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AHPA Chief Science Officer receives Women In Nutraceuticals Guiding Star Award
November 4, 2025.jpg)
From left: WIN Awards Chair Petra Erlandson (Alkemist Labs); Holly E. Johnson, Ph.D. (AHPA); Emily Britton, Ph.D. (USP); and Amber Bennett (AHPA)
The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) is pleased to announce that Chief Science Officer Holly E. Johnson, Ph.D., was honored with the Guiding Star Award by Women In Nutraceuticals (WIN) at the awards ceremony during the WIN Gender Equity Networking Reception at SupplySide Global in Las Vegas last week.
The WIN Guiding Star Award celebrates an extraordinary individual who has been instrumental in mentoring and elevating women within the nutraceuticals industry. Dr. Johnson, a recognized leader in herbal and analytical science, was selected for her dedication to fostering the next generation of female scientists and industry professionals.
"I'm truly honored and humbled to receive the WIN Guiding Star Award," said Dr. Johnson. "Supporting, and learning from, the incredible women in our industry — like Dr. Emily Britton and so many others — has been one of the most meaningful parts of my career. Their passion and curiosity continually remind me why mentorship matters. As a woman in science who struggled coming up in a well-fortified boys club environment, it was natural for me to want to engage with younger women scientists and encourage broader inclusion of their voices in industry discourse. Thank you to WIN for acknowledging the value of women helping each other by creating this award.”
The WIN Awards program is designed to celebrate the remarkable contributions and achievements of those who champion gender equity, drive research innovations, excel in mentorship within the nutraceutical sector, and demonstrate outstanding business acumen, pioneering vision, and a commitment to advancing women's leadership in the industry. Each award category has been designed to reflect the core mission of WIN: to empower women and foster an inclusive, supportive environment where their talents and contributions can thrive.
In addition to Dr. Johnson, WIN Award recipients for 2025 include:
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WIN Champion: Heather Wainer, Publisher/Chief Business Officer, WholeFoods Magazine
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WIN Entrepreneur of the Year: Kristina Hall, President & Owner, True Grace
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WIN Research Pioneer: Abbie Smith-Ryan, Ph.D., Professor and Director of the Applied Physiology Laboratory, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Women In Nutraceuticals is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused on unlocking the professional and personal potential of women. The organization is igniting a movement to build support for women across the nutraceutical supply chain to help increase the percentage of women holding leadership roles, funding for female-led businesses, and women's participation in research. All programs are guided by our core values. Connect with WIN on LinkedIn.
