Shows
Black Entrepreneur ExperienceBEE 514 Forbes 30 and Under,Yelitsa Jean-Charles Healthy Root Dolls Founder ~Rewind Yelitsa Jean-Charles, Founder of Healthy Roots Dolls. She is a brand builder, marketing and social media obsessed. Artist,Designer, Founder @healthyrootsdolls. Info: https://yelitsajeancharles.com Let's Connect and Engage: Leave a Google Review Today on what you enjoyed about Black Entrepreneur Experience Podcast. Connect on YouTube and Sign up for our newsletter and get updates (scroll to the bottom of the website page to join) 2025-05-1432 min
Your Hair Made SimpleCan Play Teach You Natural Hair Confidence?In this episode, Shannon sits down with Yelitsa Jean-Charles, founder of Healthy Roots Dolls, to explore the beauty and challenges of embracing natural hair. Yelitsa opens up about her personal hair journey, sharing how her experiences shaped her passion for empowering young girls to love and care for their natural hair.
Together, they dive into the founding of Healthy Roots Dolls—a toy company that creates dolls and storybooks celebrating diversity and allowing real hair care routines like detangling, retwisting, washing, and styling. Yelitsa also shares why representation in toys matters for building confidence and offers tips fo...2024-12-1731 min
Shelf Talks3 Rapid Retail Questions with Yelitsa Jean-Charles, Founder of Healthy Roots DollsSend us a textHope you enjoyed the full episode with Yelitsa Jean-Charles, Founder & CEO of Healthy Roots Dolls and took away some learnings about the readiness it takes to launch in retail stores.On this mini drop, here are 3 powerful questions I asked Yelitsa specifically about launching into retail stores - Enjoy! (and learn).3 Questions asked:1. What resources or networks were most helpful to you in navigating the retail landscape?2. What strategies have you used to ensure that your dolls stand out in stores and resonates with...2024-12-1100 min
Shelf TalksYelitsa Jean-Charles, Founder of Healthy Roots Dolls on Storytelling, Product Design, & Retail SuccessSend us a textIn this conversation, Yelitsa Jean-Charles shares her inspiring journey of creating Healthy Roots Dolls, a multicultural toy company aimed at teaching children to love their natural hair. She discusses the challenges she faced in product development, the importance of community support, and her strategies for funding and pitching her business. Yelitsa emphasizes the significance of feedback from customers and the iterative process of refining her product. The conversation highlights the power of representation in children's toys and the entrepreneurial spirit behind building a successful brand. In this conversation, Yelitsa shares her j...2024-12-0945 min
Underrepresented in TechHow Hard is it for Minority Businesses to Get FundingIt's harder than ever for minority businesses to get funding from venture capitalists and investors. Allie and Michelle discuss why and how this happens, as well as some "magic wand" solutions for how it could be resolved.
Episode Links
Venture Capital for Black Entrepreneurs Plummted 45% in 2022
For Black Entrepreneurs, the Racial Wealth Gap Makes Finding Funding Nearly Impossible
Main Street's Minority Owners Need Loans to Grow, But Access to Capital Remains Inequitable
Why Black Entrerpenuers Struggle to Secure and Receive Funding and Investment Grants
Yelitsa Jean-Charles and Healthy Roots Dolls
Time Stamps
[01:20] Contest winners a...2023-03-1724 min
Black Tech Green MoneyToy Making, Representation, and Securing Shelf Space w/ Yelitsa Jean-CharlesYelitsa Jean-Charles is the founder and CEO of Healthy Roots Dolls, which makes toys that represent more diverse backgrounds. A Detroit native, her dolls teach natural hair care to young girls of color through the toys.On this episode, Yelitsa chats with AfroTech's Will Lucas about toys and social impact, acquiring or being acquired, and how startups can secure shelf space in major retail outlets.Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucasLearn more about other Black tech disruptors and innovators at AfroTech.com Learn more about your ad-choices at...2021-12-1432 min
