More Than a Doll: Challenging Gender Stereotypes

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about early messages, the ones that shape how we see ourselves and what we believe is possible. My guest this week is Jodi Bondi Norgaard, author of More Than a Doll and creator of the Go! Go! Sports Girls, a line of empowerment dolls and books designed to challenge gender stereotypes in the toy industry. Jodi shares how a single moment in a toy store with her daughter opened her eyes to the narrow, and often damaging, images marketed to young girls. From there, she set out to create something different. What followed was a years-long battle with the toy industry. In our conversation, Jodi speaks candidly about the resistance she faced and the assumptions that still dominate product development for kids. We also discuss how these early experiences shape our confidence, identity and ambition. And lastly, we talk about what it means to advocate for change in the face of rejection and how to hold onto your values when the world tells you you’re wrong.

About My Guest
Jodi Bondi Norgaard is an entrepreneur, author, and speaker committed to breaking gender stereotypes and advancing equality. She is the author of More Than a Doll: How Creating a Sports Doll Turned into a Fight to End Gender Stereotypes (Post Hill Press, 2025), a powerful story of perseverance, purpose-led business, and disrupting the status quo.

Jodi founded Dream Big Toy Company and created the award-winning Go! Go! Sports Girls line to inspire confidence and healthy play in girls. Her advocacy has led her to work with the White House Gender Policy Council under the Biden administration and the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, influencing policy and representation in toys, content, and publishing.

A TEDx speaker and contributor to Ms. Magazine, Jodi has been featured on The Today Show, Forbes, and more. She speaks nationwide on entrepreneurship, resilience, and the power of using business to drive cultural change, while fighting for equality for women and girls.

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Connect with Jodi:
Website: https://www.jodibondinorgaard.com/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodibondinorgaard/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jodibondinorgaard/
Substack: https://jodibondinorgaard.substack.com/

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