Heela Yang

Heela Yang is the co-founder and former CEO of Sol de Janeiro, the skincare and fragrance brand inspired by the vibrant spirit and beauty culture of Brazil. Since launching the company in 2015 with just three products, Yang helped transform Sol de Janeiro into a global body care phenomenon known for its highly coveted fragrances and skincare innovations. The brand's rapid growth led to L’Occitane Group acquiring a majority stake in 2021, further accelerating its international expansion. In 2026, Yang departed the company after more than a decade of leadership, leaving behind a legacy of building one of the beauty industry's most successful and influential brands.

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.