Social Impact Heroes Helping Our Planet: Why & How Mika Koelma of Hey Zomi Is Helping To Change Our World
An Interview With Martita Mestey
Even though you know your budget will be stretched, you will actually blow it. We definitely did, we don’t regret it, but we had to.
As a part of my series about “individuals and organisations making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Mika Koelma, co-founder of Hey Zomi, a powerful company that has developed Australia’s first reusable menstrual disc.
Mika Koelma is one half of the dynamic sister duo behind Australia’s first reusable menstrual disc, Hey Zomi. Mika’s interest in women’s health and love for the great outdoors led her to become a femtech innovator, joining forces with her sister, Zoe, to develop a solution for better period management and the environment. Hey Zomi helps those who menstruate live their lives unburdened by bleeding while providing everyone, everywhere with adequate access to safe and effective period products that don’t cost the earth.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit. Can you tell us a bit about how you grew up?
I had a wonderful and happy upbringing in Newcastle, New South Wales. I’ve been incredibly lucky to have my sister, Zoe, by my side for as long as I can remember — we are only 13 months apart in age, so we grew up together and it meant we always had someone to play with. Despite being complete opposites, we shared a deep bond which we still have to this day. From a young age, I always had a passion for working with people and wanted to help them discover their true potential and feel liberated in themselves.
As I grew older, I had the opportunity to travel the world, visiting 52 countries. Experiencing different cultures and seeing the vastness of our world opened up my mind and made me believe that I could achieve anything I set my mind to.
However, there came a time when I felt the need to reconnect with my family and my roots. I made the decision to move back to Australia, specifically my hometown, to navigate my new identity within that more familiar environment. It was a journey of self-discovery, coupled with the realisation that I needed better options for myself, particularly in terms of menstrual health.
You are currently leading a social impact organisation that is making a difference for our planet. Can you tell us a bit about what you and your organisation are trying to change in our world today?
We set out to design reusable period care that is better for our bodies, our planet, and our pockets.
Zoe and I encountered challenges when it came to our own period care, whether it was the constraint of not being able to get to a bathroom to swap over period products or, for me, living overseas for the last 10 years, during which I struggled to find tampons to buy!
These products frustrated us and were uncomfortable, often layered with plastic material and associated health risks. We simply couldn’t believe that we had to settle for such inadequate period care. There had to be better options that fit into our busy lifestyles. This motivated us to explore reusable menstrual products, and upon discovering menstrual discs, we were determined to enhance the design of this innovation to make it more user-friendly, comfortable, and accessible.
Our vision is to empower women to have periods on their own terms. We didn’t want to solely focus on finding a period solution but rather create a menstruator and lifestyle-centric solution. Our periods shouldn’t hinder us from attending consecutive meetings, chasing after our children all day, performing surgery for 12 hours, or even enjoying activities like scuba diving! Hey Zomi is all about living unrestricted by our periods.
Embarking on this journey alongside Zoe, facing various challenges, and finding solutions have been an incredibly transformative experience. I have discovered a safe space to openly and wholeheartedly delve into menstrual health and its impact on women’s lives.
We created an innovative menstrual disc design that eliminates leaks, is suction free, has a long wear time of 12 hours, and is extremely comfortable to use — with a unique handle that makes removal incredibly easy.
Sustainability is at the core of our mission. We are Australian-designed, made and owned, using 100% medical grade silicone, meaning each disc can be used for more than five years, drastically reducing the amount of disposable menstrual products that end up in landfill. Even our packaging and product mailer bags are compostable.
It’s important to us that our partnerships reflect our belief that every person with a period has the right to basic period care, education, and support. We have joined forces with ‘Share the Dignity’, an organisation focused on bringing an end to period poverty in Australia.
Hey Zomi pledges 5% of every purchase to Share the Dignity, helping to provide period care to those who lack access due to cost, geographic or social reasons.
Can you tell us the backstory about what inspired you to originally feel passionate about this cause?
For the majority of my life, I relied on tampons as they seemed like the most convenient choice for my active lifestyle. However, as a full-time teacher, it was incredibly difficult to find the time to change tampons during the day, and dealing with periods became a source of anxiety.
Another concern was the potential risks associated with using tampons, such as Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) and other related conditions. What a standard to support female and menstrual health. It’s shocking.
It was my sister, Zoe, who introduced me to reusable menstrual cups, which sounded like a dream come true. I hadn’t previously considered the environmental impact of the pads and tampons I used every month, which were contributing to significant waste management issues. Switching to reusable period care was an obvious choice. However, in my personal experience, the cup was uncomfortable and prone to leakage, and I found I couldn’t rely on it.
After consulting with a gynaecologist, I discovered that the cup may have contributed to inflammation of my cervix, requiring a small procedure to rectify the damage. This experience motivated me to learn more about my body and prioritise my menstrual health.
During my exploration, I came across menstrual discs and conducted extensive research to determine if they would cause further complications. I was so inspired by what I found out, I decided to go for it. From the very first try, it worked, and the experience was completely life-changing — I wanted to tell the world!