The Modern Retail Podcast‘Our storytelling is our marketing’: Healthy Roots Dolls founder Yelitsa Jean-Charles on growing a modern toy companyYelitsa Jean-Charles says she was able to grow her business by being authentic.Jean-Charles is the founder and CEO of Healthy Roots Dolls, which makes toys that represent more diverse backgrounds. “I never really had dolls that look like me growing up,” she said. So, she designed Healthy Roots’ first product, Zoe, which Jean-Charles described as “a little brown girl with kinky curly hair.”Zoe was first devised in 2014 as part of a school project. In 2018, Jean-Charles launched a Kickstarter that raised $50,000. Earlier this year, the company raised a $1 million seed round. And, this past October, H...2021-12-0233 min
Pulling on the ThreadYelitsa Jean-CharlesYelista received the Emerging Leader Award earlier this year, which recognizes alumni who graduated within the past 10 years, who have made significant achievements and contributions to their profession and/or community, think boldly, mindfully and creatively, and have helped to create new fields of study or contributed to fundamental change in their area of practice. https://healthyrootsdolls.com/Healthy Roots Dolls on InstagramRoom of Silence
Pulling on the ThreadRISD Alumni on Instagram2021-10-1823 min
Lucas Walker's Rolled UpSell Something and Make Money with Yelitsa Jean CharlesYelitsa Jean CharlesHas been named a Forbes 30-Under-30, won the Quicken Loans Demo Day pitch, and is one of the few people who can get me to turn into clubhouse. Her company, Healthy Roots Dolls is a start-up toy company that creates dolls that reinforce positive self- perceptions among young girls.In this episode, Yelitsa shares:The power of YouTube and knowledge sharing that's empowering a new generation of women.Learning how to delegate and say no, without alienating .Advice and experience raising capital.The influence of calling the city of Detroit home v...2021-02-2427 min
Longitudes RadioHow Business Can Redefine the American DreamWe’re closing out our three-part podcast series exploring the Black business landscape by going back to the beginning — the founding of the United States — and examining a not-so-simple challenge: How do we rewire the American Dream for Black people?To answer that question, we welcome Nat Irvin, Assistant Dean of Thought Leadership and Civic Engagement at the University of Louisville, to Longitudes Radio. Irvin argues that business is uniquely suited to dismantle systematic racism and fuel a more equitable society.“The American Dream is being reborn. And I don't look at it as a negative...2020-09-0134 min
Longitudes RadioWhat Can a Doll Teach Us About Black Business?When Yelitsa Jean-Charles was a young girl, she didn’t see any dolls that looked like her. In fact, when her parents tried to give her a non-white doll, she cried because it wasn’t “the pretty one.”She didn’t know it yet, but in that moment, a business was born.Today Yelitsa is the founder of Healthy Roots Dolls, a toy company that creates dolls and storybooks to empower young girls and showcase the beauty of our diversity. In this episode of Longitudes Radio, part two in a three-part series on the Black business l...2020-08-1932 min
Talk Money: Untold Stories of Business & EntrepreneurshipBlack in BusinessIn this special episode, we delve into systemic racism in the United States from an economic lens and bring you three stories from Black entrepreneurs during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests in the midst of COVID-19. Featuring Kris Shelby of Atlanta's Attom Shop, Chris and Shanelle Montana of Minneapolis's Du Nord Craft Spirits, and Yelitsa Jean-Charles of Detroit's Healthy Roots Dolls.
After George Floyd's killing, we felt the need to take action and have our voices heard. We spent months working on an episode exploring and explaining systemic racism from an economic lens. Our goal is to...2020-08-1251 min
Beyond the GlamEp. 4 Embracing curly hair, loving yourself, Healthy Roots Dolls founder Yelitsa Jean-CharlesIn this episode, I am talking to CEO and Founder Yelitsa Jean-Charles of Healthy Roots Dolls.
Healthy Roots Dolls is a toy company that creates dolls and storybooks that empower young Black kids how to care for their curls and make them feel beautiful.
Yelitza shared that toys impact how we think, act, and perceive ourselves. So when girls can’t find dolls that look like them, it negatively impacts their self-esteem.
