Tell us about your background and talk us through your career journey so far.

I grew up in Barranquilla, Colombia, surrounded by a culture that celebrated beauty and wellness as an essential part of life. My grandmother, in particular, inspired me. She’d host spa days at home, turning skincare into a joyful ritual rather than a chore. That upbringing sparked a lifelong passion for beauty and well-being. However, it wasn’t until my stepdad was diagnosed with cancer that I really began to question the ingredients in our everyday products. I was shocked to discover the number of synthetics, fillers, and questionable chemicals—even in so-called luxury skincare.

At the time, clean beauty wasn’t a category, and few people were talking about natural products, let alone products that were also truly effective. But I believed there was a way to combine high-performance results with pure, natural ingredients. I was determined to create a line of skincare that offered performance without compromise, so I immersed myself in skincare science, working with experts to develop formulas that would be effective without a single synthetic ingredient. We set up operations on our farm in Vermont, where we could control every step of the process and maintain the highest standards.

Today, Tata Harper Skincare is a fully vertically integrated company with a zero-waste facility, and I’m proud of the impact we’ve had in shaping the clean beauty movement. We’ve created something that goes beyond skincare. It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m excited for what’s next.

What advice do you have for fellow female entrepreneurs?

My biggest advice is to stay authentic and believe fiercely in your mission—especially if it’s something that challenges the norm. The journey can be tough, but if you’re clear on your purpose and stay true to your values, it will guide you through the challenging times. Find a way to create something truly unique, something that doesn’t just stand out but also improves people’s lives and, ideally, helps the planet in some way. Think about how your business can have a positive impact beyond just profit.

Build a supportive network around you—mentors, peers, and friends who understand your vision and can offer insight and encouragement. And finally, don’t be afraid to take calculated risks. Innovation takes courage, and when you’re passionate and true to what makes your brand special, that passion will inspire others to believe in it, too.

What are you most proud of? 

I’m incredibly proud that we were pioneering in this space before the term "clean beauty" even existed. At the time, people thought it was impossible to create skincare that was 100% natural yet delivered luxury and visible results without any synthetics. But I was determined to prove them wrong, and we did. We’ve shown that you can have it all—luxury, effectiveness, and pure, natural ingredients without compromise.

Beyond that, I’m proud of our commitment to sustainability in every facet of our business. We’re vertically integrated and operate a zero-waste facility, allowing us to control every step of the process from farm to face. This lets us ensure not only the purity and efficacy of our products but also a minimal environmental footprint. We set out to redefine what people could expect from skincare, proving that high-performance beauty can be entirely natural, sustainable, and truly luxurious.