Drunk Elephant
Tiffany Masterson was a stay-at-home mom in her 40s when she decided to launch Drunk Elephant in 2013. She had little to no experience in skin care, retail, or business—a fact that would later seem almost irrelevant given her success. Her lack of industry experience may have actually been an advantage, allowing her to trust her instincts rather than follow conventional wisdom.
The professional branding and skin care world thought she was making huge mistakes. They panned her brand's name, questioned her product design choices, and criticized her strategy of focusing on only one high-end retailer rather than pursuing broad distribution. But Tiffany proved them all wrong. She demonstrated incredible determination and an unwavering belief in her products—and in herself.
Just six years after launch, in 2019, she sold Drunk Elephant to Japanese beauty giant Shiseido for $845 million. This rapid ascent from unknown founder to $845 million exit stands as a testament to her strategic instincts and execution despite zero industry background.
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