Member Spotlight: tgin
Chris-Tia Donaldson, founder of Thank God it's Natural (tgin), has been creating natural hair care products since 2013. After graduating from Harvard Law School in 2003, she was offered a job at a prestigious law firm, but was at a loss for what to do with her tresses. She wore a wig for almost two years as she struggled with what was considered professional while she started researching products that worked on her hair type. There were so few products on the market for women with natural curls, kinks and waves, she began making her own products in her apartment. After quickly outgrowing that, she moved into ICNC in 2014.
One of their most recent accomplishments was getting into Target. tgin was also named a "small business success story" by the White House, and Chris-Tia's book was used as a gift to the entire student body at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy.
One of their most recent accomplishments was getting into Target. tgin was also named a "small business success story" by the White House, and Chris-Tia's book was used as a gift to the entire student body at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy.
1. What’s unique about your story or business?
Like most black women, for most of my life I made the decision to chemically straighten my hair to alter its natural texture. After graduating from Harvard Law School in 2003, I made the decision to embrace a more natural style and to wear my hair in its kinky/curly state. Unfortunately, when I went natural, there were so few products on the market for women looking to embrace their natural curls, kinks and waves. At the time, I was somewhat in between a rock and a hard place, because I had been offered a job at one of the most prestigious law firms in Chicago, where Barack and Michelle Obama used to work. Since I was at a loss for what to do with my tresses, I wore a wig for almost two years to fit America’s standard of what was considered professional while I started researching products that worked on my hair type. At the time, I felt like I had to look like the 21st century version of Claire Huxtable (complete with flowing hair) in order to be accepted by my white colleagues, gain better assignments, appease my clients, etc. In the end, I failed miserably when it came to pleasing others, and came very very very close to being fired. My preoccupation with my having “good hair” and my rejection of my inherent qualities as a black woman were largely part of my performance related issues. This experience ultimately prompted me to write my first book, titled Thank God I'm Natural, and start my own line of products, Thank God It's Natural (tgin) that caters to women with textured hair and inspires them to celebrate their natural beauty – the kind that God gave them.
2. What is the biggest challenge you have faced in business and how did you overcome it?
Right now, its scaling operations. It’s like we’re growing pretty quickly and some days it can be hard to keep up, especially when there are only 3 of us working on this full time. It’s an exciting time, but we’re figuring it out. On one hand, we want to just stay focused as much as possible on the few things we produce, but on the other hand we need to constantly come out with new products to keep our customers engaged and interested. It’s a delicate balance, and it all requires flawless execution.
3. Please list a few of your most recent accomplishments.
I think getting into Target has to be the biggest one today. We’ve also been featured in a number of national newspapers and magazines such as USA Today, Marie Claire, Essence, Ebony, Black Enterprise and more. We were also named a “small business success story” by the White House, and my book was requested/presented as a gift to the entire student body at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy.
Founder and CEO of tgin, Chris-Tia Donaldson
Like most black women, for most of my life I made the decision to chemically straighten my hair to alter its natural texture. After graduating from Harvard Law School in 2003, I made the decision to embrace a more natural style and to wear my hair in its kinky/curly state. Unfortunately, when I went natural, there were so few products on the market for women looking to embrace their natural curls, kinks and waves. At the time, I was somewhat in between a rock and a hard place, because I had been offered a job at one of the most prestigious law firms in Chicago, where Barack and Michelle Obama used to work. Since I was at a loss for what to do with my tresses, I wore a wig for almost two years to fit America’s standard of what was considered professional while I started researching products that worked on my hair type. At the time, I felt like I had to look like the 21st century version of Claire Huxtable (complete with flowing hair) in order to be accepted by my white colleagues, gain better assignments, appease my clients, etc. In the end, I failed miserably when it came to pleasing others, and came very very very close to being fired. My preoccupation with my having “good hair” and my rejection of my inherent qualities as a black woman were largely part of my performance related issues. This experience ultimately prompted me to write my first book, titled Thank God I'm Natural, and start my own line of products, Thank God It's Natural (tgin) that caters to women with textured hair and inspires them to celebrate their natural beauty – the kind that God gave them.
2. What is the biggest challenge you have faced in business and how did you overcome it?
Right now, its scaling operations. It’s like we’re growing pretty quickly and some days it can be hard to keep up, especially when there are only 3 of us working on this full time. It’s an exciting time, but we’re figuring it out. On one hand, we want to just stay focused as much as possible on the few things we produce, but on the other hand we need to constantly come out with new products to keep our customers engaged and interested. It’s a delicate balance, and it all requires flawless execution.
3. Please list a few of your most recent accomplishments.
I think getting into Target has to be the biggest one today. We’ve also been featured in a number of national newspapers and magazines such as USA Today, Marie Claire, Essence, Ebony, Black Enterprise and more. We were also named a “small business success story” by the White House, and my book was requested/presented as a gift to the entire student body at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy.
Founder and CEO of tgin, Chris-Tia Donaldson
