“What is important to know about SmartyPants is that we are a small company, so I know everyone within these walls. We are all fully accessible to each other and, like I mentioned above, I’m a fan of real-time communication as opposed to emailing,” says Brenda. “I make myself available to our employees so that I’m able to support their thoughts, actions, and growth through moments such as “Breakfast with Brenda,” company-wide sessions like monthly Gratitude sessions and regular Town Halls with open Q&As. Having 100% compliance in our performance management process and simply being a positive role model for leaders early in their career is really important to me.”

Creating A Successful Brand

This past March, SmartyPants launched an all-new line of Sugar-Free gummy vitamins, which has been a priority for Brenda and her team. When closely observing the ‘sugar free’ vitamins on the market right now, 90% use sugar alcohols which can cause digestive discomfort. “As the #1 vitamin brand for parents of picky eaters, we developed our sugar free vitamins with plant-derived sweeteners (monk fruit, allulose), resulting in a gummy that avoids causing digestive discomfort and boasts a softer, more delicious texture than other current sugar-free offerings,” elucidates Brenda. “As for what’s coming down the pipeline, we’re working hard with our partners at Vitamin Angels to deliver on our goal of positively impacting 100 million lives. We believe that good health belongs to everyone which is why we make donations that help provide life-changing vitamins to mothers and children at risk of malnutrition in 65 countries worldwide, as well as all 50 U.S. states.”

Brenda is always looking for ways to make life easier for moms and believes that access to proper nutrition is a right for all. One way that they have showcased this commitment is through their newest launch, premium multis in Walmart. The release of this new line bolsters SmartyPants’ initiative to make better health accessible for everyone by offering these new premium Multivitamin gummies to Walmart customers at a more accessible price point.

For the pioneering leader, her hard work has resulted in solid business results. She has had the opportunity to show success in business turnaround situations, launching new businesses and integrating newly acquired businesses in both large multinational companies and small scale-up size companies. “Although I have been in the industry for almost 25 years, I feel like I am just getting started. The business world is incredibly dynamic and fast-paced,” says Brenda. “Technology, innovation, and ever-changing consumer behavior continue to keep the business world attractive and exciting. I look forward to continuing to deliver profitable growth and helping to solve consumer tensions with trusted, science-based products.”