HERSTORY

It is in the shelter of each other that the people live.
Irish proverb

Roots

Lee grew up navigating between steel mill and farming communities in Pennsylvania's rust belt, on ancestral lands of the Shawnee peoples. In this macho, traditional setting, schools closed on the first day of deer-hunting season and women had few career options outside of the home.

In this relatively mono-cultural milieu, religious, ethnic, and class differences loomed large. Marriage between Protestants and Catholics was frowned upon. 'Being American', (preferably of Northern European descent), was the ideal.  Italians, Polish, Jews, and Irish Americans were widely viewed as an underclass. Second languages were shamed- her grandparents stopped speaking German during WWI. 

These attitudes informed Lee's lifetime interest in reducing social and gender inequity. A serial solo-preneur, her previous careers have been in advertising and family support, (train-the-trainer, and working with families directly.)

Name

Knowing my past is a privilege. Lee's maternal great-grandparents immigrated from France to western Pennsylvania in the 1800's. Like many New Americans at the time, the Demozenettes changed their family name, possibly to blend with Italian and Slavic neighbors (Mosina and Mozena), in the coal-mining town where they settled. I resurrected the "American-ized" version, since no male heir had been born to carry it on.

Mozena and Zena are feminine words that are pronounced differently, depending on your mother tongue and experience. Zena also means "girl" in Persian, Arabic, and Czech. This fits with her work that brings together women from different cultures.

Zena is also an homage to Xena, a campy 90's TV show starring Lucy Lawless, the inspirational 'Warrior for Good Princess'. Xena was one of the first truly strong lead female fighters created by Hollywood whose fight scenes were technically accurate, and on par with her male counterparts.

Priorities

Lee follows the Adaptive Leadership's code of 'thrival'- balancing work with a healthy lifestyle. After family or friends, movement is her favorite non-work activity: she taught Nia Dance for 20 years and yoga for six, (and is a certified instructor /RYT 200 of Iyengar style.)

​Yoga is a soft martial art, and Iyengar emphasizes alignment and precision- principles she strive to live by 24/7. Headstands (right) help Lee stay positive through NW winters. 

Gratitude

Giving back is an important value to Lee. Here are some of the community groups  she's donated time or expertise to:
  • Puget Sound Grant Writers Association, (Training Committee)
  • Family Support Washington, (Board Co-Chair)
  • North Seattle Family Support Center, Seattle
  • South Cedar Park Neighborhood Coalition, Lake City, Seattle (Co-Chair)
  • Lake City, Seattle, (Cedar Park citizens' park design project)
  • Program for Early Parent Support /PEPS, Seattle, (group leader for 3 years)​