ABOUt
Our Team
Your Healthy Hair Experts
MYAVANA is Here to Support You On Your Journey Toward Hair Heaven. Our Healthy Hair Experts Have Over 20 Years of Experience in Achieving Healthy, Beautiful Hair.
FOUNDER/CEO & VISIONARY
Candace Mitchell Harris
Candace Mitchell Harris found success in developing sophisticated technology in the beauty industry that analyzes hair variables like type, texture and condition—to develop a personalized haircare plan that supports healthy hair and growth. As a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology, she brings over 14 years of experience in cosmetology and computer science to MYAVANA.
Candace has been recognized for her work as one of WWD’s Top 50 Beauty Innovators, received the BET Honors STEM Award and participated in Sephora's Accelerate Fellowship. She has additionally been featured nationally on CNN’s Small Business Success segment, in Marie Claire Magazine’s Next Big Thing in Beauty, at ESSENCE Festival, and in Inc. Magazine, Black Enterprise, Business Insider, and more.
CHIEF HAIR OFFICER & HEAD OF RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Robin D. Groover
Robin D. Groover began transitioning women out of their relaxers in the late 90s, leading the birth of the natural hair movement. As Chief Hair Officer and Head of R&D for MYAVANA, she leads all haircare education and applies her knowledge of consumer insights, hair care research and product manufacturing to our suite of haircare solutions.
With over 20 years of experience in haircare research and development, Robin has consulted with brands such as Design Essentials, Paul Mitchell, Carol’s Daughter and Shea Moisture Professional Line on product performance. Her healthy hair styling techniques have been featured in natural haircare resources for professionals and consumers such as ESSENCE.com, TransitioningMovement.com, NaturalChica.com, NaturalHairMag.com and AtlantaNaturalHair.com.
CHIEF HAIR ANALYST & OPERATIONS MANAGER
Tanisha Billups
Tanisha Billups holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Spelman College and a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from North Carolina A&T State University. She has worked in R&D at MYAVANA since 2016, with a passion for science and specifically all things hair and beauty.
As a true leader in beauty tech, she values how intentionally we C.A.R.E. for so many throughout their hair journeys to achieve personal hair goals. She values how MYAVANA offers the ultimate opportunity to empower and impact while innovating and leading the way in adding more value and diversity to the beauty industry.
CHIEF HAIR CONSULTANT & HEAD OF STYLIST PARTNERSHIPS
Karen Marie
Karen Marie earned her undergraduate degree in Business Administration at Alabama A&M University in 2009, and later moved to Atlanta, Georgia to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a hairstylist.
She completed her cosmetology apprenticeship in 2013, and specializes in working with silk press hair. Karen Marie promotes healthy hair treatments and growth while still creating beautiful hairstyles.