After leaving a corporate role without a backup plan, Andrade said one lesson she learned was to trust herself: “If I’m going to bet on anything, it’s going to be me.”
That mindset has also driven her to expand beyond traditional marketing skills. When developers repeatedly said her “no” to ideas, she taught herself UI/UX, giving her a broader understanding of how different teams work and strengthening her leadership approach.
Today, Andrade sees adaptability, curiosity and connection as essential leadership qualities as nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals and food increasingly converge.
Mentorship has also shaped her journey. “You have to be brave and get a mentor,” Andrade said. She credits mentors Lisa Thomas and Jacqueline Rizo with supporting her career growth and encouraging her to put herself out there. Her advice to women entering the industry is to be curious, brave and find a mentor that one can genuinely admire — professionally and personally.
Andrade said building strong relationships has been just as important to her career as developing new skills. She added that women should look beyond titles when seeking mentors and find people they genuinely admire, who can offer perspective, challenge their way of thinking and help them navigate the next step.
Andrade’s advice reflects the overarching lesson of her career: curiosity, courage and meaningful mentorship can turn uncertainty into growth — especially for women building their path in nutraceuticals.
