Speaker
Thought Leader
Jodi Bondi Norgaard is an inspirational speaker that carries you through her entrepreneurial journey as a powerful advocate of truth and transparency. A change agent and thought leader, Jodi inspires innovation and motivation as she shares what she never anticipated while launching a socially responsible product; the long road ahead of her, the battle she would fight and learning that her persistence, determination, and passion would serve her well.
Jodi has been called, "A true hero in her own right." She shares her passion for social impact and illustrates how strong values can change an industry, even the world. She encourages audiences to think with a creative and innovative approach and to persist through adversity.
Jodi is a sought-after keynote speaker, author, and TEDx speaker. She is the founder of Dream Big Toy Company and the creator of the award-winning Go! Go! Sports Girls line of dolls, books, and apps for girls encouraging healthy and active play over fashion and body image.
Consultant
Jodi Bondi Norgaard is a cultural expert and strategist advising corporations and entrepreneurs on current social and business trends, specializing in gender equality, diversity, equity and inclusion, developing, branding, marketing, innovation, public relations, and launching new products.
She is a DEIB senior consultant and facilitator at The Kaleidoscope Group, a full-service DEIB consulting firm.
Author
Jodi Bondi Norgaard's first book, More Than A Doll: How Creating A New Brand of Sports Dolls Turned into a Fight to End Gender Stereotypes, (Post Hill Press, January 21, 2025) makes the case that gender stereotypes in childhood are more destructive than our culture perceives and, in fact, stands in the way of gender equality.
Through illuminating testimonials, data, research, interviews, cultural observations, and the stories she experienced while creating a girl empowerment brand, readers will come away with clear examples of how gender stereotyping begins early and in ways that are so evasive we fail to see the harm. “It’s just a toy,” It’s just a t-shirt,” It’s just a show,” after all.
She connects the dots from sexualized dolls to the reinforcement of stereotypes to the subtle damage inflicted on girls’ confidence; to implicit biases both sexes hold about gender; to personal, business, and policy decisions with far-reaching implications that prevent true gender equality.
She is represented by Copps Literary Services.
About Jodi
Jodi Bondi Norgaard is an entrepreneur, author, consultant, feminist advocate, and an expert in creating change and breaking gender stereotypes. She is the founder of Dream Big Toy Company and the creator of the award-winning Go! Go! Sports Girls line of dolls, books, and apps for girls encouraging healthy and active play over beauty and body image. Jodi is a keynote speaker, diversity and inclusion consultant, and activist pushing media and retail to do a better job portraying girls beyond stereotypes.
Jodi is a leader in the toy industry breaking gender stereotypes since 2009 when she launched the plush sports dolls built-in specification to a real girl's body. Her inspiration came in 2007 after shopping for a doll with her then 9-year-old daughter and finding a doll with belly-baring clothing, high heels, and make-up, named 'Lovely Lola.' Initially, industry leaders dismissed her product because a sports doll was not mainstream. “Girls want fashion dolls,” she heard, over and over. She was not convinced and knew mainstream ideas never create change. By 2015, she had made significant strides and her product was launched in Walmart stores. In October 2016, the Go! Go! Sports Girls brand was acquired by Jazwares, an established cutting-edge toy company.
She has been featured on national media including The Today Show, The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson, Forbes, Upworthy, Parents, Shape, Self, Runner's World, Advertising Age, Good Housekeeping, Chicago Tribune, New York Times, and Huffington Post.
In 2016, Jodi was invited by The White House under the Obama administration to participate in conferences on breaking down gender stereotypes in media and toys. In 2021, she was asked by The White House to be part of its groundbreaking Gender Policy Council under the Biden administration and collaborates on policy as it relates to children’s toys, content, and publishing.
As a public speaker and TEDx speaker, Jodi has presented to corporations, women’s groups, conferences, universities, and more. She Is the author of the forthcoming nonfiction book, MORE THAN A DOLL: How Creating a New Brand of Sports Dolls Turned into a Fight to End Gender Stereotypes and the children's book series, BENNY & BEA, addressing unconscious bias. She created and co-chaired of the Toy Association Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, a founding member of The Brave Girl Alliance - a think tank of girl empowerment experts, a former board member of Girls on the Run – Chicago, and a DEIB consultant and facilitator with The Kaleidoscope Group.
Speaking Topics
Beyond Mainstream:
Creating Change with a Mission-Driven Company
Persistence:
The Power to Create Change
Women Leading the Way:
On a Mission to Create Change
The Importance of Empowering Girls:
If She Can See It, She Can Be It
The Power of STEAM:
Bringing An Idea to Life
Clients & Conferences
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