Heela Yang: The Unexpected Detour That Led to Sol de Janeiro
About this episode
Heela Yang shares her unexpected journey from corporate beauty to founding Sol de Janeiro, inspired by a transformative moment on a Brazilian beach.
Heela Yang built Sol de Janeiro, one of the most beloved body care brands, from her dining room, but her path there looked nothing like a typical business plan. After twelve years in corporate beauty following stints at Goldman Sachs and a Harvard MBA, she left New York for Brazil for love, only to find herself pregnant, isolated, and unable to do the work that had always defined her. A single afternoon on a beach, surrounded by women of every shape in a very small bikini she'd been talked into, changed everything. In this episode, Heela shares how that moment became the emotional blueprint for Sol de Janeiro, the cult-favorite brand that launched a craze for mists and body care and built a business around embracing your body and skin as it is, no matter what size or shape.
People in this episode
Guest: Heela Yang
Topics covered
- entrepreneurship
- body care
- personal journey
- cultural identity
- business development
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Sol de Janeiro, Goldman Sachs
Books & works: Harvard MBA
Places: New York, Brazil
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