WIN Member Feature: Marc Philouze

Introducing Marc Philouze, Managing Principal & Owner, AdviBio

A Champion for Gender Equality in the Nutrition Industry

Women In Nutraceuticals (WIN) member Marc Philouze brings more than 15 years of experience in the health and wellness industry, fueled by a deep commitment to promoting healthier, happier lives through a proactive approach to wellbeing. As Managing Principal and Owner of AdviBio, Marc’s work reflects a broader vision: to foster meaningful change not only in the way we approach health but also in how we shape the culture and leadership of the nutrition industry.

Marc’s dedication to equality, respect, and collaboration shines through in his involvement with WIN. His perspective, shaped by personal and professional experiences, underscores the importance of addressing gender disparities while celebrating individuality. Marc is an advocate for creating inclusive spaces where both women and men can contribute to a balanced, dynamic future for nutraceuticals, science, research, and entrepreneurship.

In this interview, Marc shares why he joined WIN, the importance of male allies in achieving gender equality, and his vision for a more inclusive industry. From mentoring rising leaders to championing respect as a core value, Marc demonstrates how fostering equality is not only essential but also a powerful way to inspire innovation and collaboration.

Read on to discover Marc’s insights and encouragement for anyone seeking to join the movement toward a more balanced and inclusive professional landscape.

Q: Why did you join WIN?

First, I joined this industry more than 15 years ago based on my strong belief that promoting a prophylactic approach towards a healthier world could only contribute to happier lives, both for those who benefit but also for those who provide. 

For historical reasons, women are oftentimes key decision makers in many families when it comes to health and wellbeing. It seems only logical that our industry should mirror this aspect in the way companies are structured and managed, to best align with our consumers’ interests and aspirations. 

Second, at a more fundamental level, gender should really not be an element of discrimination but rather an opportunity for enrichment of mindsets and better collective accomplishments. 

Equality is of course critical, but not at the expense of recognizing and valuing (individual) differences; what unites both views is the foundation of respect. 

Finally, having grown up with two sisters and being the proud father of a wonderful 15-yo girl, I have found it meaningful to bring a humble contribution to a more respectful and open society through our industry efforts. 

In all those three aspects, WIN and its leaders have shown to be a credible and well-intended initiative to promote the professional development of women in our nutrition industry, and that is why I joined. 

Q: Why is it important that men participate in helping WIN achieve our goals of gender equality in nutraceuticals, science and research and entrepreneurship?

We will have made significant progress towards WIN goals when gender ceases to be a topic of concern, that is when a person’s gender has become irrelevant to that person’s overall accomplishment and ability to identify and seize opportunities. Of course this requires an evolution of mindsets in our industry and especially amongst male colleagues.

With other men getting involved in WIN initiatives, we can first get a front-row opportunity to interact with current and rising female leaders to better understand and address the challenges they face in their respective journeys; In that respect, I have tremendously enjoyed and learnt from being a mentor in the first instance of the program and I am grateful for the authenticity of the conversation with my mentee. 

Mentoring is always a two-way street. By getting involved we also get to show to other male colleagues that this is not a “revenge” movement but rather a dynamic momentum towards a more balanced and inclusive cultural equilibrium.

Q: What are your hopes for the future of women in the work world?

Fundamentally I look forward to, and want to contribute to building, a work environment where we focus more on the collective accomplishments of individuals recognized for their direct contributions, without any subgroup labeling/categorization getting in the way of this meritocratic view. 

Respect is a cardinal value for me and everyone deserves it so as to get a chance to bring our their best in life.

Q: Why did you decide to participate in the WIN Mentorship Program?

The path to executive leadership is rarely a straight line and luck, skills and resilience combine to help one get there (as well as a solid network).

Benefiting from mentoring can shed some very useful light on that path to improve both the outcome, and at least as importantly, the satisfaction along the journey.

As a professional, it took me a long time to find myself with such an opportunity to receive mentoring, maybe out of lack of awareness about such a process when I was younger. 

Now that I have, and having gained a bit more experience over the years, it seems natural to me to “pass it along” and to help others in their individual journeys. 

I would add that we all continue to learn, especially about ourselves, at every age and so this mentoring program is also a great opportunity for me to learn from my mentees and to stay in tune with younger generations. 

Q: Do you feel it is important to have a mentor? If so, why?

Authenticity and self-awareness are two key pillars of good leadership at all levels, as they tend to make team members feel safe around their leader. 

Some people will have and will grow those character traits independently, yet most people benefit from the mirroring effect of good old socratic questioning that is at the base of mentoring. 

As leaders, we build our career progression on our strengths, and sometimes we develop blind spots along the way. It takes the well-meaning but no-nonsense probing of a trusted outsider to help us build a more comprehensive view of ourselves. 

In that respect mentors are totally different than even well intended managers, whose support is also important but with intrinsic biases related to the hierarchical nature of the relationship and the need for results. 

Q: For someone considering participating in the program, what encouraging words can you share?

WIN and its mentoring initiative are built around a community of great people that care about supporting each other. Mentoring is but one way to do so, but it is a great one for ambitious female leaders who would like to enrich their own perspective on their leadership journey, while at the same time also contributing to the experiences of other members of this community.

Marc Philouze exemplifies the power of leadership driven by respect, equality, and collaboration. Through his work with AdviBio and his active involvement in Women in Nutraceuticals, Marc is not only advocating for gender equality but also inspiring a cultural shift in the nutrition industry. His belief in the value of mentoring and his commitment to fostering inclusive environments remind us that meaningful progress is achieved through shared effort and mutual respect. By championing these principles, Marc encourages us all to take part in building a more balanced, innovative, and equitable future for the industry.

Learn more about the WIN Mentorship Program here.