Many of us have ideas, dreams, and passions, but never manifest them. They don’t get up and just do it. But you did. Was there an “Aha Moment” that made you decide that you were actually going to step up and do it? What was that final trigger?
When I first came across the menstrual disc, I was blown away by how amazing it was, and I was even more shocked to learn how few people were aware of it.
The moment I convinced Zoe to try the menstrual disc was definitely an ‘aha’ moment. We couldn’t wrap our heads around the fact that after experiencing periods for over 20 years, a reusable product like this could have such a profound impact on our lives.
We became a bit obsessed and started coming up with ways we could make the disc even better. The passion for supporting our own menstrual health, coupled with discovering period solutions like this was a turning point for us. What if we could make our own high-quality, Australian-made, environmentally-friendly disc, with our own unique design upgrades?
This dream quickly evolved into a clear vision: empowering menstruators to embrace their periods unapologetically and live life on their own terms, just as we had discovered for ourselves.
Taking that initial leap, leaving my teaching career, returning to Australia and launching Hey Zomi was undoubtedly fueled by Zoe and my shared dedication to the business. Our aligned vision and unwavering passion propelled our discussions into decisive action.
With a deep sense of trust and a complementary blend of diverse skills, Zoe and I wholeheartedly believed that transforming this vision into a tangible business was a natural course of action. Together, we balance one another, always convinced that we can conquer the world as a team.
The only thing left was to jump into the ideation, design, and prototype phases. We started with an intense 12-month research and development process, which included multiple design iterations, rigorous prototyping, and comprehensive testing.
It was slow going having to wait for that perfect time of the month to test out the Hey Zomi disc prototypes! We wanted it to be just right and it came down to millimetre tweaking on the engineering aspects of this disc so that it could be the most intuitive fit.
Little by little, our vision became a reality and the Hey Zomi reusable menstrual disc was born.
Many people don’t know the steps to take to start a new organisation. What are some of the things or steps you took to get your project started?
Committing to the time and cost of a business was made easier because it was shared with my sister, Zoe. Having a cofounder to seed the project, test the market and have a skill set that differs from my own is such an asset. I also really needed to work with someone who understood and believed in me.
Developing a business and bringing a new period product to market has not been without its challenges. Zoe and I started Hey Zomi during covid and we work remotely. I found it quite isolating to be figuring out the ins and outs of running a business and we were without networks to help activate Hey Zomi in ways that were absolutely necessary.
We have had many unforeseen hurdles that have required support from a wide network, including business mentors, entrepreneurial networks, family, and friends. An incredible team of designers, manufacturers, packaging specialists, lawyers, and other experts have also provided invaluable guidance.
We are both incredibly grateful for the community that has rallied around our vision.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organisation?
I’ve been amazed at how many people want to share their period journeys and issues with us. It’s been such a realisation that menstruation and female health haven’t had a space to discuss shared experiences.
I remember sitting in the I2N accelerator program in a room of 10 founders who I would work with over the next three months, and it was just me and another girl, the rest were men.
I had to pitch about Hey Zomi and why I started the business, so I shared my own personal period story. I was so surprised by the support and the helpful questions and the fact that they were so interested in menstrual health. These guys had the best suggestions to support our value proposition for Hey Zomi and encourage us to consider new ways to engage customers and develop our business. Men are just as much a part of the conversation as women are — and this was so cool to discover.
I think it is a really important aspect that everyone is a part of the conversation. If we are to change the way we view having a period, views around menstruation and the care needed, not just from the products we use, but the support from our partners, family, workplace — then everyone is a part of this. Humans exist because of this cycle — it’s as natural and normal as eating food to survive.
It has been said that sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Do you have a story about a humorous mistake that you made when you were first starting and the lesson you learned from that?
Don’t make a period product and enter the prototyping phase just as you start trying for a baby, because the baby can come way quicker than you planned. This is what happened to Zoe! I felt like it was all down to me and my vagina to get the Hey Zomi disc working perfectly — oh, the pressure!
Thankfully we had a test group of users on our final prototype. And phew, it all worked out!
Another mistake was that we went into this thinking we would have finished prototyping and have a disc ready to sell within six months. Oh, how wrong we were. It actually ended up taking closer to 15 months.
None of us can be successful without some help along the way. Did you have mentors or cheerleaders who helped you to succeed? Can you tell us a story about their influence?
When I joined the I2N accelerator program, I had the invaluable opportunity to work closely with mentors who provided one-on-one guidance and support for Hey Zomi. It was during this time that I met James Bradley, entrepreneur in residence to the program and who became my mentor.
James created a safe space for me to express my ideas and challenges, and there were never any dumb questions. He encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and delve into face to face conversations about periods with strangers on the street, which was essential for understanding our customers. James was not only open-minded but also incredibly supportive of the problem we were trying to solve. Finding a mentor like him exceeded my expectations.
I realised that I needed someone to push me forward and provide a little bit of hand holding along the way. By allowing myself to be vulnerable with a mentor like James, I gained the confidence to take important steps. One of those steps was ensuring that we could deliver our very first menstrual disc to customers before Christmas.
