Alysa Teichman – 20 Under 40

Alysa Teichman has continued her family’s legacy in designer jewelry retail. 

Her parents, Joanne and Charles Teichman, founded their Plaza at Preston Center jewelry store Ylang 23 in the mid-’80s. Alysa joined Ylang 23 in 2016 and opened her jewelry store and piercing studio concept Wildlike in the Shops of Highland Park in 2021. 

The former People Newspapers intern was inspired to join her family in retail, rather than go into journalism, by a family friend while working at her family’s store during a break in her senior year of college.

“I haven’t looked back since deciding to go into retail — the things I have learned from being an owner/operator of small businesses and the people I have come to meet have made an immeasurable impact on me,” Teichman said.

She hopes Wildlike will continue to expand in the coming years.

“I’m so committed to my mission of self-expression and creating joyful experiences,” Teichman said.

When she’s not focused on her businesses, Teichman enjoys giving back to the Dallas community as a board member of Jubilee Park and Community Center and the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum. She and her mother, Joanne, also co-chaired Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas’ 32nd-annual Dallas Awards event in November 2022.

“My calling to help others less fortunate in the community started as I was preparing for my Bat Mitzvah 20+ years ago, and today I am so proud to use the broader reach that I get through Ylang 23 and Wildlike as platforms to support the community,” Teichman said. “Helping others is in my DNA.”

What was your first job, and what did you learn from it?

My first job was as a tennis and horseback riding instructor (age 13) at Merriwood Ranch. I first learned the importance of hard work and grit working in 100-degree heat at such a young age. PS – My second job was as an intern at People Newspapers when I was a high school student at Greenhill.

How do you motivate others?

Listening, transparency, and vulnerability – I think that’s what people want from their leaders. To the extent possible, I give my team members autonomy so they can experience elements of ownership mentality. Beyond that, I get my hands dirty and work very hard. I’m so passionate about what I do and think most people just want to feel that their leadership team is “in it” with them.

Which leadership skills were the most challenging for you to develop and why?

There is nothing simultaneously more challenging and important than managing people. They are the most important assets of any company, and nothing I ever learned in my MBA prepared me for some of the challenges I have experienced with employees over the last several years.   

Where do you see yourself and/or your career 10 years from now?

I think my new concept, Wildlike, will be a household name with many locations throughout the country. I’m so committed to my mission of self-expression and creating joyful experiences. Beyond that, I’m very excited about the unknown and try to take life as it comes.

Toughest business/personal challenge?

The challenges I experienced hiring and retaining employees after COVID felt especially hard after making it through the depths of the pandemic. I almost feel like I could write a book of anecdotes about some of the situations we experienced over the past several years.