Heela Yang

Heela Yang is the co-founder and CEO of Sol de Janeiro, a skincare and fragrance brand inspired by Brazilian beach culture. Since launching the company in 2015 with just three products, Yang has led the brand to become a global body care phenomenon. In 2021, L’Occitane acquired a majority stake in the brand.

Yang's life has been defined by unexpected twists, one of the most significant being her departure from a successful corporate career in New York to join her partner in Brazil, where shortly after, she became pregnant. This pivotal moment sparked a profound journey of self-discovery, where she grappled with changes in her body and confidence. Her transformative experience in Brazil, surrounded by self-assured and empowered women, became the catalyst for a powerful mission.

Prior to Sol de Janeiro, Yang's career followed a diverse and dynamic trajectory, encompassing various sectors including politics, academia, investment banking, and ultimately culminating in the beauty industry. She spent 12 years in the beauty industry with an extensive track record of success at leading global brands such as Lancôme and Clinique. As Director of Marketing and Head of Global Skincare Strategy at Clinique, Yang managed over $300 million of skincare product lines while leading the global strategy for Clinique’s skincare category sold in 135 countries. Earlier, she was an analyst in the corporate finance department at Goldman Sachs.

Yang, a Korean immigrant, graduated magna cum laude with concentrations in economics and East Asian studies from Harvard University. She obtained a master's degree in East Asian studies from Yale University and also holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.