Jodi Bondi Norgaard

Jodi Bondi Norgaard is a keynote speaker, TEDx speaker, entrepreneur, cultural expert, consultant, activist, and the creator of the award-winning Go! Go! Sports Girls line of dolls, books and an app for girls encouraging healthy and active play over fashion and body image.

She 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 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 in 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, she was invited by The White House to participate in conferences on breaking down gender stereotypes in media and toys.

She is a cultural strategist advising on current social and business trends, co-chair of the Toy Association Diversity and Inclusion Committee, is a board member of Girls on the Run – Chicago, a board member of Kaskey Kids an award-winning line of sports action figures, and a founding member of The Brave Girl Alliance, a think tank of girl empowerment experts and a member of Women in Toys.