The idea of ‘doing well and doing good’ has been a big driver in her 25 years in the industry. Martina Joseph began her career with conventional luxury beauty brands, Chanel, Bobbi Brown, and Dr. Perricone, before shifting into the natural beauty space.
My family has always valued holistic and natural remedies, so it was an easy transition to deliver my same passion while working with biodynamic Australian brand Jurlique, natural niche hair and body care brand Carol’s Daughter, and now as CEO of Dr. Hauschka – USA. At Dr. Hauschka, we foster a culture of care – care for the earth, care for humanity, and care of the future – that presents a unique opportunity to recognize and be responsible for the essential things in life that are beyond profit. With the launch of “The Giving Garden” - an ongoing effort that helps food banks across the US provide fresh, sustainable produce to their communities and neighbors in need, we have created a real-world connection of our brand ethos that touches every team member in our organization.
~ Martina Joseph, CEO of Dr. Hauschka
Q: Why did you choose your present industry at this time?
There has been a powerful shift in what has been traditionally defined as “beauty.” What has been traditionally referred to as the “Beauty Industry” now intersects with “Health & Wellness” as a concept. Driven by the idea of self-care, people are redefining beauty on their own terms and challenging the norms, creating trends, and embracing individuality. There is influence coming from all directions – celebrities, social media personalities, forward-thinking brands – rather than from just one thing.
At Dr. Hauschka, we’ve challenged social norms for over 85 years. We’ve been a leader in natural beauty; we have always been a part of the biodynamic farming movement as well as ‘clean beauty’ both in manufacturing and ingredients. Our fundamental premise of self-care extends to caring for your surroundings. For Dr. Hauschka, this monumental market shift and a new horizon in the industry is like when the moon and the stars align for a bit of magic. It’s an exciting time to be here!
Q: What is the best/worst moment you can remember in your career?
The best moment I can remember is receiving a thank you note from a previous team member some years after she was on my team – she thanked me for seeing her will, pushing her and not giving up on her. As she grew professionally, she understood our time together prepared her for her current role. She shared that being in the “hot seat” and getting a little uncomfortable was necessary for her growth. I always hope that my feedback, guidance, and honesty impact my team in a positive way. I like to empower my team, but truly challenge them so they can see their strengths and persevere no matter the circumstance. Also, I think it wasn’t by chance the note was from a woman named Hope.
My worst moment was at a national convention a few years back, my CEO went to an extremely emotional place and he cursed me out (really cursed me out!) in front an entire group of retail partners. It was by far the worst moment, yet it also struck me as one of the most important moments as well. It was a clear example of “don’t confuse passion for emotion “– and I knew at that moment there was an opportunity to be in a better position, one where I could create and/ or be a part of a culture where people felt valued and could lead with healthy passion.
The best moment I can remember is receiving a thank you note from a previous team member some years after she was on my team – she thanked me for seeing her will, pushing her and not giving up on her.
~ Martina Joseph, CEO of Dr. Hauschka
Q: Who is your role model or hero?
My Dad, Marty Halloran. His work ethic and limitless belief in what I can accomplish set the foundation that I build on every day.
Q: What is your favorite book?
“The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz. Not only do I apply his principles – keep your word, don’t take anything personally, don’t make assumptions, and always do your best – to my everyday life, I think they’ve been invaluable in my approach to my career.
Q: Do you use any specific method or system to run daily operations of your business?
We follow a few guiding principles at Dr. Hauschka. One, “Fit for the Future.” Are we making decisions that are creating an organization that is fit for the future? This is a question that we often pose in one-on-one meetings as well as in larger groups. It moves us out of what I like to call the “me culture” to the “we culture.”
Two, we have a culture based on Dialogical Leadership, which is grounded in the premise of “Acting Independently for the Good of the Whole” as well as developing collective wisdom. Transparency is a core tenet of Dialogical Leadership. Transparency builds the foundation for trust, trust leads to a deeper commitment to the greater good versus individual goals. Transparency and trust create the space to focus and operate without fear. Every micro step builds momentum towards the Macro – the long term vision.
Transparency builds the foundation for trust, trust leads to a deeper commitment to the greater good versus individual goals.
~ Martina Joseph, CEO of Dr. Hauschka
Q: Looking back - if you could advise a younger version of yourself to do something different - what would it be?
I would say, “Don’t be so hard on yourself, and don’t take yourself so seriously!” Mistakes are not defined as losing. The most powerful and important growth often comes on the other side of mistakes.
Follow on Instagram: @drhauschkausa
.png)