1Selection
ZÉLIE is dedicated to women’s economic empowerment and women of impact worldwide, starting with Europe, so we look for breadth: entrepreneurs, authors, business owners, social innovators and women making an impact in their communities, in different cities and trades, at different sizes and ages of venture, and with different routes into the work. We look for work that is made with care, and for people whose place in a street, a market or a family is part of how the work happens.
We do not choose by turnover, investment, popularity or press coverage. We feature a small number of women each season, and unfortunately we are not able to feature everyone who applies. When we are unable to, we will tell you plainly and courteously and, with your permission, keep your details for the future.
2Preparation
We do our homework first. We learn about you and your business, in any way you see necessary.
That might mean reading what has been written, looking at what you make or sell, or learning about your trade and your city.
3Inquiry
Conversations follow the questions provided by a small group of aspiring women of impact. You can skip any of them, and “pass” is a full answer.
Your account is welcome exactly as it is, whether it is mixed, contradictory or unfinished, and that is the beauty of it.
We ask about money because it is crucial for a business to exist, and you decide how much to say. No figures are needed. “I would rather not say” is always an acceptable answer.
We ask about being a woman in business where it is part of your account, and we follow your lead. We do not assume it is the main thing about you.
You can decline any question, ask us to move on, or stop at any time.
4Recording
With your permission we record the conversation, and we take written notes of what we see. We keep recordings private and use them only to produce your feature and to check what was said. We delete them six months after publication. If you choose, we can keep your recording in our private archive for 1, 3, 5 or 10 years instead, and you can ask us to delete it sooner at any time.
For now, ZÉLIE conducts its interviews in English only.
5AI disclosure
With your permission, recordings are transcribed, and the transcripts analysed, with the support of AI tools. We use them to save time and to help us see patterns, not to write for you or in your place: a person listens to every recording, reads every transcript, and writes and edits every feature.
6Photography
If we meet in person, photographs are made on location, in your place of work and your neighbourhood, where we can. We will tell you in advance what we plan to photograph, and you can tell us what you would rather we left out. The photographer’s role is to show where the work happens.
7Editing
We edit for clarity and length. We remove our own questions where they are not needed, cut repetition and false starts, and sometimes reorder for sense. We keep your words, your rhythm and the hesitations that carry meaning. We do not change what you meant, and we do not add words you did not say.
8Verification
Facts such as dates, figures and names are checked with you and, where possible, against public records. If we are not sure of something, we ask you. Figures that you give us in confidence are printed with your consent. Where something cannot be verified, we say so or leave it out.