is going to be anything she wants to be, and there isn’t going to be any societal influence (if I have anything to do with it) that makes her feel less than capable of whatever she wants.
Are there any assumptions about women that you would like to change? Why?
I still think we’re defined by appearances in a lot of ways, and I think we define ourselves that way. And so I think the more people look deeper inside - instead of what they see on the outside - the better off the world will be.
How can women better enable each other instead of competing?
I think for a long time we defined ourselves based on what men thought about us. It was about “how she looked” “how she appeared” “who was on his arm.” And I think as men become less relevant in how we define ourselves, that shift allows women to be the resource and conduit to self-esteem and confidence and all of the things that give us power.
How important is it for women to lift each other up and what does that mean to you?
I think it’s probably the most important shift that I’ve seen happen over the course of my life and certainly in business. I think women supporting women will ultimately change the world.
I believe in women’s equality because…
Interesting we’re still talking about that after all these years, right? Crazy. I just think the world will be a better place when women have more powerful roles in it. We’re made up a little bit differently, and I think my experience has been that women have a unique ability to multitask and have a softer side.
What qualities make a great leader?
I think integrity. Humility. I think women by nature are a little bit more humble. I think ego and getting credit for things are less important to women than they are to men - that is my personal experience. And I think when you don’t need that to define yourself, you’re able to share responsibility and you’re able to share success.