Ep 298 | Tata Harper

Written By Yasmin Nouri

You Don’t Need to Know Everything: Tata Harper on Taking the Leap

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Tata Harper is the founder of Tata Harper Skincare, a luxury clean beauty brand known for its non-toxic, high-performance products, handcrafted on an organic farm in Vermont.

When her stepfather was diagnosed with cancer in 2007, Tata began questioning the safety of everyday products and what she was putting on her own body. This inspired her to develop a skincare line that prioritized natural ingredients, sustainability, and effective results without harmful chemicals. What began as a personal mission in her Vermont kitchen has grown into a globally recognized brand, with products formulated on her organic farm using over 300 raw ingredients sourced from around the world. Today, Tata Harper Skincare is available at top retailers like Sephora, Nordstrom, and Saks, as well as in luxury spas across the globe.

In this week’s episode, Tata shares how growing up in Colombia sparked her love for self-care and beauty rituals. Although she had big entrepreneurial dreams and creative passions, her mom wasn’t keen on her pursuing a career in fashion or beauty and instead encouraged her to study industrial engineering—which, to Tata’s surprise, she ended up loving. This field sharpened her problem-solving skills, which proved invaluable later in life. She takes us through her winding career journey, from working in real estate to experimenting on her organic farm, where she created the skincare products she had always imagined.

Tata discusses the years of trial and error that went into building her brand and how planning, routines, and community support helped her stay balanced. She also shares how she found the confidence to start creating products despite having no background in skincare and offers advice for entrepreneurs building something “outside of their experience.”

We dive into the emotional but strategic decision to sell her company in 2022 and her experience navigating that process. As a mom of three, Tata opens up about the challenges of juggling business and family, highlighting the importance of self-care, friendships, and embracing uncertainty along the way—and much more.

Show Notes:

  • Tata’s Colombian upbringing and entrepreneurial drive. [03:49]

  • Early entrepreneurial ventures and key business lessons. [07:36]

  • Studying industrial engineering in college. [12:09]

  • Leaving Colombia and exploring various jobs. [15:21]

  • Learning by doing without formal training. [19:45]

  • The inspiration behind starting Tata Harper Skincare. [22:00]

  • Formulating and manufacturing products in-house. [27:06]

  • Building a manufacturing facility on their farm. [31:27]

  • Why making a revolutionary product takes time. [34:28]

  • Raising awareness and educating about natural products. [35:58]

  • Tata Harper Skincare’s sustainability efforts. [38:23]

  • Launching the product through beauty parties. [39:25]

  • Getting featured in an 8-page spread in Vogue. [41:40]

  • Managing business momentum and motherhood. [42:32]

  • The importance of planning and scheduling. [44:37]

  • The process of hiring the right people. [50:50]

  • The advantages of having a business partner. [53:04]

  • Challenges of being an entrepreneur. [55:07]

  • Balancing entrepreneurship with a rich personal life. [56:01]

  • Action as an antidote to fear—why staying busy helps. [59:20]

  • The emotional yet strategic sale of Tata Harper Skincare. [01:01:31]

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Ep 297 | Dr. Anjali Dsouza