Juliana Mantilla's Linkedin Analytics

I'm Julianna—founder and CEO of Bert Shoes. I grew up in Colombia surrounded by nature, dogs, and a loving mother who always taught me the importance of having a business and working toward a social purpose. I always liked numbers and understanding how people and the world work. That´s why I studied Economics and gained a Master's in that too. I founded my first venture in 2017 which is NUI - a company dedicated to improving people´s sleep and rest through a variety of products and services. In 2020 right before the pandemic I started BERT. We found out that most active people (athletes) were missing a shoe that made their lives easier before and after doing their favorite sport. That's why we created BERT ‘the other shoe’. It's a new kind of shoe that you wear immediately before and after any activity requiring specialized footwear. Cycling, trail running, hiking, climbing, windsurfing…whatever moves you. We are the other shoe you didn’t know you needed. Also, we know active people are always looking for ways to save space and weight. When they pack for the day ahead, every inch counts, Packing smart is key.. That's why Bert shoes are made to squeeze into the tightest places, freeing up much-needed space and keeping you light on your feet wherever you go. Yes, you can wear trainers, but trainers are not designed for pre- and post-activity, like BERTs. You can’t pull trainers on and off with one finger, before and after your epic effort. You can’t clip your trainers to your backpack with a carabiner or slide them into a tiny space in your kit bag. And you can’t let your feet breathe and cool in trainers like you can with BERTs. In Bert, we don’t compete against any sports footwear; we complement it. Bert has become part of the daily ritual of many athletes and outdoor enthusiasts here in Colombia. Where we don’t just make beautiful shoes, but we are also deeply committed to supporting our nation's communities that have endured the challenges of prolonged war and drug conflicts. The natural rubber we use in our soles is sourced from ASOHECA, a community comprising 1,200 families dedicated to rubber production. These families once involved in activities like working on cocaine farms or being associated with the Guerrilla, have been provided with a fresh start. And if you are a dog person like me you’ll love this. My dream is to end the suffering and overpopulation of stray dogs in the world that’s why with part of our profits we are spaying dogs in remote and poor areas of our country. To date, we have spayed 100 animals.