Made For Us

• Where is the female crash test dummy? | Astrid Linder and Emily Thomas

  What happens when women aren’t considered in car safety design? For decades, crash test dummies have been modeled on the average male, but studies now show that women are more likely to be injured or killed in certain types of crashes. As the data mounts, so does the urgency to fix the gender gap in car safety.This week, we’re joined by Emily Thomas, PhD, Associate Director of Automotive Safety at Consumer Reports, and Astrid Linder, Professor of Traffic Safety at the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, who developed the world’s first crash test dummy representing an average woman. Together, we’ll explore what it will take to design truly inclusive and safe cars.The conversation covers:Why women face higher injury risks in car crashesWhat’s involved in designing a female crash test dummyHow the shift to driverless cars presents a chance to correct past biases---ResourcesAstrid Linder’s researchUniversity of Virginia study U.S. Government Accountability Office recommendations---About Professor Astrid LinderAstrid Linder is Professor of Traffic Safety at Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, VTI, and an Adjunct Professor of Injury Prevention at Chalmers University. She received her PhD in traffic safety from Chalmers from where she also has a MSc in Engineering Physics. Prof Linder initiated and led the research resulting in the world’s first physical dummy model based on the average female, the Seat Evaluation Tool (SET 50F) and was named one of the BBC's 100 most inspiring and influential women in 2023.Learn more about Astrid Linder: https://www.vti.se/en/employees/astrid-linderFollow Astrid Linder on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/astrid-linder-2a0b5a53/About Emily Thomas, PhDEmily Thomas leads the occupant protection and vulnerable road user safety programs at Consumer Report’s Auto Test Center. Her expertise extends to crash safety, vehicular heatstroke prevention, and child passenger safety. Emily has 15 years of automotive safety experience and holds a PhD in pediatric injury biomechanics from Drexel University and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Learn more about Emily Thomas: https://www.consumerreports.org/about-us/our-people/our-experts/emily-thomas/---Connect with Made For UsShow notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/Social media: LinkedIn and InstagramNewsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/

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• Crossover episode with Narratives of Purpose: On building a global ecosystem for FemTech pioneers with Marija Butkovic

  Welcome to our second crossover episode of season 2! This week, we’re spotlighting Narratives of Purpose podcast, hosted by Claire Murigande - but we’ll be back next week with a new episode of Made For Us.Narratives of Purpose showcases stories of impact-driven founders. Covering diverse topics from youth empowerment to global health equity to sustainable food systems, it’s one to have on your radar if you’re interested in purpose-led innovation.In this conversation from their Women’s Health Series, host Claire delves into the world of FemTech and women’s health with Marija Butkovic, Founder and CEO of Women of Wearables, a global organisation that supports female innovators in wearable tech and health tech. Claire and Marija discuss: Challenges women face in the health industryThe role of investment in advancing women’s healthThe evolution of FemTech and the untapped potential for investment and entrepreneurship in the sector Learn more about Narratives of Purpose: https://narratives-of-purpose.podcastpage.io/—Connect with Made for Us on LinkedIn and InstagramShow notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/

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• Ingrid Silva on building a legacy in ballet, one pointe shoe at a time

  What does it take to thrive as a Black ballerina in an art form that prizes uniformity? In this episode, renowned Brazilian ballerina Ingrid Silva reflects on the professional breakthroughs and battles behind her rise in the ballet world - from spending 11 years dyeing her pointe shoes by hand to match her skin tone, to persuading the industry to prioritize inclusivity. She shares her journey from Rio de Janeiro to Dance Theatre of Harlem and how becoming a mother has impacted her career.The episode also dives into:Ingrid's childhood in Brazil and how a kind neighbour changed the course of her lifeThe unspoken emotional and financial costs for dancers of colour in balletHow her personal experience drove her to create the 'Blacks in Ballet' movementWhat ballet still gets wrong about representation, motherhood, and belonging Enjoyed the episode? Text it to a friend and leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts to help more listeners discover the show!You might also like:Cassa Pancho on designing the future of ballet'The door is opening for us': Cira Robinson on ballet's turning pointe---About Ingrid SilvaIngird Silva is a celebrated Brazilian ballerina and changemaker with Dance Theatre of Harlem. Born in Rio de Janeiro, she began dancing at age 8 through a social project in the Mangueira favela and later earned a full scholarship to study in New York. She has performed leading roles in works by George Balanchine, Alvin Ailey, and others, and collaborated with renowned choreographers worldwide. A dedicated advocate for equity in the arts, she is the founder of podHER and co-founder of Blacks in Ballet. Her accomplishments have been recognized globally – from having her pointe shoes exhibited at the Smithsonian, to working on global brand campaigns.Learn more about Ingrid Silva: https://www.ingridsilvaballet.com/Follow Ingrid Silva on Instagram: @ingridsilva Follow Dancers and Motherhood: @dancersandmotherhoodFollow Blacks in Ballet: @blacksinballetFollow PodHer: https://www.podher.org/---Connect with Made for UsShow notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/Social media: LinkedIn and InstagramNewsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/

