In the competitive world of dietary supplement ingredient suppliers, dynamic supply chain leaders stand out—especially when it comes to how they carried themselves through the challenges of Covid-19 and the ensuing years.

I asked Melissa Mack, Brea Viratos, Wilson Lau, Mark LeDoux and Jim Emme several questions concerning their leadership and values relative to navigating the various supply chain challenges experienced during the pandemic. Their responses gave immense insight into how they all led through the unprecedented times—and how and who influenced their lives to lead the way they do.

This article is about Wilson Lau.

“Connections matter. People matter. It’s not as much about what people say, as much as what people do.” 

His story

In February 2023, Wilson Lau was promoted to president of Nuherbs, an ingredient supplier of traditional Chinese herbal remedies and bulk herb supplier for practitioners and manufacturers.

You only need to spend a short while with Lau to learn how passionate he is about the herbal industry, and about helping others. It’s no doubt that his passion and leadership were deeply influenced by two of the most impacting women in his life, his grandmother, Dr. Bing Yin Lee, and his mother, Pat Kwan, who along with his father Henry Lau, were the original founders of Nuherbs.

Related:Columbia Nutritional’s female CEO attributes career growth to mother

Lau’s passion for helping people was clearly ingrained in him by his grandmother, a medical doctor who emigrated from China in 1974 and started a business in San Francisco. Lau’s grandmother went on to earn a doctorate at the San Francisco College of Acupuncture in 1984 and was one of California’s first licensed acupuncturists.

Meanwhile, his parents opened a Chinese herbal pharmacy in Oakland’s Chinatown to ensure continuous access to special Chinese herbs. Its products were known for quality, traceability and reliability, and the business consequently became Nuherbs.

His influencers

During the conversation with Lau, he noted his grandmother and mother had tremendous impact on his respect and regard for women. He proudly noted his company is very woman-centric and not just people-centric. His humble regard for women as keen influencers and doers is certainly exemplary within the industry. He revealed the ratio of female to male workers in his company is “about 60-40 or 70-30.”

Shifting the stigma

When asked how he would like to impact the raw material supply chain industry and his customers, Lau immediately remarked, “I want to ‘shift the stigma.’” He specified he was referring to the general belief of customers that Chinese herbal products lack integrity and quality.

Related:Ingredient supplier discusses supply chain challenges, leadership

Nuherbs employs an internally implemented system known as "Ai Cao Yao." It means “Love Herbal Remedies.” This is an integrity and product quality system Nuherbs uses to consistently source quality herbs ethically and responsibly. It also serves as a reminder to the company to source the highest-quality herbs.

Lau’s goal is to ensure that through his example of leadership and the integrity of his company’s products, he can impact the industry through reliability of quality ingredients, provide clarity on ingredient matters, and influence awareness about sustainability and environmental stewardship.

He’s continuing the legacy long established by his family. Lau also sits on a few boards of trade associations, where he brings unique value through his knowledge of the herbal industry.

On the future

With supply chain interruptions not all ended—and the possibility of newer challenges that inevitably lie ahead—Lau keeps his “finger on the pulse” of what is happening in the herbal markets, particularly in Asia. He periodically offers great insight into areas of the Chinese markets, warning of social and environmental issues that continue to plague this region even post-pandemic. 

He “forewarns to forearm” the industry on how to prepare to navigate potential disruptions. Despite the ongoing supply chain challenges, Lau’s words of encouragement are, “Continue following your dreams and what you love.”

Lau emphasizes focusing on environmental stewardship and sustainable incentives by increasing education and conversation about the subject matter. He suggested businesses “should hire people that are passionate about what they do and the goals the company has embraced.” This is one way Lau feels that leaders can help people share in shaping the future and making a difference in the industry.

Lau continues to add value to the herbal industry with his support and exemplary leadership. As a member of AHPA’s (American Herbal Products Association) Expert Advisory Council, he recently celebrated with APHA its recent publishing of the third edition of "Herbs of Commerce.”

Editor’s note: This is part of a series of human-interest stories, based on interviews conducted by Heather Fairman. Click on the links to read about Brea Viratos and Melissa Mack.

Founder and CEO of DF Guardian Consulting, Heather Fairman is a skilled science and executive professional with over 30 years’ executive leadership and management experience with highly effective results in regulatory affairs, QA/QC environments in the dietary supplement, food supplement, supply chain segment, biologics, OTC pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Fairman has assisted and led companies through numerous FDA audits; assisted with FDA 483 responses; averted recalls and warning letters; and established effective quality management systems, sustainable compliance and regulatory infrastructure, and organizational programs that have fostered and established mutually beneficial contract manufacturer partnerships. Connect with or contact her via LinkedIn.