Not only does clothing have the power to impact our confidence and productivity, but, in industries like mining, it is also essential for keeping people safe. However, when items are designed only with men in mind, they can do the opposite of what they are intended for when worn by women. Our guest today, Alicia Woods, knows this all too well. As a woman working in what is considered a non-traditional role for her gender, she spent years stuffing her work boots with socks and avoiding drinking water so she wouldn’t have to use the bathroom when going underground into the mines. After one particularly unpleasant experience she decided that something needed to change, and she went about designing a coverall specifically for women. A few years later, after a very successful experience on Dragon’s Den, Covergalls was born! Join us today to hear Alicia’s story, her goal of disrupting the entire workwear industry, how Covergalls has grown (and is still growing!), the education and advocacy work being done by CG Aligned Consulting, the consulting branch of Covergalls, and why clothing is one of the essential elements to consider for the creation of a more diverse and inclusive workforce.
Sn. 2, #10 Alicia Woods: Creating Gender Equality in the Workplace
Emily Soloby
Emily received her BA in Women’s Studies and JD from Temple University. Early on, she worked as a legal advocate for women in domestic violence cases. After practicing law, Emily began working on the business side of things. She is the co-owner of AAA School of Trucking, a truck and heavy equipment safety training firm, which she has spent the last 10 years growing into a thriving national business through government and military contracting and corporate partnerships.
As an executive in the transportation industry, darting from client meeting to trucking range required safety boots that met her style standards, and when she couldn’t find them anywhere, she created Juno Jones Shoes. Emily trained in shoemaking in Cuernavaca, Mexico and at the Brooklyn Shoe Space, and assembled a powerhouse team of designers, consultants, and industry experts to bring Juno Jones to life. Through Juno Jones Shoes, Emily is fulfilling her dream of not only providing women with safe, stylish footwear options for their jobs but of helping to normalize and empower women in traditionally male-dominated fields.
For more information go to junojonesshoes.com.
