The finished supplement on a shelf is the end of a much longer story. Before it can reach an athlete, an idea must pass through ingredient selection, scientific support, formulation, manufacturing, positioning, and commercial relationships. Sara Willis understands that process from an unusually broad perspective: as an IFBB professional athlete, a trainer, and an industry professional.
“It is amazing to see something go from an idea in someone’s mind to a product you can hold in your hand.”
— Sara Willis
Sara Willis
- IFBB professional athlete and competitive figure athlete
- ACE Certified Personal Trainer, Fitness Nutrition Specialist, and Sports Performance Specialist
- Nutraceutical industry professional with Akay Bioactives
- Previous experience in pharmaceutical sales
- Longstanding interest in athletics, fitness, and sports nutrition
Discovering a Career She Did Not Know Existed
Before entering the nutraceutical industry, Sara worked in pharmaceutical sales. The role gave her commercial experience, but eventually began to feel routine. When a recruiter described a position in the ingredient industry, her first reaction was disbelief: was this really a job?
She interviewed, accepted a role, and quickly found the combination she had been missing. The work involved people, science, products, and the satisfaction of helping an idea become something tangible. Her only regret was not knowing earlier that this part of the industry existed.
That gap in awareness matters. Sports nutrition careers are often presented as a short list: dietitian, coach, academic researcher, or brand marketer. In reality, the field also needs people in ingredient science, technical sales, business development, formulation support, regulatory affairs, quality, and supply.
Athlete Experience Meets Ingredient Work
Sara’s work with Akay Bioactives includes exposure to clinically studied branded botanical ingredients, specialty ingredients, and proprietary technologies designed to address challenges such as bioavailability, taste, and odour.
Her athletic background helps her understand why those details matter. A scientifically promising ingredient still has to work within a product that people can use consistently. Dose, delivery, taste, format, evidence, and trust all affect whether innovation reaches the end user.
Athlete experience does not automatically make someone an ingredient expert. What it can provide is a close understanding of the questions athletes and coaches ask. When combined with continued education and honest technical support, that perspective becomes commercially useful.
Become a Partner, Not Only a Seller
Sara believes knowledge changes the customer relationship. Someone who only repeats product information can answer a narrow set of questions. Someone who continues learning can better understand a customer’s problem, recognise when an ingredient is—or is not—a suitable fit, and become a more useful partner.
That is why she encourages people entering the industry to take classes, pursue continuing education, and learn how the market and ingredients work. Relationships remain essential, but strong relationships are sustained by accurate information and reliable follow-through.
The Value of a Community You Can Question
ISSN gives Sara access to speakers, organisers, attendees, and industry professionals who are willing to talk beyond the stage. For someone still relatively early in the nutraceutical sector, the combination of research and informal conversation accelerates learning.
The conference also helps her connect the different parts of her career. She can view performance nutrition as an athlete, a trainer, and someone helping products move toward the market. Each perspective sharpens the others.
A Question for You
Which part of the sports nutrition industry would you most like to see behind the scenes: ingredients, formulation, regulatory work, manufacturing, or brand development?
Follow Sara Willis
Website: https://sarawillisifbbpro.weebly.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarawillisifbbpro/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaraWillisProFigure/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sara.willis
From Learning to the Profession
GPNi® and ISSN-aligned education can support careers beyond direct athlete practice. Understanding evidence, mechanisms, dosage, safety, and application also strengthens work in ingredients, product development, technical sales, and customer education.
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