March 8th marks International Women’s Day, a day that celebrates the achievements of women and the importance of gender equality around the world. As a woman-owned and founded company, Wallaroo’s CEO, Stephanie Carter, makes it a point to help women succeed in business and in their personal lives. An award-winning entrepreneur, humanitarian, and innovative creator, Stephanie broke through barriers in the fashion industry when she started Wallaroo Hat Company in 1999 with a focus on sun protection and style. She has earned many accolades along the way, including Boulder’s “Women Who Light the Community” award in 2019 and becoming the first female President of The Headwear Association in its 105-year history.
Stephanie’s passion for helping women led to her co-founding PridePads Africa, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to manufacturing environmentally resourceful, bio-degradable sanitary pads for girls and women in rural Cameroon, Africa. Promoting menstrual hygiene education helps empower young women, ensuring they stay in school and complete their education. To discover more about this important mission visit PridePads.org.
March is also “B Corp Month”, where Certified B Corps, like Wallaroo, celebrate being part of a global community of businesses that balance purpose and profit and the impact of their decisions on their workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment. Certified B Corps must maintain high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency, including employee benefits, charitable giving, and supply chain practices among other things. Wallaroo strives to uphold B Corp standards through our actions such as the removal of plastic bags in shipments, focusing on recycling and composting, and using natural fibers for manufacturing many of our beautiful hats! As a B Corp, Wallaroo supports local foundations and organizations in Boulder, CO. Last year, we spent time at 63rd Street Farms and the Black Cat Organic Farm assisting harvesting and weeding crops.
Wallaroo is proud to be a woman-owned business and a Certified B Corp that inspires strength and leads by example.