The business development director in nutraceuticals and ingredients at Hartmann Young said her genuine passion for the industry has allowed her to actively engage at events, build meaningful networks and see firsthand the impact of nutraceuticals.
“I enjoy listening to webinars, I come to the summits and I learn facts, I actually understand how the people I’m placing within the organizations are going to have an immediate impact, and it has allowed me to be much more successful in placing candidates all over the world,” Austin said.
After caring for her grandmother with dementia while attending university, Austin said she realized these experiences shaped her approach to work, particularly when she learned about the profound gut-brain connection and preventative health measures.
“One thing that also rang true at the Nutra Healthspan Summit was the conversation between the gut-brain axis,” she said. “I didn’t really know until I got into this industry how much of an impact eating healthy and looking after your gut can actually have on the brain, particularly for a long healthspan.”
As sub-chair of Women in Nutraceuticals UK, Austin said she has found immense fulfillment connecting with other professionals and advocating for change.
“The best thing that could have happened to me in my career—I love recruitment—but I think that the success that I’ve had has been through the women and men that I’ve met through Women in Nutraceuticals,“ she said. ”It’s opened so many doors for me. It’s been fantastic, and I feel really proud to have even a small impact on the growth of Women in Nutraceuticals.”
Austin downplays her impact, but with 20K LinkedIn followers, she has made a mark in the nutra industry. NutraIngredients asked if she has any tips for building a personal brand.
“It’s about being consistent, showing up regularly, even when it feels a little bit uncomfortable,” she said. “A personal brand is personal for a reason—so don’t be afraid to be authentic. Talk about things that you genuinely know and care about, don’t try to appeal to everybody because clarity beats reach completely. Focus on adding value rather than self-promotion.”
