Your brain is synced with your BFF
You’re not just imagining it 🧠🧠
The Female Quotient
December 23, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 14 minutes
WHAT’S ON DECK
Tell Me More: Science says that your best friend is as good for you as avocado toast
Troublemaker Spotlight: Katelin Holloway, Investor and Founding Partner at 776
Inside Track: Leaders on the move
Dear FQ: My coworker constantly talks to me about her personal life. How do I set a boundary without offending her?
Poll the Pack: Curiosity is your competitive edge. Become a lifelong learner.
TELL ME MORE
This one’s for the girls (and the group chat): Why friendship is our superpower
You probably forwarded something to your best friend approximately 5 minutes ago. Well, here’s your next one, because this might explain why that one person just gets you.
You know that feeling when your best friend texts you just when you need it? Or when you laugh so hard together, it practically counts as cardio? Turns out, female friendships, everyone from your longtime bestie to your work wife, are not only crucial to your happiness, but to your health, your career, and your longevity. These connections? They’re not extras. They’re essentials.
Neuroscientists have discovered that close friends’ brains literally sync up. Watching the same videos, they show nearly identical patterns of attention, emotion, and even boredom. They light up and chill out the same way; so much so that scientists could predict how close two people were just by looking at their brain scans. "We are social species and live our lives connected to everybody else,” said Dr. Thalia Wheatley, PhD in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Dartmouth College. “If we want to understand how the human brain works, then we need to understand how brains work in combination, how minds shape each other."
But this goes way beyond Netflix compatibility. There are measurable health benefits when women support each other, emotionally, mentally, and physically.
When we open up to each other, cortisol drops. Stress melts. Our bodies breathe a sigh of relief. Research from the Journal of Women and Aging confirms that venting to a friend soothes your nervous system and boosts your sense of safety and well-being. That post-rant glow? It’s real.
“Friendship is something we really need to understand. There’s been this preoccupation with romantic relationships, but many of our close relationships are with friends,” said Wheatley, “So how do they impact our health?”
One of the longest studies of human life, tracking participants over 80+ years, found that the number one predictor of a long, healthy life wasn’t diet or exercise. It was strong relationships. Harvard’s Dr. Marc Schulz says friendships are just as critical to your health as quitting smoking or eating well.
TLDR: High-quality friendships have been shown to be as beneficial as eating a Mediterranean diet. Yes, your BFF is as good for you as avocado toast.
In-person friend time actually boosts our immune systems and sleep quality. Platonic touch, like hugs, linking arms, and even just sitting shoulder-to-shoulder, spark biological changes that reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and even cognitive decline.
Still, in a world more connected than ever, loneliness is a global health crisis. Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy says chronic loneliness is as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. One in four adults report feeling lonely. And it doesn’t just hit the elderly; it strikes young adults too, especially during life transitions like moving or graduating.
There’s a powerful antidote hiding in plain sight: Intergenerational friendship. When someone younger bonds with someone older, it’s transformational. Intergenerational friendships empower us to break free from age barriers, preconceived notions, and societal expectations in life and at work. They provide a platform for wisdom to be shared, stories to be exchanged, and perspectives to be broadened. When different generations come together, magic happens!
Social health expert Kasley Killam said it best: “The more diverse your social ties, the better it is for your health and well-being.” Friendships that cross generations, backgrounds, and beliefs help us grow and even live longer. Win-win.
Female friendships are more than connections; they’re lifelines, soulmates, and love stories in their own right. From late-night phone calls to the countless small kindnesses, women supporting women is one of the most powerful forces in the world. Forward this to your soulmates.
TROUBLEMAKER SPOTLIGHT
Katelin Holloway, Investor and Founding Partner at 776
Katelin Holloway is a founding partner at 776, an early-stage capital firm that invests in entrepreneurs who are addressing global issues regarding health, sustainability, and well-being. She is committed to reshaping venture capital. Katelin is a former senior executive at both Klout and Reddit, and serves on the Board of Directors for multiple organizations.
What’s the worst career advice you’ve gotten?
“Follow the money.” I was working in advertising and I was unhappy. I didn’t love the work that I was producing or the culture of the organization. I asked myself, “What do I want? What do I really care about?” It turned out I wanted to put something into the world that I was proud of and that has a positive impact.
What’s the best piece of non-obvious career advice you’ve gotten?
Make yourself irreplaceable. In my early career, my goal was to make myself indispensable. I ensured I was visible, a contributing team member, and that I was helping people perform better at their jobs. I was a fantastic employee because I knew how to make my managers' lives and jobs easier.
But once you switch to a leadership role, your job is to be completely replaceable. It felt very counterintuitive to me, but I sincerely believe that the best leaders build systems, people, and cultures that can thrive without them. If your team falls apart while you're not there, it's not a sign of importance; it’s fragility.
Creating space for others to rise is what allows you to grow into your next chapter and your role as a leader in a more meaningful way.
What was a heartbeat moment for you in your career?
When I was the VP of People and Culture at Reddit for 4 years, I led my portion of the organization through pretty incredible growth and dynamic times. I loved that job. I loved the product we were building and the team we were building. I felt like I was being rewarded and recognized appropriately…and then I left when I was the happiest and most fulfilled. That was my heartbeat moment.
