Welcome to Transform’s Founder Spotlight Series, an exciting journey into the minds of innovative leaders who are disrupting the now and next of work.
In each Q&A-style article, we’ll introduce you to founders like Sheryl Anjanette, Founder & CEO, Parsley360, who are redefining the boundaries of their industries with forward-thinking ideas and transformative approaches.
About Sheryl Anjanette
Sheryl Anjanette, Founder and CEO, is a visionary leader with a unique blend of experience across the start-up world and large enterprise companies. With over three decades as a strategist and performance technologist, Sheryl has demonstrated her ability to lead and transform organizations. She has worked directly with top industry minds, including John Warden, architect of the first Gulf War, and Jay Elliot, Steve Jobs’ right hand during the early days of Apple. In the first part of her career, she led a team of 85 with a team of 13 managers, which led to her first entrepreneurial venture, Performance Alliance, working on change management, leadership, and team building. As the Vice President of Marketing and Communications for FFF Enterprises, a biopharmaceutical distributor of blood plasma products and vaccines, and its subsidiary NuFactor Specialty Pharmacy, Sheryl launched an industry-leading healthcare magazine, turned a specialty magazine profitable and built the teams, systems, and communication that grew all business units and programs.
Sheryl is a TEDx speaker. Her talk, How empathetic AI Can Change the World, explores how emotionally intelligent AI has the ability to help humanity. Sheryl is also the author of The Imposter Lies Within, a keynote speaker on the topics of Imposter Syndrome, Burnout, The Future of Work and AI, and holds advanced certifications in Human Performance Improvement (HPI), Cognitive Behavioral Neuroscience, and Stress, Anxiety, and Self-Regulation. Her proven track record, combined with her deep expertise in performance improvement and behavioral therapies, makes her exceptionally qualified to lead Parsley in revolutionizing workplace performance and well-being.
About Parsley360
Parsley360, Inc. (Parsley™) is a pioneering enterprise-level performance optimization system that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) and behavioral analytics to accelerate the development, management, and optimization of high-performing teams, individuals, and organizations. Parsley provides on-demand personalized guidance and support through its emotionally intelligent AI, designed to close gaps in perception, performance, and execution. By addressing root issues like trust, belonging, and wellbeing, Parsley delivers measurable results, improving engagement, satisfaction, and ROI. At the core of Parsley’s innovation is its proprietary MEG (Measurement, Evaluation, and Guidance) framework, which creates a platform for continuous learning and growth, driving sustainable improvements in individual and organizational performance.
Startup Journey
Transform: What gave you the idea to start Parsley360?
Sheryl: The idea for Parsley360 came to me during a walk as I reflected on how to address the real, underlying issues that companies and their people face—trust, belonging, and respect. These are the root causes behind bigger challenges like retention, burnout, and engagement. I knew we needed a solution that created lasting change, not just temporary fixes that snapped back over time. The vision for Parsley emerged as a holistic approach that works at both the organizational and individual levels. That’s when the concept of MEG—Measure, Evaluate, and Guide—came to me. We needed to measure what truly mattered, evaluate targeted insights, and provide on-demand, 24/7 guidance through an empathetic AI pocket coach. Humans alone couldn’t offer the continuous support required to make lasting change, but Parsley can, breaking the cycle and driving real transformation.
Product Development
Transform: Who benefits from Parsley360?
Sheryl: Both organizations and the people who fuel them benefit from Parsley360. Organizations gain real-time, deep insights into the underlying issues affecting performance, allowing them to implement targeted, measurable interventions. HR teams are supported as Parsley acts as an empathetic frontline resource for employees, reducing their workload and enabling them to focus on what truly matters to the organization.
Transform: Why is this so important?
Sheryl: This is crucial because we’re facing a loneliness epidemic and a mental health crisis. Supporting wellbeing and inclusion isn’t just good for humanity—it’s essential for the health of organizations. Parsley bridges this gap by aligning individual wellbeing with larger organizational objectives. With actionable data and measurable ROI, we help organizations reduce costs, improve morale, and create environments where people thrive.
Scaling and Growth
Transform: How do you build a strong company culture while scaling Parsley360?
