From Motherhood to Menopause – How Mayana Genevière Founder and Social Entrepreneur Nadine Woods is Thinking Big to Support Women and Challenge the Status Quo

When Founder and Social Entrepreneur of Mayana Genevière Nadine Woods became a mother, she found herself frustrated with the lack of comfortable and functional undergarments that were available to postpartum women. 

She started researching more about the issues she was experiencing firsthand, and was inspired to do something when she realized that the solutions she was looking for weren’t there. 

This led to the birth of her social enterprise, which is now proud to support women from motherhood to menopause with access to beautiful undergarments that they can look and feel their best in. 

Facing funding challenges and finding community

Access to funding has been a significant challenge for Mayana Genevière–as is it for many women-owned social enterprises. 

As Nadine explains, “In our journey, we've discovered that finding the right partner who shares our values of community, sustainability, and innovation is paramount. Until we secure such a partnership, we rely on our own resources and are incredibly grateful for the unwavering support of our community. This support not only sustains us but also reinforces the importance of our mission to empower and uplift women through their ever-evolving journey.”

Raising awareness

Mayana Genevière was recently awarded a grant from the Canadian Women’s Foundation that will help it continue to grow the community that’s been critical to the ongoing success of the social enterprise. 

Nadine says that “With the grant, we are working on a series of impactful experiences with an amazing agency in Toronto to amplify our message and have uncensored conversations around bodies, birth, and breastfeeding–look out for exciting things to come!”

What’s next 

Moving ahead, Nadine and the team at Mayana Genevière are thinking big:

“Our aspiration is to establish a new paradigm in business, one firmly rooted in a robust foundation that embodies the core values of ethics, community, and sustainability, all from a distinctly female perspective. This unique approach aims to break the mold, challenging the status quo, and setting a higher standard for businesses that prioritize the well-being of women and the planet, something that is conspicuously absent in today's corporate landscape.”