Nearing age 50, Anne Devereux-Mills asked herself the same questions. She had been CEO of advertising agencies in New York City, was raising two daughters on her own, and approached her life with superwoman strength. Then, in one year, she lost almost every piece of herself: She was diagnosed with recurring cancer and replaced in her job because of it. To top it off, her youngest daughter left for college, leaving her with an empty nest. In a trifecta of setbacks, she lost all context, grounding, and perspective.

The deep vulnerability she felt during that time made her want to connect with people in a new way. She wanted her relationships to be less transactional and more about authentic feelings and experiences. This deep craving led her to found Parlay House, a national series of gatherings where women can safely speak about topics they don’t get to talk about in other parts of their lives. During her Parlay House salons, she observed that giving herself permission to express vulnerability encouraged others to be vulnerable too, sparking real conversations and connections. She saw that when one woman found herself in a position to help another through kindness, empathy, generosity or encouragement, the woman who received the help replicated it, passing it on to another woman.
She calls this cascade “the Parlay Effect.”