“Is 100 tampons enough for 6 days?”
Yes, this actually happened.
The Female Quotient
November 25, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes
WHAT’S ON DECK
Tell Me More: For the first in history, women outnumber men in NASA’s 2025 astronaut class
Troublemaker Spotlight: Dr. Charlene Thomas, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Def Jam Records
Inside Track: Leaders on the move
Dear FQ: In an interview I gave a salary range; how do I now tell them I want more?
Poll the Pack: Staying mentally strong in tough times
TELL ME MORE
A giant leap for womankind
It’s not every day you cheer for the whole universe. But here we are: NASA just picked its 2025 astronaut class and for the first time ever, most of them are women. That’s six women and four men out of over 8,000 hopefuls.
To understand just how big this is, we have to rewind a bit.
Back during WWII, when so many men were off to war, NASA began hiring more women out of necessity. Think Hidden Figures: Women like Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson doing the heavy math behind major missions.
Then came the space race. The Soviet Union launched Sputnik in 1957, and the U.S. accelerated its own space program, ushering in a new era of technological competition. Men became the public face of space. Meanwhile, a group of 13 highly-qualified women, known as the Mercury 13, passed all the grueling tests to become astronauts. They outperformed their male counterparts. But they were never allowed to fly. Why? Because, at the time, astronauts had to be military test pilots, and women were barred from that role.
Even John Glenn, the American icon, once testified that flying was “a man’s job.” The irony? Glenn didn’t feel safe launching until Katherine Johnson personally verified the math behind his flight.
The Soviet Union was busy shattering glass ceilings in zero gravity. In 1963, Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space, on a solo mission, no less.
Fast forward to 1983: Sally Ride finally blasted off as the first American woman in space. When Ride was preparing for her flight, NASA engineers provided her with a zero gravity makeup kit and suggested sending her with 100 tampons for a 6-day mission. “No,” she later recalled responding, “that would not be the right number.” Just another example of why even one woman on a team makes a world of difference!
By 2019, NASA tried for the first all‑female spacewalk with Anne McClain and Christina Koch, but ran into something absurd: They had only one medium-sized spacesuit and they needed two. So it got scrapped. (Yep, in 2019.) Later that year, they made it happen. Since then, five more all‑female spacewalks have occurred. To date, about 600 people have been to space; of those, 70 have been women.
Enter the Class of 2025. For the first time, women outnumber men in NASA’s newest group. They’ll train for future missions to the Moon, Mars, and whatever’s next. Among them is Anna Menon, who has already been to space, flying higher than any woman in history on SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission.
And that’s what progress looks like. Not just being allowed in the room, but building the ship. Steering the mission. Landing the future.
TROUBLEMAKER SPOTLIGHT
Dr. Charlene Thomas, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Def Jam Records
Dr. Charlene Thomas is a badass in the music industry. If you don’t know her name, you definitely know her work, as she has spearheaded marketing campaigns for artists like Wu-Tang Clan, Jay-Z, 2 Chainz, and LLCool J. Throughout her career, she has been instrumental at labels like LOUD Records, Rocafella Records, and Slip-N-Slide Records. Charlene has been recognized as a Billboard Women in Music honoree in 2024 and 2025, and a Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Power Player in 2024, an acknowledgement of her remarkable contributions and influence in music and advertising.
What’s the worst career advice you’ve gotten?
It wasn’t a single piece of bad advice; it was more of an unspoken message: Don’t rock the boat. As women of color, we often feel the pressure to just be grateful for a seat at the table, not to ask for more. That mindset discourages us from negotiating our worth or asserting our value, things that are critical for success. Over time, I’ve learned that being assertive isn’t a flaw; it’s a strength. We are what we negotiate, and women, especially women of color, bring undeniable value that drives performance and progress in every organization.
What’s the best piece of non-obvious career advice you’ve gotten?
It’s not just about having an idea, execution is everything. A former colleague once showed me the truth behind this when I put together a collaboration concept. I had the idea, but he took it and brought it to life, expanding it across multiple verticals and ultimately making it the success it is today.
That experience taught me that while ideas spark innovation, it’s the people who execute them who truly make the difference.
What was a “heartbeat moment” for you in your career?
