Building a Brand That Destigmatizes Periods with Jana Shemano

Jana Shemano from August shares how the company is working to remove the shame around periods and change how society talks about menstrual care.

From launching during the pandemic to building a community first approach, August has grown into a brand known for pushing boundaries, like being the first to show real period blood in their marketing. Jana also goes into the challenges of fundraising, breaking through social media bans, and balancing sustainability with profitability. Whether it’s grassroots efforts or partnerships with major brands, August is on a mission to make periods a normal part of everyday life.

Chapters

  • 00:00:00 – Breaking Period Stigma: The August Mission
  • 00:01:00 – Meet Jana Shemano: From Thrive Global to August
  • 00:02:34 – Pandemic Beginnings: The Birth of August
  • 00:07:23 – Community First: Building an Engaged Audience Before Launch
  • 00:10:54 – Innovation in Period Care: Breaking the Blue Dye Tradition
  • 00:16:23 – Funding a Mission: Navigating Angel Investments and Grants
  • 00:22:58 – Partnerships That Matter: Expanding Awareness with WeWork and Target
  • 00:32:52 – Post-COVID Marketing: Navigating New Landscapes
  • 00:33:53 – Sports and Periods: Partnering with USA Track and Field
  • 00:34:14 – Athletes on Periods: Real Talk About Competing During Menstruation
  • 00:37:08 – Grassroots Efforts: Scrappy Marketing at Target and Beyond
  • 00:41:21 – Sustainability at the Core: Compostable Products and More
  • 00:43:21 – Profit vs. Impact: Balancing Growth with a Bigger Purpose
  • 00:46:50 – Making Waves: Growing August’s Brand Awareness
  • 00:54:15 – Advocacy in Action: Empowering Students to Champion Period Products
  • 01:00:14 – Looking Ahead: August’s Vision for the Future

Links and Resources:

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Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Beauty and the Brand? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube to leave us a review!

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