# 31 Medicine Rooted in Nature: Jayn Sterland on Biodynamic Farming, Integrative Health and the Wisdom of Weleda
In this richly inspiring conversation, Dr Elizabeth Thompson welcomes Jayn Sterland, Managing Director of Weleda, to explore what happens when business, nature and integrative health collide.
Jayn shares her journey from a high-flying global career in fashion to leading one of the world’s most purpose-driven natural health and skincare companies, a path shaped by a pivotal moment at her son’s hospital bedside.
Together they explore the philosophy of anthroposophy, the science and soul of biodynamic farming, and Weleda’s extraordinary global work with farming communities from Moldova to Morocco. With warmth, honesty and hard-won wisdom, Jayn makes a compelling case that integrative health isn’t radical or alternative, it’s simply common sense.
To celebrate Jayn’s podcast, Weleda have given NCIM podcast listeners 25% discount when using the code: NCIM25.
KEY TOPICS DISCUSSED:
- Integrative health is rooted in the understanding that our physical, emotional and mental wellbeing are inseparable from one another.
- A values crisis in midlife can be a powerful catalyst for purposeful, lasting change.
- Biodynamic farming treats the land as a living ecosystem, where biodiversity, balance and reciprocity replace chemicals and extraction.
- Weleda’s farm-to-product model demonstrates that ethical, sustainable business practices and commercial success are not mutually exclusive.
- True sustainability means putting back at least as much as you take out, in farming, in business and in life.
- Supporting farming communities globally, from lavender growers in Moldova to rose farmers in Morocco, creates supply chains built on fairness and mutual benefit.
- The name Weleda is not just a brand, it embodies the archetype of the wise, nature-connected woman who heals and empowers her community.
- As a businesswoman undertaking the NCIM Master’s programme, Jayn discovered that lived experience in integrative health is as valuable as clinical training.
- Women’s instincts about health — their own, their children’s, their patients’ — deserve to be heard and respected within healthcare systems.
- Growing older as a female leader can bring a liberating clarity: stop making yourself small, trust your voice, and stop apologising for doing good work in the world.
About our guest:
Jayn Sterland is Managing Director of Weleda UK and was ranked No.1 in 2023’s Who’s Who of Natural Beauty. She serves on the Advisory Board of the British Beauty Council, where she chairs the Sustainable Beauty Coalition, and is also on the board of the global B Corp Beauty Coalition.
Recognised for her leadership in sustainability, Jayn has received multiple industry awards, including an Outstanding Achievement Award at NOPEX and honours from the CEO Today Awards. With over a decade at Weleda, she continues to champion socially and environmentally responsible business practices as a speaker and columnist.
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Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health or treatment plan.