Disruptors
Gef’s 30 Under 30 Winners: Q&A with Emily Todd
Ten categories. Thirty young visionaries making their mark on the Isle of Man. Introducing the all-new #Gef30Under30 winners: the next generation of our island’s leaders.
Meet the Capital International Group Disruptors: why play by the rules when you can create your own? Whether it’s breaking social taboos, seeing through your craziest ideas, or shaking up a sector for social good, these young stars are just getting started.
What is your name and age?
Emily Todd, age 23.
Job title or role in the community?
Female health educator, digital designer and marketer at Femm Collective.
How did you start your career or role in the community?
I have been studying at UCM/University of Chester for the last 2 years finishing my degree in visual communications; which is where I got involved in designing and creating my first book.
Tell us about your business/industry; is there something interesting about it that most people wouldn’t expect?
My book is all about menstrual health education – which to most is a taboo topic. A lot of girls grow up not understanding their menstrual cycles and feel too embarrassed to talk about it. I could chat all day about periods! Most people have no idea that the menstrual cycle actually consists of four separate phases and that females have a 28-day cycle, unlike the male clock which is just 24 hours.
Have you experienced any hurdles in your career or community efforts and if so, how did you overcome them?
I had a lot of push backs at the start. I guess putting yourself out there to talk about really taboo topics can be extremely challenging; but I always believed in my passion and followed my intuition no matter what comments were thrown my way.
Tell us about why you think you won in the Disruptor category.
The disruptor category suits me perfectly and I am so glad to be recognised in this way. I have been a disruptor of the norms and taboos throughout my student career and especially after creating my book – which totally disrupts the norms. I’m not scared to break barriers and get out of my comfort zone.
Who are your role models, either on-island or off, in your sector or outside of it?
I have some fantastic and empowering females in my life, especially my amazing mum. She has always believed in me and she always has my back. No matter what the challenge is, she pushes me because she knows how brave I am.
What changes do you hope to see in your sector or community in the coming years?
I hope to see a big change in the Isle of Man when it comes to the discussion around menstrual health, especially in schools. 1 in 10 people in the UK can’t afford basic sanitary products which results in missed education. I would like free sanitary products to be available on the island so we can do our bit towards tackling period poverty.
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