Isan Elba on Turning Beauty PR Excess Into Dignity & Building Beauty Forward

In this episode of From Vision to Creation, Alexander sits down with creator and founder Isan Elba for a powerful conversation about purpose-driven entrepreneurship, circular beauty, and what it really takes to build a solution for a problem the industry has ignored for years. Isan shares how she went from being a young content creator receiving endless PR packages—until her home started feeling like a “mini Sephora”—to realizing the overwhelming excess wasn’t just her problem, but a systemic issue across the beauty ecosystem. She walks us through the moment the question shifted from “Where do I donate this?” to “How do we redesign the entire process so this doesn’t become waste?”—and how that led to Beauty Access (the parent innovation lab) and Beauty Forward (the tech-enabled redistribution system built to get unused, unopened products into the hands of women and communities who need them most). We also dive into what it’s like building a nonprofit without a business degree or institutional backing, the realities of navigating leadership at 23, and why Isan believes you’re never truly “ready”—you just have to start. Plus, she breaks down the tech: why no existing inventory system fit the scale of the problem, how they built their own scanning and tracking backbone, and how data can help brands make smarter gifting decisions (and reduce waste at the source). We also talk about Isan’s musical journey—how she “accidentally” became a DJ, why she calls it her paid hobby, and how music gives her the creative reset that entrepreneurship can’t. 🎙️ Hosted by Alexander Schmieding In this interview, you’ll learn: How PR excess became the spark for a larger mission Why donating at scale isn’t simple—and what shelters actually need to make redistribution work How Beauty Forward’s courier + sorting model removes burden from both creators and shelters Why Isan built custom tech to track products, SKUs, and needs-based donation matching How redistribution data can help brands reduce overproduction and gift with intention What it takes to lead at 23—while still trying to live like a 23-year-old How to navigate people who care more about opportunity than impact How Isan thinks about sustainability beyond products—into culture, wellness, and values Why “you’re never going to be ready” is the mindset that changed her life The biggest lesson she’s learned so far: believing in herself (without needing perfection) Episode Resources: https://www.instagram.com/isanelba/https://www.tiktok.com/@isanelbahttps://www.beautyaccess.org/https://www.instagram.com/fromvisiontocreationhttps://www.tiktok.com/@fromvisiontocreationhttps://www.instagram.com/alexschmiedinghttps://x.com/fvtcpodcast Subscribe for more conversations with visionaries turning ideas into reality. This podcast is brought to you by Proper Placement — a full-service marketing agency helping businesses grow through social media, paid advertising, website design, email campaigns, and more. Learn more at www.properplacement.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices