25: Becoming the Best Version of Ourselves | Troy Alexander

Becoming the best version of ourselves is a lifelong journey. In Episode 25, Lindsay speaks with Troy Alexander about cultivating resilience, strengthening mindset, and stepping into personal leadership. Troy’s approach to growth is rooted in authenticity, vision, and making a positive impact on the world.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, rate, and review.

From Prison to Purpose-Driven Product

“We have to learn to just bring each other together and to have love. And through love and understanding that we are all one people, we can all do this together if we believe in one another.” Share on X

Ever since he was a young kid, Troy Alexander, founder of TROY Skincare, wanted to build something meaningful.

After spending two years in prison as a youth, he used the experience as an opportunity for growth. In his own words, “prison was really my MBA. It was the greatest experience I could have ever had in my life.”

Troy shows us that through hardships come perseverance, grit, and growth. Since then, he has embarked on a journey grounded in love, understanding, and success.

In this episode of Creating Community for Good, we dive into how a kid behind bars became a journalist for Forbes, The New York Times, and Details.

We explore how he traveled the world consulting for luxury brands like Bentley, Range Rover, Jaguar, and Symrise. Most importantly, we hear how he launched his own company, TROY Skincare for Men, now raising $2.5 million to scale.

This inspiring story closely follows our conversation with Celia Tejada about providing art and counseling to youth in juvenile hall through The Imagine Bus Project.

Learn to Stay Out of Your Mind

As a man of color living in a country where racism runs deep, Troy embodies the American dream realized.

He acknowledges the privileges he had—access to education, mentors, and resources. Nevertheless, he faced many of the same challenges that minorities in the U.S. encounter. Yet, he pulled through with grace and focus.

Early on, Troy recognized that ego and pride could destroy a man.

He learned to let go of them, embrace both the divine masculine and divine feminine within himself, and lead with kindness toward all.

Since then, Troy has become a lifelong student. He questions everything and gives his best every day.

Through TROY Skincare, he aims to help men of all skin tones feel better about themselves through ritualized self-care.

His belief is simple but profound: when men feel better, they will treat others better.

Tell It How It Is

Back when Troy was a contributing writer, few were targeting men in beauty or fashion. This overlooked market led to his “aha” moment.

Later, consulting for Symrise—one of the top players in the beauty industry—Troy explored markets in Korea, Paris, and Africa.

Eventually, he set up shop in Los Angeles, a hub for the clean beauty movement.

Troy built an all-star team, including Snoop Dogg’s son as a co-founder, a Mitsubishi Financial Group division president, and advisors ranging from the Saudi King’s personal doctor to Gwyneth Paltrow’s favorite New York dentist.

To top it off, TROY Skincare products are organic and named after women—intentionally shifting the mental consciousness of their clients.

From day one, TROY Skincare was designed to be groundbreaking.

A Connector with a Purpose

Troy is a natural connector. His spark and energy are contagious, making anyone around him feel instantly uplifted.

I can personally attest to this, as we met randomly on a beach in California—and the rest is history!

Troy believes that men today suffer due to mixed messaging about identity.

For him, being a man in this era is a chance to practice love, patience, and honesty.

That is why TROY Skincare’s vision is about much more than grooming—it’s about men coming clean, healing, and becoming better versions of themselves.

Key Takeaways:

02:40 – Why Troy’s personal prison number is on the back of every product and why his social impact program is about putting money in the hands of men and women in the penal system.

14:35 – What was his problem and what was his solution: uncovering an untapped market.

20:24 – What does it look like to be an evolved man? Embrace the divine masculine and divine feminine.

24:30 – Troy’s perspective on race relations and systems of oppression, as a black man.

28:46 – Business talk: a few vehicles for investments in the for-profit world and how to raise $2.5 million from 1 or 2 people by cold-calling 100 to 200 people!

32:05 – The difference between a for-profit and a nonprofit strategy for raising major funds.