Essential Ingredients Podcast 053: Making Business Personal: Lessons from 30 Years of Conscious Entrepreneurship with Susan and Brad Black
“In the old days, families worked together, like on a farm, and that's the model we wanted to create for ourselves at EO Products.” —Brad Black
Most businesses die because they chase profits instead of purpose—a raw, honest truth that cuts to the core of entrepreneurial burnout and lost passion. A lot of entrepreneurs pour their hearts and soul into a business, only to become a slave to spreadsheets and profit margins. But what if there was another way?
Brad and Susan Black, co-founders of EO Products, are pioneering entrepreneurs who transformed a passionate curiosity about essential oils into a 30-year sustainable business empire. With backgrounds spanning fashion, product design, and holistic wellness, they've built a company that seamlessly integrates purpose, profitability, and principled leadership.
Tune in as Justine, Susan, and Brad reveal how shared values, resilience through personal challenges, commitment to sustainable practices, and a radical approach to business can create a brand that transcends traditional profit-making models while inspiring meaningful change.
Meet Susan and Brad:
Susan Griffin-Black is a visionary product designer and co-founder of EO Products, with a background in fashion and a passion for natural wellness. After a transformative experience in a London apothecary, she studied aromatherapy and cosmetic chemistry, becoming an expert in essential oils. Her innovative approach to product development and commitment to transparency has been instrumental in shaping the natural personal care industry.
Brad Black, a former clothing manufacturer, brings extensive production expertise and a strong commitment to sustainable business practices to EO Products. With a background in recycled fabrics and ethical manufacturing, he has been crucial in developing the company's operational strategy. His focus on responsible decision-making and community-driven business models has been key to the company's success.
In 1995, Susan and Brad co-founded EO Products, leveraging their complementary skills and shared values to create a pioneering natural personal care brand. Starting with four blends for the Bloomingdale's catalog, they built a company dedicated to using pure essential oils, sustainable packaging, and transparent manufacturing. Their partnership, rooted in mutual respect and a vision for better-for-you products, has sustained EO Products through 30 years of growth and innovation in the natural products market.
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Episode Highlights:
01:02 Partners in Purpose: Brad and Susan’s Journey to a Values-Driven Business
05:38 The No Margin, No Mission Business Philosophy
08:57 The Heart of EO: Transparency, Authenticity, Community, Communication
13:18 Advice for New Entrepreneurs
17:18 The Business of Receiving
22:20 Sustainability Challenges
28:34 Mindfulness in Business and Life
37:34 Better is Better
43:33 Creating a Meaningful Business Legacy