Empowering Women in Nutraceuticals: My Journey with WIN, U. Sebnem Harput-Doner, Professor of Pharmacognosy, Istanbul, Turkey

Empowering Women in Nutraceuticals: My Journey with WIN, U. Sebnem Harput-Doner, Professor of Pharmacognosy, Istanbul, Turkey 

Why I Joined WIN

I’ve worked with herbal medicines and nutraceuticals for many years. It started when I was a student, then became a professor, and later I moved into the private sector. I completed my PhD in Japan, studying medicinal plants, and then returned to Turkey to build my career in academia. For two decades, I conducted extensive research on medicinal plants, their phytochemistry, and bioactivity. I also studied traditional medicines, focusing on their therapeutic applications and safety profiles. During that time, I taught numerous students and served on various committees to ensure the quality and regulatory compliance of herbal products. Now, I’m eager to broaden my impact in other areas.

While exploring new ideas, I met with Julia. I was inspired by her views about the importance of equal representation for women. She introduced me to the WIN family, where I joined this amazing network. I’m very grateful for her mentorship. Through WIN, I’ve met incredible women from around the world, learned from their diverse perspectives, and the impressive multicultural side of this community. Today, I’m an active volunteer on both WIN’s Science Committee and Content Committee, and I help to create more opportunities for women in the nutraceutical industry.

When and Why I Pursued a Career in Science

I have been fascinated by plants and herbal products since my childhood. I remember boiling rose petals to make rose water and pressing leaves and flowers between the pages of my books. My room was always full of fallen petals and leaves. I spent nights imagining myself in the rainforests, which inspired me a lot.

When I started pharmacy school, I took a course in natural product chemistry and biology. That’s the time when I realized I wanted a career in scientific research with plants. I didn’t reach the rainforests, but I joined a lot of field studies in Anatolia. I collected many plant samples and studied their chemical and biological properties. It felt like the perfect blend of my passion for nature and science.

Challenges as a Woman in a Male-Dominated Field

Being a woman in a male-dominated field comes with many challenges. The expectations placed on women by society can sometimes be really overwhelming. We are often excluded from decision-making processes and expected to just follow rules made by others making the career development much harder. In Turkey, women are well-represented in academia, almost half of academics are women, but leadership roles have still seemed to be for men. This belief limits women’s roles in decision-making, even in academic settings. I loved my work in academia, but the journey was filled with challenges demanding intense working hours in a highly competitive, hierarchical environment. In the private sector, I faced similar struggles, especially equal representation. We are at risk of feeling isolated and vulnerable. That’s why organizations like WIN are so important, they empower us and build our resilience.

By the advantage of my background in various roles, I learned to stand on my own. Facing challenges alone wasn’t simple, but it pushed me to grow and gain a wider range of experiences. Throughout this journey, I was lucky to have the support from my family, friends, and great teams. Their encouragement is invaluable and should never be overlooked.

Looking Ahead: My Future Career Goals

In 5 to 10 years, I see myself leading or working on exciting projects that bridge academia and industry, particularly in nutraceuticals. I want to focus on discovering new herbal solutions using traditional knowledge and make reliable products that promote health and wellness. I also aim to contribute to establishing quality standards for herbal products, ensuring their safety and effectiveness. At the same time, I would love to guide and support young women in the nutraceutical field and share my knowledge to help them succeed.

Hopes for the Future of Women in Science

I have high hopes for the future of women in science. In recent years, while working on clinical studies, I noticed that women are often underrepresented. Hormonal changes related to menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause can lead to fewer women being included in these studies. I hope this changes so clinical research includes everyone fairly. WIN plays an important role in raising awareness of this problem, because every woman worldwide deserves access to evidence-based care. I also believe that if more women hold leadership and decision-making roles in nutraceutical research, our unique perspectives will shape the industry. As women, we can be excellent role models and mentors for each other. That’s why a strong network of WIN is so important, it lets us connect, collaborate, and grow together.

A Message to Women in Science

I want every woman in science to know she’s not alone on this journey. Historically, women have always played a big role in using medicinal plants, finding them, saving seeds, and making remedies for their families. This work is the backbone of many herbal medicines and nutraceuticals today. So, I’d love to see more women leading and shaping this field with their knowledge. That’s why connecting with WIN is so important. If you need advice or mentorship in the nutraceutical field, I encourage you to reach out to WIN.