Sheryl: We build a strong company culture by leading with the same principles we teach. We focus on aligning our team with our mission and vision, and we foster an environment of respect and support. As we scale Parsley, we prioritize the wellbeing of our people, encouraging a harmonious balance between work and life. By modeling these values, we create a culture of trust, engagement, and purpose.
Fundraising
Transform: How do you maintain strong relationships with your investors and optimize their contributions?
Sheryl: We’re just beginning our fundraising journey, and we believe communication is key to maintaining strong relationships with our investors. Investors are the lifeblood of the company, and we deeply appreciate that they are rooting for us with their investments. We take that responsibility seriously. Beyond regular updates, we will prioritize transparency, actively seek feedback and foster collaboration to optimize their contributions. By keeping investors engaged and aligned with our mission, we will ensure they feel valued as true partners in our journey.
Team Building & Leadership
Transform: What are your strategies for attracting and retaining talent at Parsley360?
Sheryl: Our strategy for attracting and retaining talent starts with keeping our word and leading by example. We ensure that every team member knows their contributions are valued and their voice matters. While experience and competency are important, we prioritize individuals whose values align with ours—those who are mission-driven, respectful, and collaborative. We’re building a culture where integrity, purpose, and mutual respect are at the core, and that’s what draws the right talent to Parsley360.
Marketing & Branding
Transform: How do you differentiate your brand from competitors?
Sheryl: We differentiate ourselves in a few key ways. First, we’re bringing empathy to AI, which is a game changer. This allows us to not only address technical and performance challenges but also the emotional and behavioral needs of individuals. Second, Parsley360 offers a unified, holistic platform rather than a component solution. By integrating performance, wellbeing, and real-time insights into one seamless experience, we provide organizations with everything they need to foster sustainable growth and engagement.
Challenges & Lessons Learned
Transform: Can you share any specific lessons or mistakes you made during the startup journey and how you overcame them?
Sheryl: One lesson I’ve learned during the startup journey is that sometimes people don’t follow through as expected. While it did cost some money, there was always value I could take away from those experiences. Taking risks is part of the process, and I’d rather lead with trust than operate from a place of caution. Those few instances didn’t shake my belief in the importance of trust—they were just part of the learning curve.
Industry and Market Insights
Transform: What is one significant trend or prediction that you believe will drive the transformation of work?
Sheryl: AI is already a significant driver of transformation, but I believe the most impactful shift will come from emotionally intelligent AI—AI that takes human emotion, behavior, and psychological needs into account. As work becomes more automated, the ability of AI to understand and respond empathetically to employees’ emotional states will be crucial in fostering engagement, reducing burnout, and improving overall performance. This evolution toward emotionally intelligent AI will create more human-centered workplaces, where technology supports not just productivity but also wellbeing and fulfillment.
Company Vision
Transform: What’s next for you and Parsley360?
Sheryl: Next up for Parsley360 is the launch of our beta in early 2025, followed by a series of pilots to refine the platform. We’re gearing up for a major launch in Q1 2026, and I anticipate this will be a pivotal year for us as we take the next big steps in our journey.
Transform: What would you like to say to People leaders who are thinking of using Parsley360?
Sheryl: As a people leader, you’re tasked with not only driving performance but also supporting the wellbeing of your team. Parsley is built to help you do both in a more holistic and efficient way. If you’re unsure whether this is the right step for your organization, I encourage you to consider the changing landscape of work—where emotional intelligence, trust, and engagement are more critical than ever. Parsley’s emotionally intelligent AI provides personalized support to help people thrive, while giving you the insights and tools to address systemic issues like burnout and disengagement. We can set up a demo for you to experience firsthand how Parsley360 can drive meaningful change for your teams.
About You
Transform: Describe your perfect day when you aren’t working.
Sheryl: My perfect day involves spending time with my husband and our big dog Coope. Whether we’re relaxing together, golfing, playing pickleball, or I’m in my studio sculpting or painting, it’s all about enjoying the simple things that bring me joy.
Transform: What is your personal mantra?
Sheryl: Speak the truth, do the right thing, be the light.
Transform: Anything else you’d like to share?
Sheryl: At the heart of every organization are the people who make it thrive. My vision for Parsley isn’t just about optimizing performance—it’s about empowering people to reach their full potential in a way that’s both human and sustainable.
Check out other inspiring Founder Spotlights on the Transform blog.