My heartbeat moments have always come from being a creative. Even after 30 years, every time I see the Wu-Tang logo, I think, “Wow, I was part of creating that legacy.” Another came through my work with Three 6 Mafia, bringing their vision to life and watching it evolve into history. To this day, they remain the only rap/hip-hop group to win an Academy Award.
Who would you love to give flowers to from your career that influenced your journey?
I’d like to give flowers to Steve Rifkind and Rich Isaacson. From Steve, I learned the art of creativity; from Rich, I learned the power of business acumen. To sum it up: I learned that this is the music business, but first and foremost, it is the business of music. It’s a reminder that while creativity and artistry are essential, music is also a business.
Where have you caused trouble?
I cause good trouble daily with my passion for creativity and preserving our music history. It is a daily fight to justify creative endeavors to a corporate world that has a need for tangible, measurable results. I want to ensure future understanding and appreciation for music; you should know where you come from to understand where you are going.
Want to nominate a “Troublemaker” you admire? You can do so here.
INSIDE TRACK
Leaders on the move
Anne Sarah Panhard has been named Managing Director of Perfumes and Beauty at Hermès, a role that reflects both her remarkable track record and the growing influence of women shaping the future of luxury.
Keena Grigsby is now Chief Marketing Officer & VP at Samsung Electronics America, where she will support Samsung’s U.S. Mobile Experience business. With a powerhouse resume spanning Verizon, shaping Beats by Dre at Apple, and Microsoft, Keena is a visionary master who blends culture and creativity.
Lyndsey Corona took the helm as U.S. CEO of Ogilvy, the largest region of one of the world’s most influential creative agencies. Women hold less than 10% of CEO roles across major U.S. companies, which makes this moment even more meaningful.
Lauren Teixeira is now Chief Commercial Officer of the Cadillac Formula 1® Team. From elevating The FQ Lounge and F1 ACADEMY to shaping the future of women in motorsport, Lauren is a force, and now she’s taking the wheel at one of F1’s most exciting ventures.
In her words: Lauren Teixeira shared with FQ readers
“From my previous roles, I’m bringing forward several lessons that have shaped the kind of leader I want to be. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is the impact of cross-cultural work styles. Even when teams speak the same language, the ways people communicate, present ideas, make decisions, and collaborate can differ dramatically. Great leadership means creating space for those differences, recognizing them as strengths, and adapting my own style to bring out the best in everyone.”
DEAR FQ
Your burning career questions answered
Amanda Hickman of the Female Quotient weighs in:
It ain’t over until the contract is signed. While providing this salary range set the employer’s initial expectations, circumstances can change.
You can justify this new range to the employer by examining the role itself. For example, if it carries more responsibility or there is market research that shows higher ranges for similar positions, you’ve got yourself some bargaining chips. And of course, the strongest leverage would be receiving a competing offer at a higher salary.
Don’t get carried away though; it’s best to aim for a reasonable increase as opposed to a much higher number than you originally discussed. The bottom line? Know your value and make sure your paycheck reflects it.
P.S. Got a burning career question? Serve it up here to Dear FQ to score advice from a powerhouse leader in our network.
POLL THE PACK
Move, pause, connect: The mental strength formula
Mental strength isn’t just about powering through. It’s about knowing when to move, when to pause, and when to phone a friend. Forget the old-school “grind” mentality.
🧠 38% of professionals say moving their body helps keep their mind sharp. Whether it's a long walk, dance break, or full-body workout, movement creates structure, lifts your mood, and helps you sleep better.
⏸️ 35% say stepping back helps them move forward. We often think that resting or taking a break is a waste of time, but in fact the opposite is true. Some of the same restorative brain functions that happen during sleep also kick in when we pause during the day (!). Breaks don’t slow us down; they reset us to come back with more creativity and productivity.
🤝 Nearly 1 in 5 employees rely on connection to stay grounded. Whether it’s venting to a friend or talking to a therapist, conversation is medicine. One offers emotional backup, the other delivers tools and perspective; both matter.
Mental fitness isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s personal, powerful, and looks different for everyone, and that’s exactly the point.
Know your worth, and let others know it too!
Xo,
The FQ
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