Dare to Disrupt
Dare to Disrupt Episode 36: Redefining Curly Haircare with the Sisters who Co-founded OCOA
Sisters Cory Varona-Corniel and Nicol Varona Cancelmo are the cofounders of OCOA, providing clean, natural, curly haircare products.
In this episode, Cory and Nicol, both business graduates from Penn State Berks, share their inspiring journey from the Dominican Republic to the United States. They discuss overcoming language barriers, building a supportive community at Penn State Berks, and launching their professional careers.
The sisters also reflect on their close bond, the influence of their mother, and how their Dominican heritage shaped both the name and mission of OCOA.
When launching their brand, they leveraged resources from the Berks LaunchBox powered by Penn State, which connected them with key mentors in the beauty industry.
The episode also features Keia Jones, a current Penn State PhD candidate in Rural Sociology and International Agriculture and Development. Keia, the founder of BluOrb.co, a platform focused on sustainable fashion, joins Cory and Nicol to discuss the challenges of starting a business, the role of community support, and their shared commitment to sustainability and accessibility in the beauty industry.
Episode Chapters
About Cory Varona-Corniel
Cory graduated from Penn State Berks in 2011 with a B.S. in business with a finance and accounting concentration. She went on to earn an MBA with a concentration in finance at Penn State Great Valley. She is the co-founder and COO of OCOA.
About Nicol Varona Cancelmo
Nicol graduated from Penn State Berks in 2013 with a B.S. in business with a marketing concentration. She went on to earn her social media certification from Georgetown University. She is the co-founder and CMO of OCOA.
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Dare to Disrupt is a podcast about Penn State alumni who are innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders, and the stories behind their success. Learn more.
