Vicky Tsai
Vicky Tsai is the co-founder and former CEO of Tatcha, a luxury Japanese skincare brand acquired by Unilever in 2019. A Harvard Business School graduate, she launched Tatcha in 2009 after leaving Wall Street and building the company from her parents' garage.
Vicky Tsai's Bio
Vicky Tsai is an American businesswoman and co-founder of Tatcha, a luxury skincare brand rooted in Japanese beauty rituals. Before launching Tatcha, Tsai built a career in finance on Wall Street, working at Merrill Lynch during the September 11 attacks, an experience that profoundly shaped her desire to pursue more meaningful work. She later earned her MBA from Harvard Business School, where she worked on SK-II for Procter & Gamble and developed an acute dermatitis that sparked her interest in gentle, effective skincare.
In 2008, a trip to Kyoto introduced Tsai to the centuries-old beauty practices of Japanese geisha. Convinced these timeless ingredients could succeed in the American market, she founded Tatcha in 2009. The early years were grueling: she worked out of her parents' garage in Millbrae, California, took no salary, and ran out of money repeatedly. She personally financed losses, maxed out credit cards, and borrowed from friends and family to keep the company alive. Tatcha's breakthrough came through QVC appearances and a holy-grail press cycle that included Vogue, Oprah, and the Today Show.
By 2018, Tatcha reached $70 million in sales, and in 2019 Unilever acquired the company for a reported $500 million. Tsai stepped down as CEO in 2021, returning two years later to lead the brand again after Unilever requested her comeback. Today she focuses on product innovation and client care while advocating for female founders and transparent beauty standards.
Career Timeline
2000 — UT Austin
Earned bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin before transferring to Wellesley College.
2001 — Merrill Lynch
Began finance career at Merrill Lynch in New York. Was on the trading floor during the September 11 attacks.
2004 — Harvard Business School
Earned MBA from Harvard Business School. Interned at Procter & Gamble working on SK-II skincare strategy.
2009 — Founded Tatcha
Founded Tatcha after a transformative trip to Kyoto, Japan, where she discovered traditional geisha beauty rituals.
2012 — Launched Skincare Line
Launched Tatcha's first skincare collection and began selling on QVC after being turned down multiple times.
2018 — $70M Revenue
Tatcha reached $70 million in annual sales, securing private equity investment.
2019 — Unilever Acquisition
Tatcha was acquired by Unilever for a reported $500 million. Tsai remained with the company.
2021 — Stepped Down as CEO
Stepped down as Tatcha's CEO after nine years, transitioning to a creative and strategic advisory role.
2023 — Returned as CEO
Returned as CEO of Tatcha at Unilever's request to lead the brand's next phase of growth.
Episodes
Tatcha: Vicky Tsai (July 2020)
Guy Raz sits down with Vicky Tsai to unpack how a failed startup job, a life-changing trip to Kyoto, and seven years of grinding out of her parents' garage led to a luxury Japanese skincare brand acquired by Unilever for $500 million. The Tatcha founder left Wall Street after 9/11, launched from her parents' home with no salary, and watched her company grow from a single serum sold to a $70 million empire.
Advice Line with Vicky Tsai of Tatcha (September 2024)
Guy Raz welcomes Tatcha co-founder Vicky Tsai back to the Advice Line, where she helps three early-stage founders navigate real business challenges. Jessica Liu needs visibility for high-end handmade jewelry, Brittany Lo is figuring out sales channels for her growing vegan intimate-skincare brand, and Devon Climer wants to build buzz for her gluten-free mug cake mixes. Vicky shares hard-won lessons on building communities, resisting retail pressure, and quieting self-doubt so founders can finish what they started.
