Side Hustle Pro

467: From Accountant to Clean Beauty CEO: How Tisha Thompson Launched LYS Beauty Into Sephora

June 18, 2025

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • Strategic career pivots, even involving a demotion, can be a powerful pathway to achieving long-term career goals by gaining industry experience and making valuable connections. 
  • Founding a successful brand requires a deep understanding of product development, market needs, and a compelling mission that resonates with consumers, as demonstrated by LYS Beauty's focus on inclusive clean beauty. 
  • Entrepreneurial success is often built on a decade or more of behind-the-scenes work, personal development, and building strong relationships, rather than being an overnight phenomenon. 
  • Listeners can engage further with the podcast by following the host on Instagram at SideHustle Pro and signing up for the "six-foot Saturday" newsletter at sidehustlepro.co/newsletter for weekly insights. 
  • Xero offers accounting software with automation and reporting features to help small businesses improve financial visibility and spend less time on manual tasks. 
  • LHH provides a human-centered approach to recruitment, focusing on matching talent with vision and delivering lasting impact, rather than just process. 

Segments

Career Pivot Strategy
Copied to clipboard!
(00:03:24)
  • Key Takeaway: Leveraging existing financial skills in an accounting role at a beauty company provided a strategic entry point into the beauty industry, even if it initially meant a demotion.
  • Summary: Tisha discusses her initial career in business and finance, working as a staff accountant while pursuing makeup artistry as a side hustle, and how she strategically used her accounting role to get her foot in the door at a beauty brand, eventually transitioning into marketing.
Founding LYS Beauty
Copied to clipboard!
(01:00:01)
  • Key Takeaway: The loss of her father served as a catalyst for Tisha to overcome financial and representation fears and launch LYS Beauty, driven by a desire to create a legacy and address unmet needs in the clean beauty market.
  • Summary: Tisha explains the inspiration and challenges behind starting LYS Beauty, including the financial hurdles, the lack of representation for Black women in clean beauty, and how a personal tragedy motivated her to take the leap into entrepreneurship.
Brand Identity and Differentiation
Copied to clipboard!
(01:31:14)
  • Key Takeaway: Unique triangular packaging and product names like ‘Worthy’ and ‘Fearless’ are intentional brand elements designed to stand out on shelves and reinforce LYS Beauty’s mission of self-love and confidence.
  • Summary: The discussion focuses on how LYS Beauty differentiates itself in a crowded market through its distinctive triangular packaging, the symbolism behind it (change and transformation), and product names that serve as daily affirmations for consumers.
Navigating Market Shifts
Copied to clipboard!
(01:34:24)
  • Key Takeaway: LYS Beauty’s accessible price point, being 40% cheaper than average prestige beauty brands, positions it favorably during economic downturns by offering high quality at a lower cost.
  • Summary: Tisha addresses the impact of current economic shifts and the attack on DEI initiatives on her business, highlighting Sephora’s continued support and LYS Beauty’s strategic pricing as a key advantage for consumers seeking value.
Podcast Engagement and Newsletter
Copied to clipboard!
(00:58:18)
  • Key Takeaway: Listeners can stay connected and receive exclusive content by following the podcast host on Instagram and subscribing to the ‘six-foot Saturday’ newsletter.
  • Summary: The host encourages listeners to engage with the show by following them on Instagram and signing up for a newsletter that provides weekly personal lessons and business tips.
Xero Small Business Software
Copied to clipboard!
(00:58:47)
  • Key Takeaway: Xero’s accounting software leverages automation and reporting to enhance financial visibility for small businesses, allowing them to focus more on strategic growth.
  • Summary: This segment introduces Xero, an accounting software designed to help small businesses manage their finances efficiently through automation and reporting features, with a statistic highlighting its impact on financial visibility.
LHH Human-Centered Recruitment
Copied to clipboard!
(00:59:17)
  • Key Takeaway: LHH redefines recruitment by prioritizing purpose and human connection to uncover unique talent that aligns with a company’s vision and drives lasting impact.
  • Summary: LHH presents its approach to recruitment, emphasizing a ‘beautiful’ and human-centered method that goes beyond matching resumes to roles, focusing instead on understanding needs and connecting with individuals who can deliver significant value.