Tatcha: Vicky Tsai (July 2020)

In this episode of How I Built This, Guy Raz interviews Vicky Tsai, the founder of Tatcha, a skincare brand inspired by Japanese beauty rituals. Tsai recounts her journey from working in finance to launching Tatcha after struggling with acute dermatitis and discovering traditional Japanese skincare during a trip to Kyoto. She details the initial struggles, including financial difficulties, working out of her parents' garage, and facing rejection from retailers who doubted the appeal of Asian beauty products in the US. Tsai also shares pivotal moments such as selling her engagement ring to buy blotting papers, the impact of a potential acquisition falling through, and partnering with Room to Read. Despite facing numerous challenges and personal sacrifices, Tsai persevered, eventually leading Tatcha to success and its acquisition by Unilever.