Two minds, one vision.
We met at Redken in New York in 2010, united by how brands should be built.
Today, we bring 16+ years across corporate, startup, and family businesses.
Turtle Co.Lab exists to build with intention, conviction, and time.
Sarah Akkari
Product Innovator + Co-Founder
My professional journey began at L'Oréal, where I worked across Redken, Shu Uemura, and Garnier, building a foundation in product development, formulation, and brand building. I then went on to lead and grow my mother's local soap atelier, Senteurs d'Orient: transforming it into a profitable, internationally recognized brand.
Having worked across global corporations and entrepreneurial ventures and lived between Europe, the Middle East, and the US; I have developed a strong instinct for reading consumer behavior, spotting opportunities, and translating ideas into products that resonate. I am drawn to building things that feel thoughtful, relevant, and built to last.Obsessed with: textures, fragrances and product that feels as good as they look.
Leks Prokop
Brand Strategist + Co-Founder
I started my career at L'Oréal, spending 11 years across the creative and commercial sides of the business, from international brand marketing at Redken to leading the US operational marketing team at NYX Professional Makeup. That left-brain, right-brain training shaped how I work: equal parts creative instinct and commercial rigor.
Since then, I've built a bolder entrepreneurial fluency through my consultancy journey, serving as Head of Marketing at Thrive Causemetics and partnering with brands across different stages of growth, including Under Your Skin, Aora Mexico, and Live Tinted. What drives me is pioneering new business streams. I led NYX's entry onto TikTok and into the Metaverse, and I'm currently scaling Live Tinted's TikTok Shop presence with triple-digit month-over-month growth.Obsessed with: elevating brand and product expression across an increasingly digital and AI-driven customer journey.
Sarah Akkari
Product Innovator
+ Co-Founder
Leks Prokop
Brand Strategist
+ Co-Founder
Sarah Akkari
Product Innovator + Co-Founder
My professional journey began at L’Oréal, where I worked across Redken, Shu Uemura, and Garnier, building a foundation in product development, formulation, and brand building. I then went on to lead and grow my mother’s local soap atelier, Senteurs d’Orient: transforming it into a profitable, internationally recognized brand.
xMore recently, through Turtle Co.Lab, I have partnered with brands like Fable & Mane and AKT London, supporting their growth at pivotal moments.
Having worked across global corporations and entrepreneurial ventures and lived between Europe, the Middle East, and the US; I have developed a strong instinct for reading consumer behavior, spotting opportunities, and translating ideas into products that resonate. I am drawn to building things that feel thoughtful, relevant, and built to last.
Obsessed with: textures, fragrances and product that feels as good as they look.
Leks Prokop
Brand Strategist + Co-Founder
I started my career at L'Oréal, spending 11 years across the creative and commercial sides of the business, from international brand marketing at Redken to leading the US operational marketing team at NYX Professional Makeup. That left-brain, right-brain training shaped how I work: equal parts creative instinct and commercial rigor.
Since then, I've built a bolder entrepreneurial fluency through my consultancy journey, serving as Head of Marketing at Thrive Causemetics and partnering with brands across different stages of growth, including Under Your Skin, Aora Mexico, and Live Tinted.
What drives me is pioneering new business streams. I led NYX's entry onto TikTok and into the Metaverse, and I'm currently scaling Live Tinted's TikTok Shop presence with triple-digit month-over-month growth.
Obsessed with elevating brand and product expression across an increasingly digital and AI-driven customer journey.
Sarah Akkari
Product Innovator + Co-Founder
My professional journey began at L'Oréal, where I worked across Redken, Shu Uemura, and Garnier, building a foundation in product development, formulation, and brand building. I then went on to lead and grow my mother's local soap atelier, Senteurs d'Orient: transforming it into a profitable, internationally recognized brand.
Having worked across global corporations and entrepreneurial ventures and lived between Europe, the Middle East, and the US; I have developed a strong instinct for reading consumer behavior, spotting opportunities, and translating ideas into products that resonate. I am drawn to building things that feel thoughtful, relevant, and built to last.Obsessed with: textures, fragrances and product that feels as good as they look.
Leks Prokop
Brand Strategist + Co-Founder
I started my career at L'Oréal, spending 11 years across the creative and commercial sides of the business, from international brand marketing at Redken to leading the US operational marketing team at NYX Professional Makeup. That left-brain, right-brain training shaped how I work: equal parts creative instinct and commercial rigor.
Since then, I've built a bolder entrepreneurial fluency through my consultancy journey, serving as Head of Marketing at Thrive Causemetics and partnering with brands across different stages of growth, including Under Your Skin, Aora Mexico, and Live Tinted. What drives me is pioneering new business streams. I led NYX's entry onto TikTok and into the Metaverse, and I'm currently scaling Live Tinted's TikTok Shop presence with triple-digit month-over-month growth.Obsessed with: elevating brand and product expression across an increasingly digital and AI-driven customer journey.
We met at Redken in New York in 2010 and immediately bonded over beauty, innovation, and what it really takes to build brands that connect. Today, we each bring 16+ years of experience across corporate, startup, and family business. After a decade apart, we came back together with different strengths and the same vision. Turtle Co.Lab was a natural next step. The name came from something we kept hearing: go slow to go fast. Because the brands that last are built with intention, conviction, and time.
We met at Redken in New York in 2010,
united by how brands should be built.
Today, we bring 16+ years across corporate,
startup, and family businesses.
Turtle Co.Lab exists to build with
intention, conviction, and time.
We met at Redken in New York in 2010,
united by how brands should be built.
Today, we bring 16+ years across corporate,
startup, and family businesses.
Turtle Co.Lab exists to build with
intention, conviction, and time.
Two minds, one vision.
Two minds, one vision.
Two minds, one vision.