On the first episode of season 2, hosts Katy and Emma speak with Jayesh Vekariya, a UVic MBA graduate who is the CEO and one of the founders of Joni, a Victoria-based company that produces organic, sustainable menstrual products.
Jayesh is also one of UVic’s 2024 Emerging Alumni.
Join us as we talk with Jayesh about:
- how growing up in Gujurat, India inspired him to launch a business that tackles sustainability and poverty reduction
- what it was like pivoting from a career in pharmacy to pursue his third graduate program at UVic
- tackling the issue of period poverty
- finding a business partner in Linda Biggs, who previously served as chief operating officer at Victoria-based reusable food wrap company Abeego
…and much more!
Resources from this episode
· Joni
· Emerging Alumni Award
· The UVic Co-op Program
· Accessing career support
Contact us
- (00:00) - Intro
- (00:32) - Welcome to today's episode
- (01:39) - Introducing Jayesh Vekariya
- (02:12) - What does Joni produce?
- (03:38) - Addressing sustainability and accessibility in menstrual care
- (06:24) - How do you develop an idea you had as a student into a viable business for community?
- (09:34) - How did you choose menstrual products as a business focus?
- (10:38) - How did you tackle branding?
- (12:13) - Why was it important to find a business partner?
- (00:15) - How did your co-op experience help you develop your business?
- (18:34) - How do co-op students help you as an employer?
- (20:26) - Why did you choose UVic?
- (21:51) - What advice do you have for students interested in entrepreneurship?
- (25:00) - Rapid fire questions about Jayesh's time at UVic
- (26:18) - If you could do it all again, what would you do more of?
