Who is making it
become a reality?
The project's concept was initiated by the artist Maja Juzwiak, who will be executing it throughout, together with an existing support system of interdisciplinary individuals who are making the idea become a reality.
Additionally, a group of twelve menstruating women aged between 25 and 39 from across Switzerland with different lifestyles (employed, self-employed, an artist and an athlete, mothers and non-mothers, living in the city and the mountains) form a Focus Group who embarked on this journey of self-discovery to research the menstrual cycle and create tools that women can use to understand their bodies and pass the knowledge to future generations.
The project is being advised and supported by an Advisory Board of experts from various fields who will share their expertise to achieve a thought-through result.
read more about each one below:
Maja Juzwiak
founder
A Swiss / Brazilian artist and creative mind with an interdisciplinary and international background.
A BSc in International Management, an MSc in Business Administration & Marketing, self-taught photography skills, and years of experience across sectors in multinational corporations and startups summarise Maja’s professional achievements.
Since 2020, she has been living from her work as an artist, photographer and writer.
In 2023, she decided to combine all her expertise, interests, and passions and create the association unboxing cycles. To read more about her trajectory, visit her website or connect with her on LinkedIn. To read more about her personal motivation in making this project a reality, click here.
Focus group
Twelve menstruating women who represent the target group will work together throughout the year, testing existing journals while tracking their cycle, learning about the topic of menstruation, and exchanging and sharing experiences to co-create the Journal.
We'll meet quarterly to discuss specific topics, open the conversation, and co-create and fine-tune the Journal and the project. Including other individuals in the process will enable a stronger foundation and the development of a product that has been tested throughout its formation.
The focus group will also act as models for the photographic part of the project, enhancing the self-development journey and giving a chance to demonstrate in images what each phase of the cycle means to each participant individually in an attempt to explain that each one experiences it differently, and that's ok.
The group composition is diverse in terms of age (with the youngest being 25 and the oldest 39), family set (kids, no kids, single parent, single), career (entrepreneur, career-oriented, not career-oriented), and lifestyle (living in the city or non-urban areas), to have distinct realities to exchange each one's experience and observe possible differences in their cycles.
Advisory Board
The advisory board consists of experts in different fields who support the project and act as advisors throughout the execution to achieve a thought-through result.
meet the board:
Merle Zur
Merle is the Program Lead with a focus in Entrepreneurship & Diversity at Impact Hub Zurich, Co-Lead of the Female Founders Initiative, Creator of the Female Founders Podcast and Podcast Host for Swisspreneur. Her background is in intercultural communication and after having lived and worked in Germany, Hong Kong, the Netherlands and the UK, her path finally led to Zurich. Here she continues supporting startups and entrepreneurs along their journey, especially focusing on female led businesses.
Dr. Ann-Marie de Lange
Dr. Ann-Marie de Lange holds a degree in clinical psychology and a PhD in neuroimaging and brain plasticity from the University of Oslo. She completed her postdoctoral training at the University of Oxford, before establishing her research group 'FemiLab' at Lausanne University Hospital. Her research aims to identify factors that harm or protect the female brain, using clinical, genetic, and brain imaging data from population-based cohorts. Dr. de Lange is a passionate advocate for women's health research, and strives to connect science and society through her academic work and communication
Dr. Adrian J. Krahn
Adrian is a dedicated husband and father of two sons, passionate about supporting women at all stages of life. As founder of The Women Circle, he is determined to help women realize their full potential and improve their health and well-being. With many years of experience in the healthcare industry, Adrian deeply understands how specific nutrients can help women improve their physical and mental health.
Dr. med Michael Häberle
Obstetrician and gynaecologist, focused on Reproductive Endocrinology, Microsurgery, Gynecological surgery and minimally invasive surgery. Since 2002, a partner at Gyn-A.R.T.AG (Center for Female and Male Reproduction, Microsurgery and Minimally Invasive Surgery) in Zürich.
Esther Denz
With 30 years of experience in gynaecology and a deep commitment to traditional Chinese medicine, she has had her own clinic since 1995, where she specializes in gynaecology, fertility problems, pregnancy, and birth support. However, her commitment goes far beyond the practice, as she has developed training courses, co-founded teaching institutes, and is committed to the quality and availability of Chinese herbs in Europe with her company, LIAN Apotheke.
Marina Hagen
Having worked in the events and agency industry for more than 10 years, it was time for her to move towards more meaningful pursuits. The last few years have taken her on a journey of discovery, accompanying individuals and organizations in processes of self-development, conflict, and change. Something clicked when, one day, the topic of female cycles crossed her path. Since 2023, she has been a certified menstrual health coach.
To read more about her trajectory,
visit her website or connect with her on LinkedIn.