Women In Wellness: Simone DuBois Of POSSIBLE On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing

An Interview With Wanda Malhotra

Trust your gut. There is time for data, there is time for gathering feedback, there is time for calculated decision making, but there is also time to just trust your gut and do what you believe, based on the knowledge you have and what feels right.

Today, more than ever, wellness is at the forefront of societal discussions. From mental health to physical well-being, women are making significant strides in bringing about change, introducing innovative solutions, and setting new standards. Despite facing unique challenges, they break barriers, inspire communities, and are reshaping the very definition of health and wellness. In this series called women in wellness we are talking to women doctors, nurses, nutritionists, therapists, fitness trainers, researchers, health experts, coaches, and other wellness professionals to share their stories and insights. As a part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Simone DuBois.

Simone DuBois, Director of Active Lifestyle Products at POSSIBLE, leads the creation of clean label, whole food products for active individuals. With a family legacy at Standard Process, she brings expertise and a passion for health and nutrition. Her commitment ensures a lasting impact on future generations.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?

I grew up with a strong passion for health and whole food nutrition. My background is in Integrated Healthcare and Wellness. I joined my family’s business, Standard Process, as the fourth generation in order to grow my knowledge and expertise in this space and carry on our 94 years of history for generations to come. From our company’s certified organic farm at its Palmyra, Wisconsin headquarters to our Nutrition Innovation Center in Kannapolis, North Carolina, Standard Process is committed to clinical science that advances health and changes lives through whole food-based nutrition. At Standard Process we produce more than 300 high-quality supplements in our certified organic manufacturing facility. During my time at Standard Process, I have undertaken the project of developing and launching our very first consumer brand “POSSIBLE”, consisting of clean label, whole food products centered around those that live an active lifestyle. As someone who lives an active lifestyle and has a love for all things outdoors from backcountry snowmobiling to bowhunting to exploring new places, I understand the importance of fueling my body and my adventures properly, which this brand helps me and many others do.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?

Launching the POSSIBLE brand was by no means an easy feat. Our team faced many supply chain challenges, shifts in direction, new teammates joining, and constant roadblocks. Standing in the bar room for the very first run of our Cashew Date Turmeric Snack bar with all of the food scientists that worked on the bar, the project manager, members of the quality assurance and quality control teams, the operators in manufacturing running the bar, and many others, and feeling the energy in the room as the first bars got packaged was electric. Seeing a team so excited after all the challenges we faced taught me that no matter what, when everyone pulls together and leans on one another for support, anything is possible. Every single person in that room played a role in bringing an idea to life and into the hands of consumers.

It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about a mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I do not like to dwell on mistakes, but rather concentrate on the opportunities that emerge for personal and professional development. Every decision I have made or action I have taken has been a source of valuable lessons, offering insights about myself, others, or life as a whole. Being able to learn from every situation we encounter is never a mistake. A skill I have had to work on developing in my career is patience. I always want to speed up the process, accomplish things quicker, and find efficiencies. While that is not a bad thing, I also need to make sure I am taking a step back, slowing down and making sure important steps are not skipped.

Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?

At Standard Process, we change lives, and I truly believe that. The work we are doing — from organic and regenerative farming, to in-house manufacturing, offering our employees incredible benefits, and making products that improve the health of individuals throughout all stages of their lives — has a great impact. Hearing success stories from the people who use our products, or seeing someone eating a POSSIBLE bar and loving the fact that they found nutrition they can rely on motivates and encourages me to make sure we continue to maintain our mission, philosophy, and high standards. Launching POSSIBLE just gives us another opportunity to get our name out and share our story with more people that we may not otherwise reach.

Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.

1 . Get Outside: Spending time outdoors creates a sense of connection between us and our natural surroundings. When I feel overwhelmed or need to take a step back, I like to get outside and connect with nature to recharge and energize my soul.

2 . Put the Phone Down: Oftentimes we get caught up in social media, online shopping, staying digitally connected to everyone around us, or comparing our lives to others — the list goes on. I find it important to “digital detox” on a regular basis to appreciate all that I have right in front of me and not get so caught up with the artificial world that the media can drag us into.

3 . Prioritize Sleep: No matter how hard we workout, how well we eat, or how much water we drink, if we do not get enough sleep we cannot function at our greatest potential. There are a million reasons sleep is important including our emotional well-being, immune function, ability to recover, cognitive processes and ability to think critically, yet it is often one area we sacrifice on a regular basis. Find a good sleep routine, implement good sleep hygiene habits, and stick to it.

4 . Set Goals: Setting goals no matter how small or big can guide us in the right direction. Working towards and accomplishing our goals helps us feel as if we are growing, getting better, and achieving what we set out to do.

5 . Eat More Whole Foods: Food is so genetically modified nowadays and riddled with synthetic ingredients or processed far beyond its original form, all resulting in less nutritionally dense foods. Finding foods that are as close to their whole food form, organically grown or sourced, and from a reliable source will fuel your body the way nature intended, and your body will thank you.

If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?

I would start a movement to change the way we feed the world. It is very sad how much the nutritional content in our food has declined, how processed food has become, and how many ingredients we cannot even begin to pronounce are commonplace on labels. I would love to encourage others to start being more conscious about what they are consuming and where it is coming from. My passion behind POSSIBLE is really around our pillars and what we stand for, providing whole food based, clean label, organic products that work for your body, that you can trust. Having the right nutrition that actually works for your body is essential in reaching your goals.

What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?

1. The people we surround ourselves with matter. The connections we make matter. Surrounding ourselves with the right people will greatly contribute to achieving our goals and overcoming challenges.
2. It is okay to say no. We are not capable of doing everything all of the time. We need time for ourselves and our family too. If we burnout, we cannot perform at our best.
3. Work-life balance is essential. It is easy to get so caught up in work we forget to live our lives too.
4. Trust your gut. There is time for data, there is time for gathering feedback, there is time for calculated decision making, but there is also time to just trust your gut and do what you believe, based on the knowledge you have and what feels right.
5. Embrace failure. Failing provides one of the best opportunities to learn.

Sustainability, veganism, mental health, and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?

Sustainability is a dear topic to me right now, due to the immense amount of work we put into organic farming and sustainable agriculture. Sustainability means something different to everyone, but with POSSIBLE and Standard Process, sustainability means giving back to the earth we take from and making the soil better than we found it. Organic is not easy, but the benefits of organic food on our bodies, for our families, and for the world, far exceeds the challenges. During the development of the POSSIBLE brand, 100% certified organic has remained one of our big pillars. The ingredients we cannot grow on our organic farm in Palmyra, WI, we rigorously source from high quality, trusted, organic suppliers.

What is the best way for our readers to further follow your work online?

Check out our website at www.mypossible.com and follow us @mypossiblefoods on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. If interested in our parent company Standard Process, check out our website Standardprocess.com, and follow us at @standardprocess on IG and FB.

Thank you for these fantastic insights! We wish you continued success and good health.

About the Interviewer: Wanda Malhotra is a wellness entrepreneur, lifestyle journalist, and the CEO of Crunchy Mama Box, a mission-driven platform promoting conscious living. CMB empowers individuals with educational resources and vetted products to help them make informed choices. Passionate about social causes like environmental preservation and animal welfare, Wanda writes about clean beauty, wellness, nutrition, social impact and sustainability, simplifying wellness with curated resources. Join Wanda and the Crunchy Mama Box community in embracing a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle at CrunchyMamaBox.com.