NutraWomen Wednesday: Alicia Wolf, senior director of regulatory affairs, Ritual

Alicia Wolf, senior director of regulatory affairs at Ritual, said her journey into regulatory work wasn't exactly planned. A Fargo, North Dakota native, Wolf grew up with horses. She aspired to be a zoologist, which led her to pursue her undergraduate degree in biology.

While she ended up going a different direction, Wolf said horses taught her valuable lessons in discipline and teamwork, which she applies to her work in regulatory affairs today.

“From a young age, the hard work, focus and discipline required to achieve national championships instilled a really strong work ethic and a commitment to excellence in me and the rigorous training, daily responsibilities of animal care and the teamwork necessary for competition definitely helped shape my leadership approach,” Wolf said.

“Essentially learning to get up and get back on the horse when things didn't go as planned. And that mentality translated directly into my work in regulatory affairs where attention to detail and a persistent focus are essential for ensuring both the quality of our products and the success of our regulatory efforts. Now those early lessons in discipline and teamwork help guide my overall approach and drive my dedication to setting high standards in the field.”

With a spouse in the same industry, Wolf often finds her work life and personal life intertwined. She said the unique predicament gives them the advantage of having an inherent understanding about the demands of their jobs.

“I definitely love to talk shop and nerd out, especially when we're excited about new developments or if we're both facing similar challenges. I mean, I have an in-house specialist for any of my PD innovation questions and my husband, Shane, has a built-in regulatory counterpart across the hall. It ends up being pretty convenient for the both of us,” she said.