Amazing Woman: Tasha Goldberg

Written By: Maia Wikler

Typically, GBD features amazing teens, but we couldn’t pass up on this chance to feature an incredibly inspirational woman, Tasha Goldberg. After studying herbalism in college and interning with Aveda, Tasha created her own company: Sustainable Solutions. Within just nine years she has an impressive clientele including the UN, Estee Lauder, and Aveda. Tasha works with companies, indigenous cultures, and developing communities to work together to develop sustainable solutions to present environmental, economical, and social problems.

Tasha has traveled the world in hopes to help people and encourage businesses to have a positive impact on the world. From China to Mexico, at just 32 years old, Tasha has lived an enriched life full of unforgettable experiences.

What inspired you to create sustainable solutions?

“The moment I went from wanting to do something to believing I could do something was at an Aveda organized event in Philadelphia which brought together students, indigenous people, and the government to discuss sustainable sourcing. I became inspired by the testimonies of peoples’ experiences. Toward the end of the night, one of the indigenous elders put his hands on my shoulders, looked me in the eye and said, “You are going to help do this work.”

How did you get to where you are today?

“Sometimes you can’t just think, I’m going to have a dream job and do it, you need to be grounded and learn how to support yourself. I did a lot for free –from internships to volunteering. It’s incredibly important to get your foot in the door and be super persistent. You can’t shrink away from challenges, challenges are the nectar time to really grow.”

What has been your most ironic experience abroad?

“I was in Mexico working on a project and government officials escorted us to a place with extremely polluted water. It was so polluted we had to wear gas masks to stand near the water, but people live there every day. That night, we were invited to a posh event in Mexico City hosted by Estee Lauder. There was a red carpet, celebrities, and bottled Evian water. While just a couple of miles away, we had to wear gas masks to stand near a community’s source of water.”

When you are not working, what do you love to do?

“I love to dance hula. I live in a place with a thriving indigenous culture, being a hula dancer is like a lifestyle. It’s about your work ethic, being humble, and being able to dance beautifully. It’s a connection for people to learn about the culture. It’s like storytelling, a part of a sisterhood.”

What advice do you have for girls who want to create their own business?

“My advice is to seek out people who you admire and volunteer, intern, or apprentice with them. Observe, observe. Whether you are going to start a business or become involved in something else, you really need to know what makes you happy so you can balance your life.”

What advice do you have for girls in college?

“Take full advantage of the environment of learning, it’s such a precious moment. When you are in college you are in unique place where your job is to learn and soak in as much as possible. Make connections with people, find out who your people are, who you can trust and rely on.”

What advice do you have for girls who struggle with pursuing their dream?

“You can’t put responsibility on other people for the way your life is going, as you become an adult, you become responsible for your own happiness. Invest your energy into your happiness. If you have a dream of becoming a writer, it’s up to you to keep a journal, and every time you put pen to paper you are a write. It’s about being your dream all the time.