Sponsor Spotlight: Gnosis by Lesaffre Champions Gender Equality in Nutraceuticals
At Gnosis by Lesaffre, a deep belief in the power of diversity and inclusion fuels everything from internal culture to global partnerships. As a Founding Gold Sponsor of Women In Nutraceuticals (WIN), the company continues to model how meaningful engagement with gender equality initiatives can drive both human and business success.
We sat down with Stacey C. Smith, DC, Marketing & Communications Manager NORAM at Gnosis by Lesaffre, to learn more about the company’s values, actions, and vision for the future of gender equity in nutraceuticals.
What inspired you to become involved in promoting gender equality and supporting Women In Nutraceuticals?
"At Gnosis by Lesaffre, we understand that innovation and progress come from diverse perspectives and inclusive environments. Supporting Women In Nutraceuticals aligns with our belief that empowering women strengthens not only individual careers but the entire industry. Personally, I’ve been inspired by the incredible women I’ve had the privilege to work with and for throughout my career, and I’m committed to ensuring they have equal access to leadership opportunities and visibility in our field."
How does your company benefit from supporting gender equality initiatives, both in terms of culture and business outcomes?
"We’ve seen firsthand how a culture that values gender equality leads to increased employee engagement, collaboration, and retention. From a business perspective, diversity drives innovation, better decision-making, and stronger performance. Our commitment to gender equality is also key to building trust with customers and partners who share these values. This aligns perfectly with our participation in a corporate-wide culture program that reinforces Gnosis as a great place to work and a great partner to work with."
What specific initiatives or programs has your company implemented to foster gender diversity, and what results have you seen so far?
"We’re actively involved in cross-industry groups like Women In Nutraceuticals to ensure our team is part of broader conversations and initiatives. As a result, we’ve seen an increase in female representation in leadership roles and higher levels of employee satisfaction and engagement."
How do you envision the future impact of your company's involvement in this gender diversity non-profit? What is on your wishlist?
"Our vision is to help drive measurable progress across the nutraceuticals industry, creating more opportunities for women to lead and innovate. On our wishlist: continued growth of women-led research and businesses, more equitable access to funding and visibility, and industry-wide benchmarks that hold us all accountable. We want to be part of a movement that makes gender equity the norm, not the exception."
How do you engage and encourage male employees within your organization to actively participate in gender diversity initiatives?
"We frame gender equity as a shared goal that benefits everyone—not just women. Through allyship training, open discussions, and inclusive leadership workshops, we invite men to be active partners in fostering an equitable culture. Many of our male colleagues are already champions of these efforts, helping to drive real change across teams."
What challenges have you faced while implementing gender diversity initiatives within your company, and how have you overcome them?
"We’ve had ongoing education through Lesaffre on diversity and inclusion offered in all languages, which helps to open all of our business units up to having honest dialogue. We also have a leadership team that models inclusive behavior. Change doesn’t happen overnight, but our commitment is long-term and part of our broader culture transformation program."
How do you ensure that gender diversity is not just a checkbox, but an integral part of your company's values and practices?
"We embed gender equity into our business strategy, talent development and keep metrics across all business units and departments. Our ongoing corporate culture program reinforces this, ensuring every employee understands the role they play in building an inclusive, values-driven workplace."
What advice would you give to other CEOs or leaders who want to make their organizations more diverse and inclusive?
"Start by listening—really listening—to your teams. Be transparent about where you are, where you want to go, and how you’ll measure progress. Make diversity and inclusion a leadership priority, not just an HR initiative. And most importantly, walk the talk. Culture change begins at the top."
What else would you like us to know?
"We’re proud to be part of a growing movement that supports and uplifts women in nutraceuticals. Through our partnership with Women In Nutraceuticals and our internal initiatives, we’re committed to being a company where everyone can thrive. Gnosis by Lesaffre is evolving, and we’re excited about the future we’re helping to create—one that is equitable, inclusive, and full of opportunity."
On behalf of Women In Nutraceuticals, we extend our deepest gratitude to Gnosis by Lesaffre for their esteemed sponsorship and unwavering commitment to advancing gender equity in our industry. Your leadership, advocacy, and active engagement serve as a powerful example of how organizations can create lasting impact through inclusion and innovation. We are honored to partner with you in building a future where women in nutraceuticals are empowered, recognized, and supported at every level. Thank you for being an integral part of this movement.
— The Women In Nutraceuticals Team
Learn more here: www.gnosisbylesaffre.com
