Menstrual Health and Women’s Leadership: Flex Co. Global Expansion by Entrepreneur, Lauren Schulte Wang
Date
2024
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Women’s Leadership Initiative, Lerner College of Business & Economics, University of Delaware
Abstract
Flex Co’s vision is to “reimagine and deliver life-changing period products everywhere” by “creating body-positive and life-changing experiences through the products that we make and the conversations we spark” (Wang, 2017). This case examines period poverty and social stigma as issues women and girls face during their menstrual cycle and how insufficient infrastructure impacts women’s menstrual health and hygiene. It also analyzes how Flex Co., the U.S.’s #1 sustainable period brand, can expand its success into the Global Market. It also considers the effectiveness of its marketing strategy in the U.S. market and considerations to adapt or adjust the strategy when marketing to other cultures.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this case study, the students should be able to:
• Understand how culture shapes the perception of women and girls on their menstrual period, especially in developing countries.
• Identify the challenges women and girls face in maintaining healthy menstrual hygiene.
• Reflect on how the company leaders can turn their pain points into a global solution that many can access, just as Lauren Schulte Wang did.
• Explore the growth opportunities for global expansion available to Flex Co.
Description
Time period: 2014-2020
Geographical setting:
Region: World/global
Country: United States of America; United Kingdom; Lebanon; Kenya; Uganda
Location: Los Angeles
Featured companies: The Flex Company
Employees: 201-500
Type: Public Company
Industry: Sustainable Period Care Company
Other keywords: Founded in 2015
Featured protagonist: Lauren Schulte Wang (Female), Founder and CEO of the Flex Company
This case was written by Brett Greer, Michala Maciolek, Lea Williams, and Tosin Idowu-Kunlere, graduate students at the University of Delaware, under the supervision and guidance of their professor, Dr. Amanda Bullough (bullough@udel.edu).
This case is intended to be used as the basis of class discussion rather than to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of a management situation. All of the material in this case study is based on secondary data from published sources. The authors have not interviewed the business leaders in this case.
The version of record is available at: https://www.thecasecentre.org/products/view?id=200820
©2024 Amanda Bullough. No part of this publication may be copied, stored, transmitted, reproduced, or distributed in any form or medium whatsoever without the permission of the copyright owner.
Keywords
business expansion, business strategy, period poverty, social stigma, menstrual health, menstrual hygiene, environmental sustainability, marketing strategy, good health and well-being, gender equality, responsible consumption and production
Citation
Greer, Brett, Michala Maciolek, Lea Williams, Amanda Bullough, and Tosin Idowu-Kunlere. “Menstrual Health and Women’s Leadership: Flex Co. Global Expansion by Entrepreneur, Lauren Schulte Wang,” Women’s Leadership Initiative, Lerner College of Business & Economics, University of Delaware, 2024.