Heela Yang: The Unexpected Detour That Led to Sol de Janeiro

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. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to She Pivots 01:36 From Korea to America: A Cultural Shift 06:37 The Importance of Skincare in Korean Culture 09:16 Early Entrepreneurial Ideas 12:13 Moving to Brazil: A New Beginning 13:33 Pregnancy and Isolation in a Foreign Country 17:41 The Pivotal Beach Moment 23:19 Building a Brand Around Embracing Yourself 27:50 The Power of Being Welcomed, Not Just Accepted 29:10.440 Low Point to Launch 33:24 Reflecting on Heela's Journey 34:18 Podcast Credits You can check out Sol de Janeiro basically anywhere you get skincare or body care products– and keep up with what they’re up to on Instagram @soldejaneiro Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a pivot story, leave us a rating (it really helps!), and share this episode with a woman in your life who you think needs a little inspiration. She Pivots is a podcast created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight influential women voices, share stories of bold career moves, and inspire women with interviews about career reinvention and how personal pivots can redefine professional success. Join our Substack community! Subscribe here for exclusive content and to connect with other pivoters: shepivots.substack.com Learn more about the inspiring women in our pivoter community by following us on instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast, and check out our website shepivotspod.com for resources and updates. She Pivots is proud to be an iheart podcast.

Support the show: https://www.shepivotsthepodcast.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.