Toy Story
Ignoring naysayers, Jodi Bondi Norgaard invented a line of dolls that celebrates strong, athletic girls.
By Maggie Heyn Richardson, George Washington
It was a cool fall Saturday in greater Chicago and Jodi Bondi Norgaard, Indiana, found herself in a situation familiar to many parents: shopping for a last-minute birthday present. Her 9-year-old daughter, Grace, had just finished playing soccer and the two had dashed to the nearest toy store, scanning the aisles frantically for the right gift so they could make it to the party on time.
That’s when a familiar situation became a life-changing moment. “A line of dolls stopped me in my tracks,” Jodi says. “They had big hair, lots of makeup, crop tops, and belly-button rings. One of them was named Lovely Lola, and I knew there was not a parent out there who wanted their daughter to look like this …show more content…
Zombies®, Peppa Pig® and Minecraft®. The sale means big things for the line, including the potential to reach a global audience. Jodi says that success will accomplish what she originally set out to do: erode gender stereotypes and empower young women.
Jodi retains 5 percent interest in the company and participates in creative decisions. She credits her success with not only having a great concept, but believing in it when others don’t. “This is as much a story about entrepreneurial persistence as it is about pursuing a good idea,” she says. With the day-to-day operations of the company now handled by Jazwares, Jodi has been able to spend more time on the speakers’ circuit, advocating for gender equity and the importance of allowing strong young women to thrive. In October 2017, she was a featured speaker at the Be Fierce Summit, which is presented by author and television commentator Gretchen Carlson. A month later, Jodi released a TED Talk on
Ignoring naysayers, Jodi Bondi Norgaard invented a line of dolls that celebrates strong, athletic girls.
By Maggie Heyn Richardson, George Washington
It was a cool fall Saturday in greater Chicago and Jodi Bondi Norgaard, Indiana, found herself in a situation familiar to many parents: shopping for a last-minute birthday present. Her 9-year-old daughter, Grace, had just finished playing soccer and the two had dashed to the nearest toy store, scanning the aisles frantically for the right gift so they could make it to the party on time.
That’s when a familiar situation became a life-changing moment. “A line of dolls stopped me in my tracks,” Jodi says. “They had big hair, lots of makeup, crop tops, and belly-button rings. One of them was named Lovely Lola, and I knew there was not a parent out there who wanted their daughter to look like this …show more content…
Zombies®, Peppa Pig® and Minecraft®. The sale means big things for the line, including the potential to reach a global audience. Jodi says that success will accomplish what she originally set out to do: erode gender stereotypes and empower young women.
Jodi retains 5 percent interest in the company and participates in creative decisions. She credits her success with not only having a great concept, but believing in it when others don’t. “This is as much a story about entrepreneurial persistence as it is about pursuing a good idea,” she says. With the day-to-day operations of the company now handled by Jazwares, Jodi has been able to spend more time on the speakers’ circuit, advocating for gender equity and the importance of allowing strong young women to thrive. In October 2017, she was a featured speaker at the Be Fierce Summit, which is presented by author and television commentator Gretchen Carlson. A month later, Jodi released a TED Talk on