Loving what I did so much gave me the vision for continuing to do that work, but grow it at scale. Moving from being an operator at a tech company to being a venture capitalist was the path I saw as the most viable. Now I get to support multiple CEOs, founders, organizations, and spread the impact.
Who is one person you’d love to give flowers to from your career that influenced your journey? What advice or lesson did you learn from them?
My partner, Alexis Ohanian. Starting 776 with him was our third time working together, where he has extended trust, belief, and conviction in my capacity. He has done so much foundational work for the ecosystem to support women and overlooked or undervalued groups. He has continued to show up not just for me personally, but for many women. He walks the walk, and I think that we need more people like him, allies, advocates, co-conspirators, to come and do that work.
Where have you caused some good trouble in your career?
I’ve always been someone who asks why. Why does this system exist? Who is it really serving? And when the logic doesn’t check out or the framework feels outdated I can’t help but question the rules. If something’s broken or no longer working, I’m not afraid to take it apart and rebuild it.
When I worked in HR, the rise of HR tech unlocked the part of the job I actually loved, solving meaningful problems. It let me move beyond process for process’ sake, and focus on improving people’s experiences and driving outcomes for the business.
When I pivoted from film to tech, I carried that mindset with me. I didn’t just follow the rules. I looked at who they were designed to protect and who they left behind. A lot of HR policies were created to shield companies from liability, not to support employees or customers. So I started rethinking them. I asked: How can we make this work for everyone? That’s how change starts, not by accepting the system as it is, but by working to redesign it.
Want to nominate a “Troublemaker” you admire? You can do so here.
INSIDE TRACK
Leaders on the move
Ida Liu has been named CEO of HSBC Private Bank, a bold and necessary step forward in a field where women remain underrepresented at the top. With over two decades advising global clients and driving transformation, she brings clarity, trust, and vision. When Ida joined The Female Quotient at the World Economic Forum, she spoke about the “Great Wealth Transfer,” as women are projected to soon control 50% of global wealth. Her leadership reflects where the industry, and the world, is headed.
Jackie Jantos has been promoted to CEO of Hinge. From CMO to President to now CEO, her creativity, strategic vision, and bold campaigns have left an indelible mark. Since joining Hinge in 2021, Jackie has helped shape a brand that connects culture, creativity, and technology. From iconic “Designed to Be Deleted” campaigns to expanding Hinge across Europe and Latin America, her impact has been undeniable.
Marni Rosen Schapiro has stepped into a new role as Global Head of Commerce Sales at Block. Marni is a builder; from scaling YouTube in its early days to shaping Snap’s ad business, she’s always been ahead of the curve. Now at Block, she’s creating a commerce media engine that lifts the entire ecosystem.
Kathryn Condon has been named Global Chief Marketing Officer at Vanguard. Kathryn brings deep experience in brand strategy, digital transformation, and client‑centered marketing from her long tenure at Fidelity Investments. Her leadership moves brands forward, creating connection and trust with customers at every stage.
DEAR FQ
Your burning career questions answered
Jamel Hughes of The Female Quotient weighs in:
Congrats, you seem to be the coworker to whom everyone wants to serve the piping hot tea. Take it as a compliment, as it means you are a trusted person who is easy to talk to…but it can also be draining. When these conversations require too much emotional energy or begin interfering with your work, it’s time to turn the kettle off.
You can set boundaries without seeming cold by being kind and honest. What I mean by that is, you can be direct, but not harsh. Try something like, “I care about you and what you’re going through, but I’m on a deadline. Can we catch up later?” A short but sweet statement gets the message across; it also might make them rethink the best time and place for these conversations.
The key is to communicate from a place of empathy and care. Setting boundaries isn’t a rejection, it’s a reflection of respect for both your time and theirs. Because being the go-to person doesn’t mean being available 24/7. It means knowing when to lean in, and when to step back. Protect your peace. Refill your cup. And remember: Real connection doesn’t come at the cost of your energy, it’s built on mutual respect.
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
Transform your 2026 and beyond: Become a lifelong learner
If you’ve ever found yourself asking, “What’s next?” or “What else can I explore?”, you’re already on the right track. Creative learning outside the day job isn’t just nice, it’s transformative. In fact, 34% of professionals say that creative pursuits, writing, art, music, or design, are what they’re most excited about outside of work. This interest isn’t just about getting a hobby; it’s about self‑discovery and innovation. Studies show that these kinds of creative side projects refresh the mind, sharpen your problem‑solving skills, improve performance on the job, and deepen your capacity for fresh thinking.
What comes next? Personal growth. 32% of employees say that personal development is their top non‑work pursuit, signaling a hunger to learn, adapt, and evolve. Licensed counselor Diane Webb hits the nail on the head: “Give your life a richness that is full of things that enlighten you, teach you, thrill you and soothe you.” When we let learning become our constant, we foster empathy, build clarity, and strengthen resilience. So dig in: Curiosity isn’t a nice to have, it’s your competitive edge.
To our best friends and our best selves: “Women’s friendships are like a source of renewable power.” 🔋 - Jane Fonda
Xo,
The FQ
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