Yasmeen Nkrumah-Elie takes home Trailblazing Woman Award
“It's such an honor—I'm still in disbelief,” Dr. Nkrumah-Elie said. “As a woman in science, as a woman in nutraceuticals, as a woman in our industry, I have felt like it is my duty and my responsibility to continually give back, to open the door for others and to make sure that we stand on integrity in terms of who we are but also what we are developing. And so to be a part of an industry that is truly trailblazing in terms of health, it is an honor to be honored in this kind of way as a trailblazer.”
The Trailblazing Woman Award, delivered at this year’s CRN Conference in Salt Lake City, honors women who have made remarkable contributions to the dietary supplement and functional food industry through leadership, innovation and mentorship. Dr. Nkrumah-Elie was selected for her extraordinary commitment to advancing science, promoting diversity and mentoring the next generation of female leaders.
In addition to her leadership role at ChromaDex, Dr. Nkrumah-Elie is a member of CRN’s Senior Scientific Advisory Council and actively contributes to several industry organizations, including Women In Nutraceuticals (WIN) and the American Society for Nutrition, where she advocates for diversity, equity and inclusion. She is a frequent speaker at industry conferences, where she shares her knowledge and helps bridge the gap between science and broader audiences.
Dr. Nkrumah-Elie’s mother, who ran a talent agency, had hoped her daughter would become an actress and buy her a home.
“There was a lot invested in me […], but I was rebellious and became a scientist and an engineer,” she said. “But I'm able to use those talents in different ways. I love speaking with people. I love actually being on stage giving presentations. It's almost like being in a play or in a performance. And so I utilize those skills and still honor my family and all that they poured into me, even though I have not been able to buy my mom a house yet, like Michael Jackson.”
As the winner, Dr. Nkrumah-Elie will be awarded a $2,500 grant. To find out if she plans to put it toward a new home for her mother, watch the full interview.
