#TabletTuesday: Celebrating International Women's Day with Inspiring Female Leaders in the Nutraceutical Industry.

It's been some time since my last #TabletTuesday, and there are several reasons for that. We've relocated our office, partnered with CSG Talent , and I've been promoted. I feel incredibly fortunate to be busier than ever, engaging with top talent and clients in the industry and enjoying a job that allows me to grow in so many ways.

Over the past year and a half, I've been thoroughly impressed by the dedication and hard work of the Women In Nutraceuticals organisation. Participating in various opportunities alongside them has been incredibly rewarding. The collective drive and supportiveness as strong female leaders is truly motivating and refreshing.

That's precisely why I'm seizing the moment to reintroduce #TabletTuesday on such a significant occasion, International Women's Day, and shine a spotlight on some outstanding female leaders in the industry.

I think it's always interesting to reflect on achievements, it's what drives me forward personally and so I asked Melissa what her proudest achievement is. First up, a champion from the UK - Melissa Snover. CEO and Founder of Get Nourish3d.

Melissa is an award-winning entrepreneur, registered nutritionist, and self-confessed health fanatic! Melissa first came up with the concept of Nourished when she was travelling back in 2018. As an avid consumer of vitamins for over a decade, she used to take a large bag on her business trips of different pills, tablets, and supplements. On one such occasion, she accidentally dropped the bag all over airport security and had to crawl around in her suit and heels picking them up. She thought there must be a more convenient way to take vitamins, and the idea for Nourished was born.

My proudest achievement is founding Rem3dy Health (trading as Nourished) and seeing it grow into a trailblazer in personalised nutrition. The journey of transforming an idea sparked by my own personal inconvenience of taking multiple different vitamins and supplements each day, into a revolutionary health and wellness brand has been immensely rewarding. This venture not only showcases the commitment of my expert team and I to lead innovation in the food tech industry, but also represents our dedication to sustainability and personalised healthcare. Leading a company that directly impacts people's lives for the better, while also promoting environmental consciousness, aligns with my personal core values. Furthermore, being recognised as an award-winning entrepreneur in a space that merges technology with nutrition underlines the importance of female leadership in driving forward-thinking solutions in the global market.

In my efforts to promote equal opportunities across the Nutraceutical industry, I prioritise collaborating with candidates to ensure a flexible hiring process and contribute value to recruitment procedures. I'm eager to learn about how others champion diversity, equity, and inclusion within their organisations.

At Nourished, we are deeply committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) across all levels of our organisation. I'm spearheading initiatives that ensure our recruitment and retention practices are inclusive and equitable, actively seeking out diverse talent that reflects the global community we serve. I’m proud to have a predominantly female C-Suite, along with an incredibly talented team from a wide variety of backgrounds and ethnicities. We've also worked hard to foster an inclusive culture that values open dialogue, continuous education on DEI topics, and the celebration of diverse perspectives. These efforts are aimed at not only enhancing our company's innovation and empathy but also at making a tangible impact on the broader industry by setting a standard for inclusivity.

Another brilliant company and strong female leader who champions DEI is Caitlyn Vanderhaeghe at KidStar Nutrients . As president and CEO, Caitlyn is devoted to educating parents about optimal nutrition, developing top quality products and most importantly, bringing a mother’s perspective to her team.

"When one of my three daughters was diagnosed with serious iron deficiency anaemia at the age of two, the lack of clean supplements fuelled my mission to create excellent kids’ nutrients that I could be proud of."

With over a decade of experience managing supply chain, sourcing ingredients, and developing natural health products, Caitlyn knows what it takes to make a great supplement.

At KidStar, we value the diversity of voices, experiences, and backgrounds that our employees bring to the company. We are a female-led company with a majority of female employees. As a smaller, agile organization, we have established informal policies regarding remote work and flexible working hours. I have a family with young children, as do some of our staff, and I understand first-hand the need to accommodate life events and activities outside of normal working hours. This flexibility helps us attract and retain quality employees.

As I mentioned above, reflecting on your accomplishments allows you to recognise your strengths, dedication, and the hard work you put into making them happen. It's a reminder that you have the power to set goals and achieve them, which is a valuable mindset to carry into the next year and so we also asked Caitlyn what is her proudest achievement.

I was featured on a recent episode of CBC’s Dragons’ Den, where I was presented with offers for my company from all the “dragon investors” on the panel. It was a thrilling moment for me professionally, and definitely a proud achievement, but I was most proud of using this recognition to be a role model for my daughters and their friends. While we watched the episode on television, my daughters beamed at me, and pointed out to their friends, “see, my mom did that all by herself!” It was a wonderful moment, and one that I will cherish, knowing that I’m helping to forge the next generation of female leaders, leading by example.

