From Burnout to Balance: How Saanroo's CEO Is Rebuilding Corporate Culture - John Quilter

Liesl Bernard speaks with John Quilter, CEO of Saanroo, about his shift from a long corporate career into a family-owned wellness business. John shares why he stepped away from a high-travel leadership role, how he rebuilt balance in his life, and why Saanroo’s science-first approach sets it apart in the nutraceutical space.  John explains why he left an 18-year global leadership career at Kerry and nearly retired in 2023 before choosing a new entrepreneurial path.  He shares how constant travel, family priorities, and burnout risk pushed him to reassess what success really meant.  Saanroo’s rebrand from Gencor is discussed to separate the nutraceutical business from the family’s broader pharma interests.  John outlines Saanroo’s science-led positioning, including nearly 80 clinical studies and roughly $20 million invested in research.  He breaks down Saanroo’s core product platforms: men’s health, female health, health span and metabolic health, and advanced delivery systems.  The conversation covers Levigen, Triptee, Testafin, Tesnor, Liby FEM, and Hair Age as examples of Saanroo’s branded ingredients and areas of focus.  John explains why delivery systems matter, especially bioavailability, stomach resistance, and better absorption of lipids and other ingredients.  He describes the company’s partnership with Pharmaco in Australia and the role of technologies like LippySpurse, Aquacell, CPO, and liposome formats.  John talks through the culture he is building at Saanroo, emphasizing humility, vulnerability, respect, and supporting people as whole humans, not just employees.  He shares how the company is thinking about AI adoption, starting with policy, internal     Chapters:  00:00 - Introduction to John Quilter and Saanroo’s story  01:16 - Why John stepped back from corporate life  04:34 - Choosing entrepreneurship over retirement  06:28 - How Saanroo became the next chapter  07:25 - Family culture and people-first leadership  09:59 - Strategy, structure, and execution as John’s leadership framework  11:21 - Building personal balance through travel limits, swimming, and family time  13:51 - Why Gencor became Saanroo and what the new name means  15:01 - Why science and clinical research are central to the brand  17:24 - How Levigen and Triptee work in simple terms  20:11 - Saanroo’s four growth platforms  21:36 - Hair health, publications, and credibility through science  23:03 - Delivery systems: powders, liposomes, and better absorption  24:30 - Manufacturing standards and pharmaceutical-grade quality  26:07 - The next two to five years: growth, expansion, and stronger market recognition  30:17 - Hiring for culture fit and practicing humility  31:05 - Celebrating wins, handling mistakes privately, and staying aligned  33:29 - Why small gestures build loyalty and trust  35:25 - Vulnerability, leadership, and not needing to know everything  36:25 - Zooming in and out without getting lost in the details  38:27 - How Saanroo is approaching AI adoption  41:08 - John’s morning routine and supplement habits  43:19 - Where John is happiest outside of work  44:49 - Favorite travel destinations, especially Asia and Japan  46:56 - The quote John lives by: “If it is to be, it’s up to me”  Contact John Quilter:  https://www.saanroo.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-quilter-3b316b22/  George Kokkinis – Bioavailability Scientist  Contact Liesl Bernard:  liesl@leadingforwellness.com  https://www.linkedin.com/in/lieslbernard/   www.leadingforwellness.com