Megan Larsen

This Local Beauty Business Boss Has Carved A Niche In An Ultra- Competitive Global Industry. She Shares Her Secrets To Success

Beauty industry pioneer Megan Larsen has never been one to shy away from a challenge. Back in 1999, from her kitchen table in Perth, the entrepreneurial Larsen dreamed up and delivered natural, chemical-free skincare formulas based on ancient philosophies and the healing power of plants and herbs. Fast forward almost two decades and her brand, Sodashi, has achieved international acclaim. It boasts 100 products, while its cult treatments are available in the world’s top spas, from the Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris to the Burj Al Arab in Dubai. The line is now considered the purest spa range in the world. Larsen has just released a book, Startups & Self-care, packed with advice for would-be business owners and busy women seeking balance.

INSTYLE: What’s the best thing about starting your own business?

MEGAN LARSEN: I get to do what I love every day with passion and purpose. There is a freedom in owning your own business, and I have been able to set goals based on my integrity, ethics and values.

And the hardest part?

Making tough decisions, because I’m soft and it doesn’t come naturally. Also, as the business changes and evolves, knowing what to let go of and what to stay focused on as a founder.

What do you wish you had known before you started Sodashi?

How hard the first five years were going to be, trying to educate about natural skincare and having to invest so heavily in the audience. And how much money the company was going to need.

Were you ever scared of failure?