Today we’d like to introduce you to Leah Garcia.
Leah, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up on a ranch, where hard work and responsibility weren’t just expectations—they were a way of life. I trained horses, herded cattle and cleaned barns. Not the most glamorous upbringing, but it sure instilled in me a mental toughness and work ethic that carried me through every chapter of my life.
I remember as a little girl, I’d set up a makeshift store at local sporting events, selling snacks to anyone who’d buy. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I had a knack for spotting an opportunity and making things happen. That instinct—combined with my relentless drive—would come to define my journey.
That drive led me straight into the rodeo circuit as a teen. I was pretty good—winning multiple all-around championships in junior, high school and collegiate competitions. Twice, I qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo. But somewhere along the way, my path took an unexpected turn. I fell in love with mountain biking. I hadn’t planned on becoming a professional racer—it just happened. Like anything I set my mind to, I pushed myself. I trained hard. And before I knew it, I was competing on some of the toughest courses in the world, racing across the U.S. and Europe, and winning my share of titles. I qualified for three World Championships, became a North American Champion, a Basque National Champion in Spain, and—perhaps the wildest of all—I became the only American woman to ever race the mountain bike Tour de France, Le Tour VTT.
I loved being outside, the freedom of the trails, the adrenaline of the races. Even the wipeouts, while painful, were part of what shaped me. There’s something about getting knocked down (literally) and forcing yourself to get back up that builds character. That grit would serve me well in ways I couldn’t have imagined at the time.
When I finally hung up my bike, another door swung open—this time at ESPN. I became a sideline reporter and commentator for the U.S. National Mountain Bike Series, translating my love of the sport into storytelling. That opened the floodgates to two decades in television, media and infomercials. I spent years as a sideline reporter for the Professional Bull Riders’ Built Ford Tough Series with CBS and CBS Sports Network. In 1998, I founded Naturally Caffeinated®, managing on-air talent and production services, while also producing Leah Garcia Fitness®—one of the first ever hotel room workout programs. I made it possible for people to exercise in their underwear! I also authored two instructional fitness books.
Fitness was my passion, but so was innovation. Eventually, Boulder, Colorado became my home base and where I stumbled into what would become my biggest leap yet. I was introduced to the science of elastin—the protein responsible for keeping skin firm and hair anchored at the root. As an athlete, I had spent years exposed to the elements. Relentless sun exposure and stress took its toll on my body and it became impossible to ignore. I developed facial paralysis, my hair was thinning and my skin showed signs of premature aging.
At the same time I was struggling with the visible effects of stress and aging, I learned about elastin and its power to replenish and restore. This wasn’t just another beauty ingredient—it was a breakthrough and I knew I had to share it with the world.
So, I did what I always do and I went all in. The same relentless drive that fueled me on the ranch and on the racecourse pushed me forward. I partnered with leading biotech researchers to pioneer the first-of-its-kind, elastin replenishing hair loss solutions. I risked everything to create something groundbreaking and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
That’s how NULASTIN was born. Nine years ago, I launched the brand as a solopreneur—literally doing it all myself. Today, I have an incredible team beside me, helping to shape the next chapters of my story.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I talk about my team all the time because they are the heart and soul of NULASTIN. But ironically, building a team wasn’t even on my radar in the beginning.
When I founded NULASTIN, I had a clear vision: bring elastin replenishment to the world and change the game for hair and skin health. What I did not have? A plan for hiring. Human resources was one of the biggest obstacles I never saw coming.
It just never occurred to me. I didn’t come from the corporate world and in my mind, I was a solopreneur. That meant, I would just do it all myself. My business plan had no mention of employees. I figured I could scale by outsourcing everything, relying on vendors and contractors. I had no SOPs (standard operating procedures) and no structured hiring process. What I had was breakthrough HAIR, LASH and BROW enhancing products.
Then reality hit. Scaling a business takes way more than a great product—it takes a great team. I wasn’t just running a business; I was trying to build one and had no roadmap for the human resources side of things. I had no idea where to start. Hiring, vetting and interviewing was not my specialty.
I remember one of my angel investors pulled me aside and said, “You need to hire someone. In fact, I have someone in mind. And if you don’t hire them, I will.” That was the wake up call. So, I hired my first employee and then another one and suddenly, I had a small team.
Looking back, human resources was a big obstacle and not because I didn’t want employees, but because I didn’t realize how much I needed them. I thought I could do it all, but real growth happens when you have the right people by your side.
We’ve been impressed with NULASTIN, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Award winning NULASTIN® is on a mission to transform people’s lives with the innovative power of elastin. Using proprietary Elastaplex® Technology—a synergistic blend of biomimetic signal peptides and proteins–the clinically proven formulas revitalize hair, lashes, brows and skin. Backed by a 100% performance guarantee, the solution serums minimize fallout and premature shedding by fortifying follicles at the root, allowing hair to grow visibly longer and stronger. Leading the industry with a first-to-market collection, NULASTIN science boasts 39 Issued U.S. and International Patents relating to elastin and hair growth. Proudly female founded and women owned.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Hiring a team was a huge step forward, but I quickly realized that building a team isn’t the same as leading one. I had empowered my employees to grow their skills, take ownership of their roles and work independently. At first, it seemed like everything was falling into place. But without a clear structure, which I hadn’t really established, each department was operating like its own mini start up. Progress was happening, but not always in sync.
For a while, I tried to be the oversight, the strategist, the problem solver and the visionary, all while juggling production, corporate operations and regulatory demands. But the more I tried to keep tabs on everything, the more I realized I was stretched too thin. I couldn’t scale the brand this way. I needed someone who could see the whole runway, look around corners, anticipate what was coming and guide the team with experience.
That’s when I learned the real key to hiring: Start with the right leader. A strong, second in command who has been there before—-someone who hasn’t just talked to talk, but has truly walked the walk. This person knows how to build, scale and unify a team because they’ve already done it for another brand successfully. They bring the full spectrum of experience. This was uncharted territory for me at the time. I now realize hiring strategically from the start is critical and is one of the foundations for real, sustainable growth.
I am happy to report that my crash course in human resources and the lessons learned along the way have brought NULASTIN to where it is today. I’ve got my strong, right hand lead and a brilliant team, working with structure and strategy, ready to take NULASTIN into the future and do great things.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nulastin.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nulastin/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nulastin
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-garcia-592988
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/nulastin
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nulastin
- Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/nulastin/
Image Credits
Mountain Bike Photo by MarkDawson_©FTF2018_2620 Product Shots by Brandon Harrington Profile Picture and Horse Photo by Mara Rago
