Missing in Action: She Left a $350K Job to Build Something She Could Not Find
From A Bright Idea by Amber Key
April 8, 2026 · 1h 16m
About this episode
Jordan Polk shares her journey from investment banking to founding a haircare brand focused on outdoor protection for textured hair.
On this week’s episode, I sat down with Jordan Polk, founder and CEO of M.I.A. also known as missing in action - a Detroit-based hair and scalp care brand on a mission to make the outdoors more accessible. A former investment banker and software private equity investor , Jordan left Wall Street to build the category she couldn't find — protection-first haircare for textured hair experiencing damage and dryness while living actively outdoors. Missing in Action’s hero product, HairBlockTM, is a clean, science-forward daily barrier serum that supports against UV, chlorine, salt water, and cold weather. Jordan placed 2nd at Beauty Tank LA in 2026 and is backed by 20+ years of haircare industry expertise through her advisor network. In this episode, Jordan and I chat about her experience going from private equity to founding Missing in Action. And through her experience in high-finance, she shares her strategies for fundraising, building a credible brand, and navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Jordan’s Journey 02:00 - Inspiration Behind MIA 05:00 - Customer Feedback in Product Development 08:30 - Leveraging Private Equity Skills 12:00…
People in this episode
Host: Amber Key
Guest: Jordan Polk
Topics covered
- entrepreneurship
- haircare
- fundraising
- product development
- business growth
- digital marketing
Keywords
- entrepreneurship
- haircare
- fundraising
- product development
- business growth
- digital marketing
- investment banking
- outdoor accessibility
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: M.I.A., Beauty Tank LA
Products: HairBlockTM
Places: Detroit, Wall Street
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