30 NORTH BAY WOMAN | F A L L 2 0 1 5
NATURAL BEAUTY
n the EO Products website, co-founder Susan Griffin-Black
is cleverly tagged as the company's "Alchemist." But, it's not
base metals that this pioneering businesswoman transforms
into business gold; it's plant-based essential oils.
These oils are infused into the company's natural and organic bath,
skin and hair products, lend their initials to the company name, and
create corporate magic.
Griffin-Black, who discovered essential oils at Neal's Yard
Remedies, an organic and natural health apothecary on a trip to
London, founded EO with her now former husband, Brad Black.
(Parents of two grown children, the two still manage the company
together. Black handles marketing and operations while Griffin-Black
heads up the product and financial divisions.)
"Paul Hawken was the one who knew about Neal's Yard," she
recalls. "Brad and I had read his book, '
Growing a Business' (Fireside,
1987), and we were inspired by his point of view. I wrote him from
London that I wanted to do some importing, and he became an early
investor in our company."
Susan Griffin-Black
The Essential Opportunity to Do Business and Do Good
By PJ Bremier
O
