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 

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• (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?