Equity in PPE - Emily Soloby MA JD and the Juno Jones Boots Story
A Talk by Emily Soloby, MA, JD (Founder, Juno Jones Safety Boots)
About this Talk
0:00 - 4:37 - Introduction and Welcome Remarks
The host welcomes the guest speaker, Emily Soloby , to the Women Of Water Virtual Summit and provides an overview of the event's objectives and agenda.
4:37 - 9:55 - Background of Emily Soloby
Emily is a boot enthusiast, took shoemaking classes in college as a hobby. After working as a domestic violence victim advocate, she noticed a gap in the market for protective, comfortable, and stylish boots for women, which led to the creation of Juno Jones. Launched on Kickstarter in Feb 2020, Juno Jones supported their factory workers during COVID-19 disruptions, and their patient customers understood the delays.
10:01 - 18:57 - The challenges of launching a physical product through Kickstarter
How they reach Juno Jones. Juno Jones targets women, some companies offer payment, but it's hard to convince companies in male-dominated fields. "Pink it and shrink it" is a problem where products designed for men are just made smaller and pink for women, which happens in the PPE industry due to male-focused designs.
18:57 -29:28 - The importance of appropriate work attire for women
The speakers discuss the importance of appropriate work attire for women, the lack of guidance for women in the workplace, and the need for mentorship to help navigate the challenges of professional life. They suggest that mentors can help women learn what is acceptable attire in the office and help them to feel more confident in their professional roles.
29:28 - 34:39 - The importance of encouraging women to join industries
The importance of wearing proper footwear and equipment in the workplace, and how it affects the credibility of professionals. They also discuss how initiatives like a traveling museum can help educate women about careers in the industry. The speaker shares a personal story about playing rugby and the importance of being part of a team.
34:39 - 43:26 - Closing Remarks and Next Steps
Emily shares her experiences and insights into creating a line of safety boots for women. She discusses the challenges she faced in the male-dominated industry and the importance of having footwear that is both stylish and functional for women in the workforce. The conversation ends with a promo code for a discount on Juno Jones boots.