CEO Chat

Zaylore Stout, Esq., Founder/Attorney/Author, Zaylore Stout & Associates, Minneapolis, MN

Q. What did you want to be when you were a little kid?

A. When I was in grammar school, I declared that I either wanted to be a chef or a Supreme Court Justice.

Q. What does your company do?

A. Zaylore Stout & Associates LLC is a boutique employment law firm with locations in Minneapolis and Pasadena, Calif. We defend employers in discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, and wage and hour matters. We do this both proactively and reactively. Proactively we engage in manager and supervisor training, develop and review employee handbooks, and conduct impartial third-party workplace investigations. Reactively we respond to demand letters and represent clients in mediations, in arbitrations and in both state and federal court.  

Q. How long has your company been in business?

A. I started my law firm in 2012.

Q. Can you tell us about why and how you started the company?

A. I come from a family of entrepreneurs. My mother started and ran several businesses in my childhood and now runs an outsource HR company with her husband. Going into law school, I knew I also wanted to start my own business, so that’s exactly what I did. I began by mostly representing aggrieved employees. Now the bulk of my work is defending employers.  

Q. Hat has been your biggest business challenge in the past year?

A. Solidifying the plan for my law firm’s growth strategy. With our dual-state presence and ability to conduct workplace investigations nationally, formalizing a sustainable growth strategy has been of paramount importance. Thankfully, we’ve participated in several mentorship programs through Disability:IN and NGLCC that have set us up for success. Now it’s time to take the plunge and just go for it!  

Q. What is one thing that makes you stand out from your competition?

A. Most attorneys don’t have

extensive experience in their practice area prior to attending law school. That’s where I differ. I served as an outsource human resource consultant to 350 companies nationally for 10 years prior to becoming an attorney. 

Q. What do you wish you had more time to do?

A. I wish I had more time to

work on projects through my second business, Inflection Point Media, where I write history books and speak on DEI, inclusion and diversity topics. Engaging in meaningful dialogue with young people and folks who have divergent perspectives from mine bring me immense joy.

Q. What’s your favorite place in the world you’ve ever visited?

A. As a history buff, visiting Germany is that standout place for me. I love the fact that, as a society, they do not shy away from their history. In Berlin you’ll find the brand-new museum right next to the bombed church. “Atonement” can be felt throughout their society. It reminds me of how much better our society here in the United States could be had we honestly and forthrightly atoned for the tragedies surrounding our founding. 

Q. What is one piece of business advice you would offer your LGBTQ+ peers?

A. Support the efforts of your local LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce. Securing the inclusion of LGBTQ+ businesses in local municipal contracting opportunities will open so many doors for LGBTQ+ businesses to both grow and thrive. The owners of these businesses have a higher likelihood of knowing and hiring others from the LGBTQ+ community, thus providing greater autonomy and financial stability for segments of our community that may have challenges securing work based on their gender identity or how they present themselves to the world.

How to connect … stoutslaw.com