Herbal companies today face fragile and complex supply chains, rising compliance demands, and costly turnover in key positions. Employees often step into these roles with limited industry background and little structured training, leaving companies vulnerable to mistakes, delays, and weakened supplier relationships. At the same time, the founders who built this industry with vision and care are stepping back, often handing their companies to new ownership and leadership. Their wisdom and values risk being lost just as global and market pressures intensify.
SHI is meeting this moment through a mix of educational, peer to peer, and mentoring offerings. The Fall 2026 Learning Lab introduces core SHI values along with presentations on key topics from current members and guest speakers. Monthly Meetings and Working Groups then offer a place to go deeper on issues that matter most to members. The Learning Lab is the best on ramp into the concepts and the community.
Core themes across the series
- Sourcing and procurement strategies, negotiation, contracts, and how to sustain supplier relationships over the long term.
- A systems perspective on the whole supply network.
- Risk and resilience, including climate, quality, compliance, and consumer trust.
- Values based leadership, and how current incentives shape our priorities and actions.
- Authentic storytelling, connecting sourcing practice to brand values and consumer trust.
- Community building and peer to peer learning across companies and roles.
Outcomes
- Relationships with a community of peers for ongoing collaboration and problem solving.
- A framework, process, and set of practices for assessing and implementing sustainable and ethical practices in your company.
- New ways of thinking about what we do and why and asking whether other approaches might be better.
- Access to case studies and tools from past SHI initiatives, adaptable to your context.
- Space for personal reflection on the role you want to play in the future of this industry and support to step into that role.
Facilitated by SHI Director Ann Armbrecht with guest presentations by SHI members.
Dates: Sept 15, Sept 29, Oct. 13, Oct. 20.
Time: 11 am to 1 pm ET
Registration
Register here
Cost
- Free for active SHI Supporters and Members [contact Ann @ herbsinitiative.org for the coupon code]
- Early bird registration by September 1: $300 for non-members.
- Regular registration after September 1: $400.
- Scholarships available. Apply here by August 31.