She also shares her personal journey of embracing her gorgeous curly hair. Yelitza is a powerhouse in the toy industry an...2020-08-1123 min
Start YoursGetting Funding, Changing Lives and Blowing Up On TwitterCreating memorable products and an impactful brand will not only keep your business top of mind for your customers but as you will hear in this episode of Start Yours it can change lives.
Today’s guest, Yelitsa Jean-Charles, created Healthy Roots Dolls, a start-up toy company that was founded with a goal to make a new, positive beauty standard for young girls – especially for those with curly hair.
A recent tweet that featured Yelitsa and an image of her Zoe doll went viral with over 900K likes! The success of the dolls means that they are currently sold out but...2020-06-1631 min
Reclaiming The Crown19: How Yelitsa Jean-Charles, of Healthy Roots Dolls, is Changing the Representation in Kids’ Toys and Inspiring Confidence in Young Black Girls!About: Yelitsa Jean-Charles, founder of Healthy Roots Dolls, joins us as we discuss how she used her experiences as a young girl to breathe life into the idea of creating a diverse line of kids’ dolls. Yelitsa shares gems about her journey with kickstarting her company, her process for finding time to conquer all her goals, and her joy in seeing young girls excited about her dolls! Our Guest: Yelitsa never had a doll that looked like her growing up. The one time her parents gave her a black doll, she burs...2020-02-0631 min
Brave, Not Perfect with Reshma SaujaniYelitsa Jean-CharlesYelitsa Jean-Charles is the Founder & Creative Director of Healthy Roots - a doll company focused on promoting positive self-perceptions in girls through dolls with varying shades of complexion and natural hair textures. She still suffers with imposter syndrome even after being honored by Essence Magazine as one of the 50 founders to watch in 2017, but she’s ready to take the world by storm. Listen in to hear Reshma and Yelitsa talk about colorism and the way that toys affect the way our kids see themselves. Follow Yelitsa’s journey on Twitter at @TheYelitsa.
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Send in a voice message: https://anch...2018-12-0517 min
The Black Guy Who Tips Podcast1796: MT 34 - Healthy RootsRod talks with founder and CEO of Healthy Roots Yelitsa Jean-Charles about her experience in school, being a CEO, raising money, being black, street harassment and a ton more stuff. I had such a good time talking to Yelitsa. She’s an amazing person that I’m happy to introduce our audience to if they don’t already know her. Remember this interview because he star is still rising. She’s going places.
Sponsors:
Site: https://healthyrootsdolls.com/
Code: TBGWT
Twitter: @ShadowDogProd
Book Crushers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_LzczYsXng2018-11-251h 19
The Black Guy Who Tips Podcast1796: MT 34 - Healthy RootsRod talks with founder and CEO of Healthy Roots Yelitsa Jean-Charles about her experience in school, being a CEO, raising money, being black, street harassment and a ton more stuff. I had such a good time talking to Yelitsa. She’s an amazing person that I’m happy to introduce our audience to if they don’t already know her. Remember this interview because he star is still rising. She’s going places.
