The Face Behind The Brand
Alisha Thorbourne, a native of Brooklyn and proud Jamaican-American, grew up immersed in her cultural heritage, which instilled in her a deep appreciation for diversity. This background has significantly influenced her personal and professional journey, guiding her toward a career in social work dedicated to supporting underserved and marginalized communities. Drawing strength from her Jamaican roots, Alisha embraces the values of community, resilience, and resourcefulness, which have become the cornerstone of her work.
However, Alisha's journey was not without its struggles. Throughout her life, she experienced debilitating migraine headaches and other health concerns which led her to reevaluate her lifestyle, prompting a shift towards healthier eating and a more balanced approach to mental, spiritual, and emotional well-being.
This transformation not only improved her health but also ignited a passion for creating products she could trust avoiding store-bought hair products that did more harm than good. Venturing into the world of natural hair care, Alisha founded Coiled by Definition. She collaborates closely with skilled professionals to ensure that only the finest ingredients are used in her products. Most importantly, Alisha insists on having a say in what ingredients are never to be included, prioritizing safety and quality above all else.
Coiled by Definition is more than just a business; it’s a manifestation of Alisha's commitment to self-care as a form of self-love and cultural pride. Her mission is to instill confidence in others and celebrate the diverse beauty found in different hair and skin types, contributing to a transformative shift in the beauty industry, one radiant coil at a time.
Dr. Jaleel-Hu El brings more than 15 years of international commercial experience to his position as Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Before serving as COO, Dr. Jaleel served as the Executive Director in Shanghai, China for the Autochthonous Fashion Show International. There, he developed the African & Asiatic fashion community and assisted in the growth and management of African & Asiatic fashion businesses all across the planet, which included recognition in the US public media, TED Conference at Germany. Dr. Jaleel also served previously as the Director of African development at the Black X organization all across China. He earned numerous commendations and achievement awards for his meritorious service to the young African & Asiatic community, both working professionals and students.
Prior to working at China, Dr. Jaleel enjoyed a career spanning nine years in the United States financial industry. His experiences lends itself over multiples positions, including but not limited to, Investment Banker, Commercial Banker, Financial Analyst, and several financial managerial roles.
Among his many responsibilities at the international level, Dr. Jaleel has experience in: developing the overall financial corporate budget, employee and personnel management, contractual negotiations and vendor negotiations.
Among the awards, honors, letters and achievements he earned were:
• Community Organizer of the Year from Appreciate Africa Organization headquartered at Beijing, China;
• Event of the Year from Appreciate Africa Organization headquartered at Beijing, China; and
• Documentary on Successful foreign Nationals at Shanghai TV Station.