With over 25 years of experience in the natural products industry, the seasoned professional shared her passion for sustainability and ethical sourcing working with Group Berkem. She noted the challenges of conveying her company’s mission to those who may not prioritize such values.
“I’ve done a lot of fundraising for charities and things that I care about, and you learn really quickly that not everybody cares about what you care about,” Nitschke said.
“And you would think that within the natural products sphere, if somebody is looking for ingredients, that our key points are important to everyone, but it turns out not everyone cares about what we care about. A lot do for sure—I’m not trying to disparage anyone or any company, but it’s special what we do, the way that we look at sourcing and the way that we treat everything with the same level of integrity for ethical sourcing and sustainability.”
She also highlighted the importance of humility, continuous learning and understanding the stories behind each plant, which ultimately resonate with consumers seeking authenticity in their choices.
Despite her busy schedule, Nitschke said she finds fulfillment in working for an ethically-minded business, intertwining professional efforts with her personal values.
“I feel pretty busy these days with work and maybe with all of the information that we’re flooded with every day,” she said. “I don’t know that I feel that I have the same type of energy to greet philanthropic needs at the moment, but that’s where the being involved with a business that’s so ethically-minded and so grounded in doing things right when I feel like I don’t have time for the things outside of work that are meaningful to me. I know that it’s happening in the work that I do every day.”
