Inside the Mind of a Nutraceutical CEO: Heather Morgan on Leadership, Adaptability, and Building a People-First Business.

For this week's #TabletTuesday, I had the pleasure of speaking with Heather Morgan , the CEO of NBX Wellness . With a career rooted in health and wellness, Heather has moved from practitioner to industry leader, sharing valuable insights along the way. In this interview, she delves into her career journey, the lessons learned, and her advice for aspiring CEOs.

Here's what I asked:

How Did You Get Into the Industry?

I started my career as a wellness practitioner supporting clients with diet and lifestyle programs and quickly realized that improving health through proper nutrient intake was the most effective way to achieve results. I did this by utilizing professional grade supplements and had a great deal of success. I was later approached by a Nutraceutical company to join their team to teach other practitioners how to so the same thing within their practices.?

What Lessons Did You Learn as You Moved into the Industry?

Several lessons stand out as primary to my growth trajectory over the years:

1. Stay open and be adaptable to change.?Change is inevitable. Especially in business. I made a conscious decision to see change as a learning opportunity. With each change I looked for the opportunity to develop and new skill set. I also taught this mindset to my team. Change is much easier to navigate when all are aligned to embrace the positive aspects and opportunity for personal growth.?
2. Embrace problem-solving.?Leadership is about solving problems that are often roadblocks to success. Being able to effectively and efficiently understand, assess, and navigate through problems leads to a higher level of success. I learned to see solving problems as a way to help others be successful.?
3. There are many ways to get the same result, but focusing on humans is the best way to get a lasting result.?I have had many bosses and witnessed many ways of trying to get to the same outcome over the years, and hands down the best and most lasting results come from being human-centric, both with internal teams and customers. Focusing on metrics will get you there short term, but if you want to build it to last, you have to put people first.
4. Invite opportunities to develop new skill sets.?I had a vision for my future that included being at the C-suite level, and therefore I seeked-out a broad range of learning opportunities to help prepare me for advanced roles, including leading teams, learning the tactical side of our industry, owning a revenue channel and P&L, improving profitability through product mix and cost efficiencies, strategic planning, overseeing sales and marketing for my channel, taking courses on the financial side, to name a few.

What Was the Hardest Challenge as a New CEO?

As a CEO you have to balance being in the weeds and being at 3,000 feet.

One minute you are right there with the team all-hands on deck, and the next you are charting the course for new direction and innovation. In many regards it's like building the plane while you are flying it.?

(I personally loved this analogy). Heather explained how spending too much time in the weeds can weigh down the big ideas essential for an organisations growth. Balancing both—being in the weeds and at 3,000 feet—allows you to dream big, envision the organisation’s potential, and still dive into the details of running a team effectively.

Do you have any advice for Aspiring CEOs?

• Set yourself up for learning all aspects of the business you are looking to lead.
• Avoid the mindset of "that's not my job" because ultimately it will all be your responsibility.
• Become a unicorn - broaden your scope to increase your marketability.
• Be a learn it all, not a know it all.
• Seek to understand, always.
• Don't let problems rattle you - realize it's all about solving problems.
• See challenges as growth opportunities.
• Take care of your health.

What Would You Do Differently?

When asked if there’s anything she would do differently, Heather’s response is simple: "Nothing!"

Her journey, challenges, and successes have shaped her into the leader she is today, and she wouldn’t change a thing.

Heather Morgan’s story is one of passion, adaptability, and continuous growth. Whether you’re a wellness professional or an aspiring leader, her insights offer valuable lessons on navigating change, solving problems, and staying focused on what matters most—people.

Stay tuned for next month's #TabletTuesday, where we'll dive into more industry insights and entrepreneurial journeys!