One of the scariest things, yet most rewarding aspects of any professional experience is being asked to take on a new task or responsibility, or to reimagine something in a new exciting and different way. In essence, to LOOK FORWARD. As GOJO is in the midst of its fourth year of being a WBENC-certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE), I now have the opportunity to serve as the account owner for our WBE Activation. I play a very small role in a BIG story that has humble beginnings with a very important woman.
At the heart of our GOJO story is Goldie Lippman, a remarkable co-founder of GOJO. In the wake of World War II, Akron, Ohio became the birthplace of GOJO, a company that would revolutionize hand hygiene. Founded in March 1946, GOJO emerged during a pivotal era when women courageously stepped into the workforce, taking on roles traditionally held by men.
Goldie witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by workers in her role as a supervisor at one of Akron’s rubber factories. After a grueling day manufacturing life rafts and other rubber products for the war effort, cleaning their hands proved to be an arduous task. The men who had previously worked in these factories had resorted to harsh chemicals like kerosene and benzene to remove graphite and carbon black from their hands—a practice that took a toll on their skin.
As the company grew, Goldie’s financial acumen complemented Jerry’s innovative spirit. She managed the business operations including pricing, purchasing, and finance, while Jerry mixed batches of product in their basement and did the selling, production, and product improvements. Although WBENC did not exist at that time, there is no doubt in my mind that Goldie played an outsized role in the overall success of the organization.
Over the decades, GOJO expanded its portfolio to include skincare solutions for various away-from-home markets, from foodservice establishments to healthcare facilities. Today, our company is well-known for our trusted solutions and brands, including, the PURELL® brand, which is a a testament to GOJO’s commitment to hand hygiene, and the legacy of Goldie and Jerry Lippman lives on, reminding us that innovation, determination, and a passion for improving lives can lead to remarkable success.
As a WBENC-certified Women Business Enterprise, our certification supports our customers’ supplier diversity goals and connects us more directly with the diverse business community as both a supplier and a customer. Being a WBE aligns with our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to creating sustainable value (social, environmental, and economic) for all our stakeholders. Our WBENC certification reflects how we live our GOJO Values in real and impactful ways.
It is my earnest hope that as I leverage this new professional opportunity, championing our WBENC efforts that live out our GOJO Value of “Always Learning” where we are learners not knowers, are hands-on, try new things, and keep what works, seek insights from everyone and everywhere and share our learnings and that all of us make Goldie and other women leaders on whose shoulders we stand proud.