Building a sustainable future: an interview with Joni founder Jayesh Vekariya

Work It: A UVic career exploration podcast

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?