As I mentioned above, I've been in awe of the ladies behind WIN and their drive for equal opportunities across the industry. Dr. Sybille Buchwald-Werner leads the fantastic initiative of the "Mentorship Committee", partnering leaders both male and female with those in the industry looking to be mentored.

I first heard about the role out of the program whilst doing a webinar with Doug Reader and Karen E. Todd, MBA, RD so it's been fantastic to watch this come into fruition - and help out where I can!

Sybille has played a pivotal role in my career journey, facilitating invaluable industry connections, inviting me to participate in a live panel discussion at the Food ingredients Europe conference, and instilling me with confidence along the way.??Here's what Sybille has to say;

I am proud of working in an organization that achieved a 50% representation of women in leadership roles. We represent several nations, cultures, and age-groups. Mentorship programs provide structured support for aspiring female leaders, while transparent promotion criteria and leadership development initiatives eliminate biases. Flexible work arrangements prioritize work-life balance. Through regular progress tracking and reporting, we ensure transparency, measure impact, and continuously refine our strategies.

I'm also keen to understand what Sybille is proud of as FYTEXIA , an ABF Ingredients company purchased Sybille's company Vital Solutions GmbH - a big achievement in itself?!

Being a role model and mentor is a privilege I value. I am glad to be the co-chair of the Mentorship Committee at Women in Nutraceuticals, creating a supportive platform for aspiring female leaders. As a woman in science driven by a passion for communication, my proudest achievement embodies years of dedication, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on people's lives. Through my journey, I successfully commercialized a range of natural active ingredients designed to empower both our bodies and minds, enabling individuals to overcome challenges and compensate for the deficits in their daily routines.

Heather Granato has been an immense source of motivation and inspiration for me, especially through her impactful leadership at Women In Nutraceuticals . Witnessing the breadth of the organisation's network has been truly astonishing, and I believe this is just the beginning of its potential impact.

I asked Heather, what achievement was she most proud of and what was next for WIN.

For many years, as the VP Content for SupplySide, I worked with a tremendous team on the digital and in-person content/conference strategy for SupplySide. Collaborating with that team to bring to market engaging content that grew audience engagement online, increased sponsorship of content and elevated the brand, this was a great achievement. Empowering the people on the team to shine with their unique talents and skills yielded fantastic results for them as individuals, for the company, and for the industry we serve.

Serving as the founding president of Women In Nutraceuticals (WIN) has been my biggest initiative in the area of inclusion, and during my time as VP sustainability & partnerships at Informa, I was fortunate to have the support—in time and money—from the company to launch WIN. Informa remains a committed founding platinum sponsor, and throughout the company is focusing on bringing more women into leadership, and assesses all events on sustainability credentials—including DEI measures. For Vitafoods, that meant developing gender equity networking events with WIN, ensuring a gender balance in speakers, and highlighting topics related to gender equity in the conference and digital content.

I asked all 3 female leaders what advice would they give to anyone hoping to reach the C-Suite and here's what they said;

Melissa Snover ;

To aspiring female leaders, my advice is threefold: Be resilient, embrace your unique perspective, and actively seek mentorship. The path to C-suite is filled with challenges that require resilience; view these obstacles as opportunities to grow and learn. Your unique perspective as a woman in leadership is invaluable, offering fresh insights and approaches to problem-solving in any industry. Finally, seek out mentors who can guide you, provide feedback, and support your growth. Surrounding yourself with a network of supporters and advocates is crucial for navigating the complexities of leadership roles. Remember, leadership is not just about reaching the top; it's about lifting others as you climb, creating a legacy of empowerment and innovation.

Caitlyn Vanderhaeghe ;

Aim high, know your strengths, and always keep your long-term goals in mind. Focusing on what you’re working towards can help motivate you and inspire you, especially when things get tough. We’ve all had sleepless nights and long days when it seems like the work is never-ending but know that others before you have been through the same. And also know that you can achieve it, too.

Dr. Sybille Buchwald-Werner ;

Here are my top 3 advice to women aspiring for the C-Suite are:

• Be authentic - embrace your unique qualities.
• Network and learn - never stop learning and build up a strong network as source of advice.
• Advocate for others - as you ascend, champion diversity.

Heather Granato ;

To all aspiring female leaders, I say remember your unique value, talent and gifts. There is not a single way to be a leader, and no single career path to the C-suite. Sheryl Sandberg described her career journey as a jungle gym not a ladder, so consider taking on different roles outside of your comfort zone to stretch and strengthen your portfolio of talents.

If you're looking for a new role or support to get into the C-Suite, email me at;

?? [email protected]