Entrepreneur. Innovator. Changemaker. Dr. Joelle Zingraff.

Dr. Joëlle Zingraff-Wolfrath is a Swiss scientist, entrepreneur, innovator, and advocate for women’s health innovation. With a background spanning materials science, research and development, and the nutraceutical industry, she is the co-founder and Co-CEO of The Women Circle AG, a company dedicated to supporting women through menopause and advancing conversations around hormonal health and wellbeing. Her work combines scientific expertise with a strong commitment to building solutions that address real and often overlooked needs.

In this interview, Joëlle shares the experiences that shaped her entrepreneurial journey, from turning professional disappointment into motivation for independence to building community-driven solutions rooted in listening and empathy. She also reflects on resilience, self-belief, and the realities behind entrepreneurship, offering honest insights and advice for women navigating their own careers in digital, innovation, and leadership.

Her story is one of resilience and reinvention, and we hope it inspires members of the WDS community to embrace new opportunities and trust in their own potential.

1. Every standout career has a "before" and an "after." Can you share a specific moment, either a bold risk you took or a daunting challenge you faced, that fundamentally redefined your professional trajectory and led you to where you are today?

In my professional life, it was essentially a failure that acted as a catalyst. I’d been working at a start-up for nine years with a brilliant team. We worked like mad but with real passion, and the founders decided to move the whole operation abroad. It was a decision I could understand, but the way it was communicated and handled was very clumsy. At that point, I decided I no longer wanted to be dependent on management and that becoming an entrepreneur was the solution.

2. Whether you are leading a major tech marketplace or a grassroots community, how are you intentionally challenging the status quo in your industry to create a more inclusive or innovative future?

The key factor and driving force for me is understanding my clients. What are their real needs, and where do they face challenges? To gain this insight, you need to meet with them and ask them questions. It is in this sense that the community you build will be of use to you. Only then do you have the tools to develop the right solutions. And that stage is easier because you know exactly which problems you need to solve.

3. Beyond technical expertise, what is the one "hidden" superpower or soft skill that has been most instrumental to your success, and why should the next generation of women in digital prioritize it?

My superpower is being tenacious. I never giving up. There will always be people who say no, who don’t agree, but you have to believe in your values. It sometimes takes time to build something; it requires patience and hard work. One mistake we often make is to underestimate our abilities. We’re all capable of doing so many things; it seems normal to us, but it’s important to take a step back to recognise these strengths and put them to good use.

4. Success is rarely a straight line. What is a common myth about your specific

career path (or entrepreneurship) that you want to debunk to give a more honest perspective to women currently navigating their own "messy middle”?

It would be a mistake to think that everything is easy when you look at a successful entrepreneur from the outside. There are plenty of doubts, moments of self-doubt and difficult periods. Social media gives the impression that everything is easy and smooth, but that doesn’t reflect reality – you need to be aware of that.

5. Our community is built on mutual support and inspiration. If you could leave one piece of "radical" advice for the WDS community something that isn't found in a standard business textbook what would it be?

You have to be willing to take risks. When I decided to become an entrepreneur, I pictured myself as an 80-year-old grandmother, looking back and wondering what she had achieved professionally. That was the turning point: I would much rather have tried something, even if it meant failing, than stay in my comfort zone and regret not having seized that opportunity. So my advice is: seize the opportunity when it arises!