Meet Aisha Yang, RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards Excellence Finalist

Born in Taipei and having immigrated to Canada in 2001, Aisha Yang’s entrepreneurial journey began from her kitchen table, birthing Herbaland Naturals. From this humble beginning, Herbaland has grown to be Canada’s largest nutritional gummy manufacturer, operating out of a 150,000 sq. ft. facility and employing over 200 individuals. As a first-generation immigrant and woman of colour, Aisha was driven to elevate Herbaland to global heights. Her 11-year tenure in aviation enriched her perspective on international trade. Together with her partner’s nutraceutical expertise, they laid Herbaland’s foundation, positioning it as an industry leader that now exports to nearly 40 countries. The BC Exports Award in 2019 stands testament to their achievements. Aisha’s leadership, rooted in love, gratitude, belief, and focus, champions diversity and youth opportunities at Herbaland. Today, Aisha, a recipient of multiple awards including the 2022 Business in Vancouver Influential Women in Business, resides in Vancouver with her family. Her active roles in various organizations underscore her unwavering commitment to both community and the advancement of business.

I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur when… I was in my early 20’s. Since I was young, I always had a curiosity for international business and knew very early on that I wanted to create something that had the potential for global reach.

Entrepreneurship is made for me because… I can be a visionary leader to inspire my team. I deeply value the strength and impact of effective teamwork, and I know how to bring out the best in every team member.

The impact I hope to make through my work is… to create an iconic company, culture, brand and product, and to inspire our team to make our world and community a better place. 

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned on my entrepreneurial journey is… to remain focused on your goal.

My proudest accomplishment is… proving that as an immigrant and woman of colour, I could be an outstanding entrepreneur. I saw myself succeed in a challenging landscape with my commitment to my goals and belief in myself. This mindset of trusting myself allowed me to prosper in Canada and beyond.

The biggest risk I took that paid off was… taking the leap to become a manufacturer. This was the most daunting but most rewarding decision made and ultimately allowed us to grow exponentially and become a more self-sufficient company.

My biggest setback has been… when we faced major supply chain issues in 2013. Our long-term supplier unexpectedly became unable to fulfill our orders, and Herbaland was forced to pivot our inventory and make big decisions about the future of our company.

I overcame it by…. making the decision to become our own manufacturer and start making gummies to stabilize our supply chain and become more self-sufficient.

The best advice I’ve received as an entrepreneur was… be open-minded to all kinds of challenges and opportunities. There is no blueprint for being an entrepreneur, the best tip I’ve gotten is to be ready for anything, anytime. Things are constantly changing, and learning how to adapt to these shifts has made growth and leadership more sustainable.

I surprise people when I tell them… I started the business during my maternity leave on my kitchen table, and my newborn was only one month old. 

If I had an extra hour in the day, I would use it to… read and self-reflect. 

If you googled me, you still wouldn’t know… I was previously a flight attendant and travelled to many countries. This experience and time in my life was very special and fostered a love for travel and seeing the world.

The future excites me because… I am creating a well-known lifestyle brand that supports good causes that I am passionate about and inspires more people to take social responsibility. I’m looking forward to leading the company from Canada to the rest of the globe.

Follow Herbaland Naturals on Instagram @herbalandnaturals.