Sponsors:
Site: https://healthyrootsdolls.com/
Code: TBGWT
Twitter: @ShadowDogProd
Book Crushers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_LzczYsXng2018-11-251h 19
Studio 78: Ignite Your Passion, Amplify Productivity, Achieve Success67. Growing a Purpose-Driven Business Through Networking, Pitch Competitions, and FellowshipsYelitsa Jean-Charles is the creator of the Healthy Roots Doll, Zoe. Healthy Roots is a toy company Yelitza founded that creates dolls and storybooks that reinforce positive self-perceptions of the richly diverse, varying shades of complexion, and natural hair textures among girls of color. Societal beauty standards negatively impact the self perception of girls of color. She aims to empower, educate and inspire self-love. In this episode, Yelitsa tells us how a class project led her to the development of the doll Zoe and the creation of a purpose-driven company. We also discuss how she used crowdfunding...2018-10-0142 min
Black Entrepreneur ExperienceBEE 078 TedxTalk Speaker + Toy Company Founder, Yelitsa Jean-Charles,Healthy Roots is the first line of natural hair dolls to enter the toy industry. Their mission is to bring diversity to the toy aisle with products that reflect the diversity of our reality. Founder Yelitsa Jean-Charles and TedxTalk Speaker represents the voices of young girls of color in the toy industry with products that empower, educate and inspire self love. Healthy Roots is a toy company that creates dolls and storybooks that reinforce positive self-perceptions of the richly diverse, varying shades of complexion and natural hair textures among girls of color. Societal beauty standards negatively impact the self perception o...2018-09-2632 min
SideHustleProEp 106: The Founder of Healthy Roots Dolls on Empowering Black Girls To Embrace Their Natural HairYelitsa Jean Charles has gone from not knowing how to do her own hair at the age 21 to teaching young girls all about their own. While in her Junior year studying Illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design, Yelitsa redesigned the fairy tale Character Rapunzel as a brown girl with beautiful kinky hair. After speaking with classmates and friends. she saw the opportunity to address the demonstrated need for more diverse toys and representation in children’s publishing.With a grant from of the Brown University Social Innovation Fellowship, support from the RISD E’Ship Program, Masschallenge Accelerator program and...2018-08-2941 min
Side Hustle ProEp 106: The Founder of Healthy Roots Dolls on Empowering Black Girls To Embrace Their Natural HairYelitsa Jean Charles has gone from not knowing how to do her own hair at the age 21 to teaching young girls all about their own. While in her Junior year studying Illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design, Yelitsa redesigned the fairy tale Character Rapunzel as a brown girl with beautiful kinky hair. After speaking with classmates and friends. she saw the opportunity to address the demonstrated need for more diverse toys and representation in children’s publishing.With a grant from of the Brown University Social Innovation Fellowship, support from the RISD E’Ship Program, Masschallenge Accelerator progr...2018-08-2941 min
The Bootstrapped VC - A Backstage Capital PodcastHealthy Roots Dolls (feat. Yelitsa Jean-Charles)Here's an inspiring interview with the talented and driven Yelitsa Jean-Charles, Founder + CEO of Healthy Roots Dolls, a toy company that teaches natural hair care to young girls of color with beautiful black dolls. While at the Rhode Island School of Design studying Illustration, Yelitsa redesigned the fairy tale character Rapunzel as a brown girl with beautiful kinky hair. The exploration quickly gained traction and with a grant from of the Brown University Social Innovation Fellowship, support from the RISD E'Ship Program, the Masschallenge Accelerator program, and 674 dedicated Kickstarter backers, Yelitsa brought Healthy Roots to life. Join us as we...2018-07-2800 min
The PreBoot Cincy PodcastYelitsa Jean-Charles, Founder of Healthy RootsGarage Stories is a new segment, sponsored by Braxton Brewing Co. where we talk to entrepreneurs who are in the early phases of trying to build their business.
This episode features Yelitsa jean-Charles founder of Healthy Roots Dolls. The idea for Healthy Roots Dolls started one Christmas when Yelitsa’s new doll made her cry, those tears however, we not tears of joy. The reason is an all too common of a problem, a problem that Yelitsa is now a mission to help solve. Her dolls help teach girls of color that they are beautiful and so is their hair. Th...2017-08-0203 min
The PreBoot Cincy PodcastEP 15: Julia Fischer: Founder, Play Advocate, & Sweeping Enthusiast | Play LibraryListen
AUGUST 2, 2017 BY ERIC SILLIES
EP 15: Julia Fischer: Founder, Play Advocate, & Sweeping Enthusiast | Play Library
Eric Sillies
EP 15: Julia Fischer: Founder, Play Advocate, and Sweeping Enthusiast | Play Library EP 15: Julia Fischer: Founder, Play Advocate, and Sweeping Enthusiast | Play Library
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As a kid Julia had a few passions and loves. She longed of being an inventor (despite not know what she want to invent), but she also loved sweeping and cleaning. However, growing up in a wealthy suburb of New York, Julia felt conflicted between her passions and the pressures and definitions of success that surrounded...2017-08-0239 min