While we aimed for an April launch initially, James and the team pushed us to expedite the process. We managed to produce 500 Hey Zomi discs and get them out to market in January. J He emphasised that we didn’t have to strive for perfection right from the start but rather adapt and refine our approach as we gained more structure around us. This push to enter the market early was crucial in validating our customers’ needs and making our first sales.
This experience taught me the importance of finding someone who can challenge and push you forward, especially when it’s difficult to take that leap. Having the support and guidance of a mentor like James was instrumental in our journey, and I encourage others to seek out individuals who can provide that necessary push and guidance. Sometimes, it’s about taking a leap of faith and getting your ideas out there, even if they’re not perfect yet.
Are there three things the community, society, or politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
1. We could be more open to sharing our menstrual health journeys with our partners and family to normalise the conversation. This can then be amplified in the community because it is a collective responsibility to eliminate stigmas associated with periods. We can check in on friends to see if they need support during their period. We can also go another step further and realise that period poverty is real. Let’s ensure access to affordable period products is given to those who cannot afford them.
2. We need financial schemes to make reusable period products more accessible and affordable. Advocating for government support in this area can help encourage femtech entrepreneurs in the industry, fostering innovation and providing more options for menstruators.
3. Education plays a huge role in addressing the root problem. It’s important to include comprehensive education in schools, covering not only periods but also topics related to the body, hormones, sexual health, and overall menstrual and female health. Updating the knowledge of doctors or general practitioners (GPs) on menstrual health is also vital to make sure accurate information and the right medical support is getting through.
How would you articulate how a business can become more profitable by being more sustainable and more environmentally conscious? Can you share a story or example?
It’s an exciting time to do business! We are so connected with our customers now and can not only understand their needs and values but communicate ours in a personal and effective way.
After decades where globalisation has facilitated mass production with quick and cheap outputs, consumers are now seeing the consequences of the ‘fast’ economy that has not taken into account social or environmental impact over profits.
People from all walks of life are united in their desire to reduce their impact on the environment and are conscious that they can make a real difference by choosing where to spend and invest their money.
At Hey Zomi, we have quality, sustainability and the environment at our core, and our customers align and respond to that so strongly. This is our non-negotiable baseline when designing our Reusable Menstrual Disc and when we overlayed those values with cutting-edge innovation that solves the challenges menstruators face each month, the Hey Zomi disc became a tour de force that the ‘fast’ and ‘mass’ economy cannot compete with.
Our customers understand where their money is going and the positive impact it is having in the world while receiving a product that improves their lives even more significantly than their disposable counterparts.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why?
- The length of time it takes — due to having to wait every 30 days for a period to test out our prototypes!
- Bringing people into the story and journey. We have had some incredible champions for our business that we didn’t expect along the way — manufacturers showing amazing support, artist Marisa Mu, and friends advising us on marketing and branding and connecting us with good people. We realised we needed to be open and vulnerable to make connections and broaden our network, it didn’t need to be just all on us.
- Go get sleep! Zoe’s sleep-deprived nature and my late nights just did not serve us. Sleep is everything.
- Don’t leave organizing packaging to get sorted at the last minute. Especially if you are seeking a sustainable or eco-friendly option.
- Even though you know your budget will be stretched, you will actually blow it. We definitely did, we don’t regret it, but we had to.
If you could tell other young people one thing about why they should consider making a positive impact on our environment or society, like you, what would you tell them?
Our collective power is so strong, and it only takes everyone doing something small to make a big difference. Once you start and get some environmental wins in your life it can be addictive and fun and empowering, that you are creating a better place to live in and to be a part of.
Can you please give us your favourite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
‘Live in the moment’.
It sounds cliche, but this actually means a lot to me. Being truly present has helped shape the way I view the world and how I want to show up in it. To stay curious and be open-minded about what I am experiencing in the here and now. It’s about being flexible and inviting spontaneity and possibly into every day. This practice allows me to be adaptive in whatever situations arise and to embrace opportunities when they come along.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)
Kayla Itsines — my sister and I are both total Kayla fan girls! She is a strong, inspiring, female entrepreneur that has built a business empire from scratch in one of the most competitive industries. She is not afraid to be authentic and vulnerable and has built her business with a strong positive and empowering philosophy, which is not always the case in the health and wellness industry.
On a personal note, her SWEAT app fitness/strength-building workouts changed my life when she first started providing personal training programs. My whole personal philosophy of health was turned around because of the amazing outcomes I had training with Kayla through her app.
After Kayla had children, she was open about how she had never fully understood the struggle of starting out from scratch with exercise and that she wasn’t going to ignore that group anymore — and she acted on that newfound knowledge by creating a range of pregnancy programs for women.
I love how real and open Kayla has been on this entrepreneurial journey and how she genuinely shows up to support women through health and fitness. She is a self-aware and inclusive woman who takes action and changes lives. Not to mention, she loves food!
How can our readers follow you online?
Website: https://www.heyzomi.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyzomi/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heyzomi
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@heyzomi
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heyzomi
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!
