Rising Stars: Meet Meredith Johnson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Meredith Johnson.

Hi Meredith, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I am the daughter of a tailor and a business administrator so I marvelled at how pieces can come together to make something wonderful. And well, I guess I would say I was always fairly good at math and while growing up I had a childhood friend who was much older than me and I always looked up to Diane, who ended up being an engineer. She graduated from high school when I was in maybe grade 3. I remember her returning home and telling me she got her degree in engineering and asking her a ton of questions about what engineering is about. I found what she was saying very interesting. Whenever I heard about an engineer it was a man, but seeing a woman being able to work in that field motivated me and challenged me to try as well. So, upon graduating from high school I decided to study Civil Engineering. With that said, I now have a degree in Civil Engineering, and I currently work in the construction industry as a Project Manager.

Through past life experiences, my passions have expanded. From high school well into university, I experienced issues with my menses. It was at university that I was introduced to and tried organic sanitary napkins, and it changed my life! When I returned home to The Bahamas, it was difficult to source organic pads for a reasonable price. And constantly importing them only for my use was simply not sustainable. A university friend was promoting an organic product in the Cayman Islands, and I reached out to her regarding how I could get the business in The Bahamas. We attempted to work with another organic company to bring it to the Caribbean. However, it became apparent we needed to do this on our terms.

So, in 2018, Women’s Haven was born. The name itself was based on the fact that we wanted the products and the brand to be a haven for women. Since then, my business partner and I have successfully expanded to nine countries. In my home country, Women’s Haven sanitary pads can be found in every major grocery store and pharmacy. My goal is for Women’s Haven feminine care products, especially the pads, to be the only ones that every Bahamian, no, I mean every Caribbean woman requests; and for them to be offered everywhere from schools to hotels.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The long and short, no it has not. In day-to-day life, in the construction field people’s minds are more open to seeing women in this field, but there are still more than a few who are a little taken aback they are sitting at a table and the person they may need to rely on for answers looks like me. I often have to prove myself by working just a little harder. It’s an uphill battle and I am still pushing. I know what I am capable of and I can show you better than I can tell you.

When it comes to Women’s Haven, people are often wary of change and anything that sounds new to them; they are more often than not adversarial toward it.  Some did not believe in the product itself and I had to spend time convincing them of the quality, but again, I will say let me demonstrate just how much better Women’s Haven sanitary napkins are than the others.

In regards to getting Women’s Haven’s products in the stores, I had to do a lot of ground and footwork to get to the right people, attending every health fair I could and showcasing the sanitary pads mainly. Then it was getting around to setting the right price. It is a high-quality sanitary pad that required a lot of capital to produce. However, the whole goal around the formation of Women’s Haven was to make this high-quality sanitary product easily accessible to not only Bahamian women, but all Caribbean women from all backgrounds. I am a testament that you can improve your entire lifestyle if you improve your experience during your period. Yes, in The Bahamas sanitary napkins are duty-free but there is still value added tax (VAT). A period is not a choice for women, it is a part of life, and it  is an indication that you have the potential to create life. The application of a tax on something so basic is sad. In fact, all feminine care products should be duty and tax-free. I am still struggling to get this great organic product to the masses more economically. I hope if I keep on speaking on the removal of VAT and other taxes on feminine care products, it may happen one day, and The Bahamas can be the start and the champions of this cause.

I am still overcoming, still fighting to continue to achieve and succeed in my career and to get VAT off of sanitary napkins.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My daily professional title is a certified Project Management Professional, with a degree in Civil Engineering. I have been in the construction industry for over ten years working on projects such as the Sir Lynden Pindling International Airport Expansion Project, BahaMAR, South Andros Water Distribution Project, Malcolm Park Project, the new US Embassy campus, and some new developments that I am not able to mention yet. That’s the project management and construction side of me.

Then I am known as the lady that sells organic pads. I’ve appeared on radio, television, at conferences, and fairs educating women on the toxins that can be found in traditional store brands and encouraging them to do their research. I try to get them to switch to organic and I have no shame speaking about the issues I encountered with my menses.

I am most proud of knowing that I think I have finally achieved a balance between the two sides of me. I know that most people would be proud of some project or thing, but today I am proud that I feel more balanced. I know what I want, and I work every day to figure out how to achieve it with a sound mind, without losing myself or neglecting my family. My balance is important and an accomplishment; peace and a feeling of wholeness are some things to be proud of.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I can be reached via email at meredith@womenshaven.com.

I would love to work with any company that would like to purchase my products wholesale or stock their bathroom dispensers. I often imagine that all dispensers in the Bahamas will be supplied by this Bahamian-owned organic sanitary line, Women’s Haven. Any company in the Bahamas that has a dispenser and would  be maintained by a Bahamian owner sanitary brand, I would love to hear from you. Actually, any company in the Caribbean that wants to carry Women’s Haven’s products can reach out!

Image Credits
Melesia Adderley and T. Glinton Photography