Zeynep "Z" Ekemen - Entrepreneur, Innovator, and Advocate for Women EmpowermentZeynep Ekemen is the founder of Z Realty Group and Silver Defender, passionate about creating innovative solutions that promote health and safety while empowering women in business.Zeynep pursued a Masters in Accounting from Pace University's Lubin School of Business and began her career at McGladrey & Pullen. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire for more freedom and potential, she founded Z Realty Group in 2009, specializing in ground-up national retail development. Under her leadership, the firm has twice received the CoStar Broker of the Year award for Northern New Jersey.In 2018, Zeynep invented Silver Defender, an antimicrobial film that protects high-touch surfaces worldwide, including NFL and MLB, and the World Trade Center buildings. Despite launching just before the worldwide lockdown in 2020, her dedication and relentless effort led to Silver Defender being installed on every continent and winning the prestigious ISSA Award the same year. Today, she continues to develop innovative antimicrobial solutions to tackle everyday cleanliness challenges.Her work has been recognized with multiple awards, including the NJBiz Best Fifty Women in Business award in 2021 and being a finalist for Business of the Year in 2021. Driven by a passion for empowering women, Zeynep's achievements serve as an inspiration to others in male-dominated industries. She has also partnered with Clean Surface Technology to develop a germ-killing mattress cover to protect patients and mattresses in healthcare facilities.As an entrepreneur, innovator, and advocate for women empowerment, Zeynep is committed to making a positive impact and inspiring others to pursue their dreams.