WIN, the global initiative, is striving to achieving economic and social equality for women in the nutraceutical industry by providing tools, networking, visibility, and mentorship to empower women, increase leadership representation, and promote diversity and collaboration across all genders.
It’s Board of Directors plays a vital role in driving this mission forward by fostering inclusivity and empowerment, Julia Wiebe, co-founder and director of the board at WIN told NutraIngredients.
The candidates for the Board of Directors Elections include co-founder and president of the board of WIN, Heather Granato, chairperson of the board Karen Todd, and co-founder and co-chair, Michelle Martin.
And with an established presence in the USA, WIN is also looking to bring European members on board to create an even more inclusive and wider-reaching collective.
There are four open Board of Directors positions in this year’s vote, Wiebe explained, and WIN members can vote for four out of six candidates. The voting began this week (March 24) and ends on April 7.
Dr. Sybille Buchwald-Werner, director business development, ABF Ingredients, managing director Vital Solutions GmbH
Candidate Dr. Sybille Buchwald-Werner, recipient of WIN’s 2024 Guiding Star Award, has said that she stands for advancing gender-balanced leadership in the nutraceutical industry through innovation.
She said that her mission would include securing strategic corporate sponsorships, therefore creating sustainable opportunities for women at every career stage, which will enable WIN to become a premier platform for female professionals pursuing leadership, career growth, and a supportive network in Europe and beyond.
“As a European candidate, I envision WIN’s membership expanding significantly across Europe, with a strong focus on thinking globally while acting locally through mentorship programs tailored to regional needs,” she said.
Buchwald-Werner explained that she believes the future of nutraceuticals depends on merging scientific innovation with consumer trust through personalized nutrition and AI-driven clinical validation.
“Consumers demand tailored, science-backed solutions, yet the industry still largely offers one-size-fits-all products,” she said.
“AI accelerates clinical trials, enhances predictive modeling, and strengthens regulatory credibility - key to unlocking next-generation, evidence-based health solutions.
“Businesses that embrace these innovations while fostering diversity and agility will shape the industry’s future.”
As former co-chair of the WIN Mentorship Program, Buchwald-Werner works to break down barriers that prevent talented women from reaching senior roles.
“I have seen how strong networks, mentorship, and access to leadership opportunities can transform careers, yet too many talented women still face barriers to executive roles,” she said.
“I believe that diversity in leadership is not just about fairness - it is about driving better business decisions, fostering innovation, and ensuring a more sustainable future for the industry.”
Gillian Fish, founder and CEO, The 6AM Agency
Gillian Fish stands for empowering women in the nutraceuticals industry by unlocking personal and professional potential, expanding WIN’s global reach, and fostering gender equality through strategic growth, inclusive leadership, and meaningful stakeholder engagement.
Fish was one of the 11 founding members of WIN, having been involved since its inception in 2021, and she received the inaugural WIN Heroine Award in 2024 for contributing to the organization’s growth. She explained that WIN’s mission aligns perfectly with her own.
“In a world facing immense challenges, empowering women is not just inspiring - it is essential,” she said.
“WIN’s vision to uplift women by focusing on unlocking personal and professional potential, in nutraceuticals across the supply chain speaks to my core values and uplifts me and my desire to pay it forward to others, as was gifted to me through mentors and champions I have had throughout my life and career.”
She explained that her goal would be to ensure WIN’s initiatives are not only scaleable and commercially sustainable, but also aligned with its core mission and values, taking into account the cultural nuances, industry and market dynamics and sensitivities of each market across the globe.
“We are living and operating businesses in a VUCA world – meaning Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous - which has been further amplified in recent times by the change in leadership in the US,” she said.
“Deep attention should be given to sponsors, for whom an ROI on every dollar matters, as well as members, and WIN’s highly valued partners who have championed and the organisation relentlessly from the get-go, in order to ensure that our north star is focused on providing a value exchange to each stakeholder that truly matters.”
Fish explained that as WIN enters the next phase of growth, “heavy lifting is required”.
She noted that “Establishing a framework for an effective global rollout is imperative, in order to ensure that each region is empowered, but under Global unifying guidelines, enabling agility and successful relevant localisation, with a commitment to the mission and brand.”
Sustained growth calls for more resources and revenue, alongside roles focused on strategic planning and people development. And as she noted, achieving this vision requires collaboration with men in the industry.
“All this cannot be done without the partnership of men in our industry,” she said.
“We need to walk this path together as we focus on achieving a brighter more equal future.”
Kenn Israel, co-founding partner and nutrition practice leader, BeyondBrands
Kenn Israel is looking to champion diversity, equity and inclusion by advocating for global empowerment through WIN, aiming to create autonomous regional chapters and establish WIN as a vital resource for nurturing diverse leadership in the conscious products industry.
“Including women in leadership yields better workplaces and more successful and profitable companies,” he said.
As he explained, the US has undergone significant changes since last year which have been driven by Trump’s administration implementing what “many consider the boldest reforms in the nation’s history.”
One change that directly impacts WIN is the administration’s stance on DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives, and early on, the administration actively sought to halt these efforts, targeting “DEI hires” for reconsideration and removal, Israel explained.
This policy clashes with WIN’s core mission, as the organization emerged from DEI-driven empowerment and continues to champion these values, he added.
To adapt, WIN needs to strengthen its international presence, focusing on regions like Europe and Southeast Asia, and establishing semi-autonomous chapters with their own budgets and voting rights will empower local leadership.
“We are stronger together, but free-standing semi-autonomous chapters with budgets and voting rights in our global organization, will serve to de-risk some of the global concerns about shifting alliances and trade relationships,” he said.
Israel noted that he aims to ensure WIN’s continued success by delivering value for both sponsors and members through aligned programs.
“I was super fortunate to be included in the very beginning of WIN and engaged as soon as it started,” he said.
“I was honestly blown away by how we were embraced by the industry and how quickly we scaled.”
This fast growth and early success has brought both opportunities and challenges, as sponsors expect measurable change and value for both our constituents and themselves.
He explained that he aims to help WIN maintain its positive visibility for sponsors and introduce programs aligned with its values that provide economic value and a market edge for sponsors while enhancing our members’ skills.