Joy McBrien

Background

About Joy McBrien

Joy McBrien is a global learner who is passionate about creating opportunities for women and girls. She is the Founder and CEO of Fair Anita, a social enterprise that strives to build a more inclusive economy for women by providing economic opportunity and dignified jobs through beautiful fair trade jewelry and accessories. She has worked with thousands of women around the world, using her empathetic nature to understand circumstances and develop creative solutions, including having built a battered women’s shelter in Peru and working at a girl-focused middle school in St. Paul. Joy has been recognized for her leadership in this space, awards including: Top Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans 2015, Open Hands Initiative Fellow 2016, Minnesota Business Magazine’s 35 Entrepreneurs Under 35, and the Real Power 50 Award. Joy is a proud member of the Global Shapers community, having taken on many leadership roles within the Minneapolis Hub. She was chosen to represent women’s issues at the World Economic Forum’s conference on Overcoming Social and Economic Exclusion with His Holiness Pope Francis, as well as the Annual Meeting of New Champions (also known as Summer Davos). She also attended the Sustainable Development Impact Summit hosted by WEF in NYC, where she spoke on the Sustainable Development Goals put forth by the United Nations, focusing on numbers 5 (gender equity), 8 (decent work and economic growth), and 12 (responsible consumption and production). Beyond acting on her passions for women's rights and ethical supply chains, Joy spends much of her time travelling, working with young people, and performing in dance theater.