Hanni Body Care Founder Story
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Headhsot of CEO and Founder of Hanni, Leslie Tessler

A Different Kind of Founder Story: One Woman’s Tale of Moving On, Branching Out, and Taking Big Risks to be More Fulfilled

After experiencing stress-induced burnout in 2010 while working in New York, former L'Oréal marketing executive Leslie Tessler moved to Argentina, a country where she knew no one, didn't speak the language, and had no immediate work prospects. A decade later, Tessler - now fluent in Spanish - returned to the U.S. and launched her body care brand, hanni, which was quickly picked up by Sephora in more than 300 doors. Despite hanni’s rapid growth, Tessler remains focused on maintaining a healthy work-life balance. She speaks with CEW from her home in Atlanta about finding equilibrium in a high-stakes industry, the importance of face time with customers, and knowing when to switch off her phone.

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