Nadya Okamoto - Toilet Paper, Socks & Cardboard: Why I Started a Period Care Revolution (Part 1)

Описание: Founder, content creator, and bestselling author Nadya Okamoto joins entertainment lawyer Anita Sharma for a conversation about building purpose-driven businesses, using social media intentionally, and destigmatizing periods for 6 million followers. In Part 1, Nadya shares how she went from teenage activist to entrepreneur, founding both a nonprofit and a thriving period care brand.

Nadya opens up about discovering period poverty at 16 when she learned people in her community were using toilet paper, socks, brown paper bags, and cardboard to manage their periods. She discusses founding PERIOD.org in high school, starting with simple period product drives that grew into a nonprofit with 800 chapters across 50 states and 40 countries. We explore her time at Harvard (including graduating remotely during COVID), working at Gen Z marketing consultancy Juv Consulting where major period care brands were her clients, and the mounting frustration that led her to start August.

This episode dives into why Nadya decided to leave the nonprofit world to start a for-profit brand, wanting to create sustainable period products while changing culture, without being reliant on existing companies for funding. She shares her early social media strategy using Facebook to organize volunteers and donations, the moment she learned social posts had "currency" through sponsorship deals, and going all-in on TikTok during the pandemic.

IN THIS EPISODE (PART 1):

Discovering period poverty at 16 in her community
Learning people used toilet paper, socks, cardboard for periods
Starting period product drives in high school
Founding PERIOD.org and building 800 chapters
Harvard experience and graduating during COVID
Working at Juv Consulting with period brands as clients
The frustration that led to starting August
Why she left nonprofit work to start a brand
Early social media: Facebook as organizing tool
Going all-in on TikTok during pandemic
The anti-Paris Hilton approach to branding
Keeping herself separate from August brand
Going viral for wearing a pad at Electric Forest
How hate comments motivate rather than discourage
Mental health advocacy and staying authentic
Interviewing Gov. Gretchen Whitmer about her first period

ABOUT NADYA OKAMOTO:

Nadya Okamoto is the co-founder of August, a sustainable period care brand now sold at Target, and author of "Period Power: A Manifesto for the Menstrual Movement." She built a community of 6+ million followers across social platforms by openly destigmatizing menstruation. At 16, she founded PERIOD.org, a nonprofit fighting period poverty that grew to 800 chapters in 50 states and 40 countries. From TikTok demos breaking down tampon design to leading the Tampon Tax Back coalition, Nadya creates gender-inclusive period care while advocating for comprehensive menstrual health education. A Harvard graduate and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, she brings bold authenticity, Gen Z energy, and unapologetic period positivity to everything she does.

FOLLOW NADYA: Instagram/TikTok: @nadyaokamoto

TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Introduction to Nadya Okamoto 02:30 - Discovering Period Poverty at 16 05:45 - Starting PERIOD.org in High School 09:20 - Building 800 Chapters Across 50 States 12:15 - Harvard Experience & COVID Graduation 15:40 - Working at Juv Consulting 18:25 - Frustration with Nonprofit Model 22:10 - Why She Started August 26:35 - Early Social Media Strategy: Facebook 30:20 - Learning Social Posts = Currency 34:15 - Going All-In on TikTok 38:40 - The Anti-Paris Hilton Branding Approach 42:50 - Electric Forest Viral Moment 46:30 - How Hate Comments Motivate Her 50:15 - Mental Health & Authenticity 54:20 - Part 2 Preview

ABOUT SIGNED:

Signed: Conversations with Digital Mavericks is hosted by entertainment lawyer Anita Sharma, who represents some of the most innovative digital-first creators in the world. Each episode features in-depth conversations about building businesses on your own terms, navigating the creator economy, and turning passion into sustainable careers.

FOLLOW SIGNED: Instagram/TikTok: @SignedPodcast

Credits: Hosted by: Anita Sharma (@anitasharmaesq) Produced by: Anita Sharma & Phoebe Dunn Creative Producer: Khairi Williams Script Editor: Mac Montandon Technical Production Support: Seth Richardson Edited by: Carmine Mattia Social Media Strategy: Maureen Lloren Sedlak Theme Music: Carmine Mattia

Disclaimer: I'm a lawyer, but this podcast isn't legal advice. Listening doesn't make us attorney and client.

Part 2 coming next Thursday!

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