801 Tisha Thompson: Founder & CEO of LYS Beauty

On today’s episode, we welcome Tisha Thompson, Founder & CEO of LYS Beauty — the trailblazing clean cosmetics brand proving that high-performance, inclusive, and accessible beauty can coexist. As the first Black-owned clean makeup brand to launch at Sephora, Tisha has quickly built one of the fastest-growing brands in the category, earning major industry awards, viral product moments, and a loyal global following in just five years.
Tisha’s journey to founding LYS Beauty was shaped by more than two decades in the beauty industry as a makeup artist, executive, and product developer. From pioneering expansive shade ranges earlier in her career to boldly launching her own brand in the middle of the pandemic, she set out to challenge long-held industry myths — especially the idea that clean beauty couldn’t deliver both performance and inclusivity at an affordable price. Despite the well-documented funding gap facing Black female founders, Tisha recently secured an 8-figure Series A investment, marking a pivotal moment not only for her company, but for representation across the beauty landscape.
In this episode, Tisha shares what she’s learned during her first five years building LYS, the story behind “drunk texting” Sephora with her idea, and how viral success can translate into long-term business growth. We talk about resilience through personal loss, leading with purpose, scaling without compromising values, and why accessibility remains core to the brand’s mission. A powerful conversation for founders, leaders, and anyone looking to disrupt an industry while staying deeply connected to their why.

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To learn more about Tisha Thompson and LYS Beauty:
https://www.lysbeauty.com/
https://www.instagram.com/lysbeautyofficial/
https://www.tiktok.com/@lysbeautyofficial
https://www.instagram.com/tishathompson/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tishathompson/

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Check out our website to view this episode’s show notes: https://karagoldin.com/podcast/801