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• Making navigation inclusive: the QR code you don't need to see | Oran McAllister

  It's been called 'a phenomenal example of inclusive design' and it's spreading across subway stations, museums and supermarkets around the world.NaviLens is a new technology designed to help blind and partially sighted people navigate cities and indoor spaces by scanning a QR code with their phone. Unlike traditional QR codes, users don’t need to focus on the code or know its precise location.In this episode, we sit down with Oran McAllister, NaviLens’ Client Engagement Officer, to explore this new frontier in accessibility and how it can help visually impaired people gain more independence.We also cover: NaviLens’ origins in Spain and how the technology has gained traction in over 100 countries, from the US to Australia Why major transport systems from London to Tokyo and brands like Kellogg’s and P&G are signing on How NaviLens makes grocery shopping more accessible for everyone, from travellers to people with autism Loved the episode? Leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and help more listeners discover the show!You might also like: 'I don't need fixing - the world does' Lucy Edwards on redefining disability 'No going back': lessons from P&G's product inclusion journey with Sam Latif---About Oran McAllisterOran McAllister is the Client Engagement Officer at NaviLens. Oran is tasked with developing new relationships and sustaining established partnerships with organisations, associations and users of NaviLens around the world. His passion in the pursuit of accessibility not only comes from his professional background but also stems from his personal experience.Learn more about NaviLens: https://www.navilens.com/en/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@NaviLensLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/navilens/Reach out to NaviLens:  [email protected] ---Connect with Made for UsShow notes and transcripts: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/ Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/

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• Sunscreen that works for every shade: the next big beauty trend? | Dujon Smith

  We all need to protect our skin from the sun's rays, so why are so many sunscreens not formulated with darker skin tones in mind?In this episode, we sit down with Dujon Smith, founder of the inclusive sun care brand My Block Skin. We unpack the myths around sunscreen, the marketing gaps and the sobering stats, including why men of color have the lowest survival rates from melanoma.This episode also dives into:Dujon’s founder journey – from ideation and testing formulations to creating a lifestyle brandHow My Block Skin became the first black-owned sun care brand stocked at the UK pharmacy chain Boots in its 175-year historyHow companies can cater to overlooked audiences through social listening If this episode made you think, laugh, or go “hmm,” leave us a 5 star rating - and text it to a friend.You might also like:Rooting for you: the men's grooming brand winning over big retailers---About Dujon Smith Dujon Smith is the founder and CEO of My Block Skin, a sun care brand redefining the industry with high-performance, melanin-inclusive formulas. Dujon launched My Block Skin in 2023 as a testament to his mission of inclusivity and innovation. Beyond My Block Skin, Dujon is a full-time investor at Accenture Ventures, where he leads the Founders Development Program, helping underrepresented entrepreneurs scale their technology businesses through access to capital, mentorship, and strategic partnerships. Learn more about My Block Skin: http://www.myblockskin.comFollow Dujon C Smith on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dujoncsmith/Follow Dujon C Smith on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dujoncsmith/Resources: Accenture Thought Leadership on the Black Founders Venture Capital Gap: https://www.accenture.com/content/dam/accenture/final/a-com-migration/r3-3/pdf/pdf-172/Accenture-Bridging-Black-Founders-VC-Gap.pdfSkin Cancer Study on Men of Color: https://www.aad.org/news/melanoma-study-men-skin-of-color-lowest-survival-rates---Connect with Made for UsShow notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/ Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/

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