e.l.f. Beauty CEO Tarang Amin: What helping run my father’s motel taught me about risk

Tarang Amin, CEO of e.l.f. Beauty, shared that his first job at 14, helping his family run a motel in Alexandria, Virginia, taught him three enduring lessons: the importance of treating people well, the value of conversation, and the necessity of taking risks. These lessons were shaped by his father, Pramod Rambhai Amin, who overcame early hardships in India, pursued a law degree, and transitioned into business, eventually immigrating to the U.S. with his family. The family invested their savings into purchasing a rundown motel, which they successfully revitalized. Amin credits this experience with teaching him fundamental business principles, including cash flow and economic profit, and providing practical insights into leadership. He observed that treating employees with care and respect directly translated into positive customer experiences, a philosophy he enacted by working alongside staff and fostering close relationships, even attending personal family events with employees.