We’re looking forward to introducing you to Kobi and Tasha. Check out our conversation below.
Kobi and Tasha , really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Absolutely, one moment that still brings a smile and fills us with pride is when we took Kobi Co.’s wellness-centered approach on the road at the National Urban League Conference in Cleveland this past July.
As a contracted facilitator, we had the honor of guiding two self‑care workshops: “Sugar Scrub Making: A Luxurious DIY Experience” and “Scents and Serenity: Candle‑Making with Kobi Co.”, during the Community & Family Day Expo on July 19, 2025. It was electric seeing families, children, and professionals all gather in a creative, hands‑on space that we curated. Witnessing participants craft their own nourishing scrubs and candles, laughing as they mixed scents, and sharing those “aha” self‑care moments? That was a high point.
What made it even more special was how natural wellness, (something rooted deeply in Kobi Co.’s values) became a communal experience. People weren’t just making products; they were forging connections, learning intentional self‑care, and walking away empowered with something they made themselves.
That moment didn’t just make us proud, it made us laugh, smile, and remember why we do what we do. It’s not often that self‑care feels like celebration, but at that conference, it did.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
We are Kobi Gregory, and Tasha Harris, co-founders of Kobi Co., a luxury candle and wellness brand. We’re proudly woman-owned, Black-owned, and Minneapolis-born, and everything we do lives at the ultimate intersection of scent, sound, and self-care. Each candle we create is paired with a curated playlist because we believe your environment should be a whole vibe, not just a backdrop.
Our story began in 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, as a way to cope with the stress of distance learning and corporate burnout. What started as a personal self-care ritual has grown into a nationally recognized brand with a brick-and-mortar store in downtown Minneapolis, wellness-centered workshops, and a growing community of people who share our belief that slowing down is essential.
One of our most exciting recent accomplishments is the launch of The Scent & Soul Society our new membership program and quarterly subscription box that delivers an immersive, seasonal self-care ritual straight to your door. Each drop includes an exclusive candle scent, curated playlist, guided ritual, and surprise wellness gift, all designed to help members reset and reconnect. We wanted to create something that felt rare, intentional, and rooted in community. It’s more than a product, it’s an experience.
Along the way, we’ve been honored to collaborate with brands like the Four Seasons, The W Hotels, ESPN, and Capella University, and we recently took our workshops on the road to the National Urban League Conference, where we facilitated hands-on wellness experiences for attendees from all over the country. We’ve also been recognized as Minnesota’s Best for our wellness-centered workshops, and we continue to give back by funding scholarships for BIPOC women pursuing higher education.
Right now, we’re focused on expanding our membership community, growing our workshop offerings both locally and nationally, and launching our newest creative venture: The Meltdown, a podcast that blends meaningful conversations with the meditative, sensory ritual of candle-making. For us, it’s not just about candles. It’s about creating spaces, products, and moments that inspire people to care for themselves, connect with others, and live in their glow.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
Kobi:
Mentally, one of my earliest memories of feeling powerful was during the height of the pandemic, navigating the chaos of distance learning. It was such an isolating and uncertain time, but I learned how to push through, adapt, and still create something beautiful out of it: Kobi Co. was born from that resilience. Physically, I think about those early days hauling boxes of candles to and from events, sometimes it felt like a full-body workout! Laughs. But even in those moments, I realized I was carrying more than candles; I was carrying a dream into the world.
Tasha:
For me, it was in my corporate career, leading a team of strong, self-driven individuals toward a unified goal. Guiding people who were equally independent and ambitious required trust, vision, and the ability to bring everyone together without dimming anyone’s light. That experience taught me that real power is about alignment, getting people to believe in the same mission and work in harmony to achieve it. It’s a skill I’ve carried with me into Kobi Co., and it’s been just as valuable in building a brand as it was in leading a corporate team.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Tasha,
No. As a Black woman and as a mom, “giving up” has never been an option I could afford to entertain. Life has thrown me challenges, in my personal life, in corporate America, and now as an entrepreneur, but I was raised to understand that quitting wasn’t a choice. My kids were watching me, and I knew I was setting the example for what resilience looks like. Even in the toughest moments, I reminded myself that our vision was bigger than the obstacle in front of us. I’ve always seen challenges as detours, not dead ends, moments to pause, pivot, and push forward. That’s the mindset that’s carried me through corporate boardrooms, through launching a business during a pandemic, and into building Kobi Co. into what it is today.
Kobi:
Yes, early on, it was definitely hard working alongside my mom, especially with her high expectations. I wasn’t as confident in my skills or abilities back then. Shoot, I was still in high school. I just didn’t want to let her down. But instead of letting that pressure stop me, I kept pushing, kept learning, and kept showing up. And here we are today, running a business together that’s grown beyond what either of us could have imagined.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Tasha:
It is now. But it wasn’t always that way. In corporate America, especially as a Black woman, I often felt like I had to edit myself, my voice, my hair, my expressions, just to be accepted in certain rooms. There was this constant pressure to fit a mold that wasn’t mine, to tone down parts of myself that made others uncomfortable. Stepping into entrepreneurship changed that. I built a space where I could show up fully as myself, where my authenticity is an asset, not a liability. Now, the public version of me is the real me and that’s one of the greatest freedoms of running Kobi Co.
Kobi:
Sometimes. I’m growing up in an age where cancel culture is very real, and that can be scary. It makes you hyper-aware that one mistake (intentional or not) could be amplified and hurt the business we’ve worked so hard to build. I’m still young. I’m still learning. And part of learning is making mistakes, figuring things out, and growing from them. I just don’t want to be judged in a way that stunts that process. So, while the public sees a lot of who I am, there are parts I keep to myself. Not because they’re not real, but because they’re still in progress.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. When have you had to bet the company?
Tasha:
Every day. Every morning I wake up, it feels like a gamble—because every decision we make has the potential to shape the future of Kobi Co. We’re still learning the business, and so much of what we’ve built has been through on-the-job experience. That kind of learning can be costly, financially, emotionally, and in time. But it’s also where the growth happens.
At the end of the day, we’re betting on ourselves. We’re betting on our passion, our creativity, and our ability to adapt. This brand isn’t just a business, it’s woven into our values, our story, and what we truly believe in. So yes, it’s a risk. But it’s a risk worth taking, because we’re building something that’s not just profitable, it’s purposeful. And that’s the kind of bet I’ll make every single time.
Kobi: What she said!
Contact Info:
- Website: [email protected]
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- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/company/kobico
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/lovekobico
- Youtube: https://Youtube.com/lovekobico
Image Credits
Uncommon Collaborative
