Welcome to another episode of the Business Leaders of America podcast. In this episode, I sit down with Ilan Sobel, CEO of BioHarvest Sciences and an executive leader with a track record of building billion-dollar brands and driving innovation at scale. Ilan’s impressive career spans leadership roles at Coca-Cola, Weissbeerger, and now BioHarvest Sciences, where he’s leading the charge in transforming the biotech space with patented botanical synthesis technology.
We discuss key leadership lessons Ilan has learned from working in diverse global markets, the groundbreaking potential of BioHarvest’s bioreactors, and how BioHarvest is scaling its direct-to-consumer business with scientifically backed nutraceutical products like VINIA.
Ilan also shares insights on the importance of CEOs understanding their business from the ground up, the future of plant-based therapeutics, and his long-term vision for BioHarvest. Whether you’re an entrepreneur looking to build a scalable brand or curious about the biotech innovations shaping the future of wellness, you won’t want to miss this conversation.
Tune in to hear Ilan’s journey, innovative approach to plant cell technology, and advice for business leaders navigating growth, disruption, and sustainability.
Notable Awards and Recognitions
• CEO of BioHarvest Sciences since 2020, leading the development of innovative plant-based biotech products.
• Played a pivotal role in driving significant global revenue growth for major brands such as Coca-Cola, Sprite, and Powerade, while also building and scaling billion-dollar brands like Minute Maid in China, smartwater, and NOS in the USA.
• Successfully launched VINIA®, a nutraceutical product based on the patented Botanical Synthesis technology, exceeding $20M in revenue.
• Led marketing strategies for major global events such as the Beijing Olympics and the FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
• Played an instrumental role in the acquisition of Weissbeerger by Anheuser Busch InBev, a leading BIG Data, IoT, and software company.
• Led the design and rollout of a new, single-serve Coca-Cola contour bottle in China, scaled to 75 global markets.
• Forged key local alliances with global retailers like Walmart, 7-Eleven, and Disney.
How to connect with Ilan Sobel
• https://bioharvest.com/
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGRJWztmLoycsLFWqwXAzAw
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/bioharvestsciences/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilansobel/
• https://www.facebook.com/BioHarvestSciences
Show Notes
[1:40] Brief intro on Ilan and how he got to where he is today.
[4:19] Drawing on an impressive career spanning Coca-Cola,
Weissbeerger, and BioHarvest Sciences, sharing key leadership lessons that have
guided success across diverse industries.
[14:20] The
importance of CEOs understanding the entire business from the ground up and how
this hands-on approach translates to overall business success.
[19:49] BioHarvest’s Botanical Synthesis technology and its key
advantages over traditional farming, including the industrial production of
plant compounds without growing the plant.
[39:38] How to connect with Ilan and learn more about BioHarvest.
[42:28] Sharing key strategies
for building and scaling successful, recognizable brands, drawing from
experience in leading billion-dollar brands across global markets.
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