Nicolas Wenker – Young Living Essential Oils

Nicolas Wenker’s journey to becoming the deputy general counsel and senior vice president of legal at Young Living Essential Oils is a testament to his unyielding work ethic and adaptability.

Nicolas Wenker | Young Living Essential Oils | Deputy General Counsel & SVP of Legal

He was born in Switzerland, where he spent his early years before moving with his family to the U.S. The challenges he faced as a young immigrant in Houston shaped his relentless drive and determination to succeed, which has been evident throughout his career.

“I remember our family’s early struggles when we first moved to this country,” Wenker tells Vanguard during an interview in July. “I celebrated my seventh birthday in a motel room while my father was away working long shifts. There were just a few grocery store presents and no cake.”

Despite being an accomplished doctor in Switzerland, Wenker’s father faced significant challenges in America, where he was treated poorly and had to retake some medical certifications. Wenker says he watched his father sacrifice sleep to study for exams, and from this, Wenker learned the value of hard work and perseverance. This early exposure to hardship taught him not to shy away from challenges but to embrace them as growth opportunities.

He does that in his legal role for Young Living, a Lehi, Utah-based company that sells essential oils and other related products. It was founded in 1993 by D. Gary Young, the late businessman specializing in natural wellness products.

“Work never really stops,” Wenker admits, describing his workload. “It can be a little stressful, but I’ve had this ability since I was young—to keep moving, to handle whatever comes my way.”

Law and business

His job at Young Living allows Wenker to combine his passion for law, business, and politics with his transatlantic background, which adds a unique dimension to his work. In recent years, he has primarily focused on litigation, spending about half of his time on complex securities class action litigation, which has been ongoing for about six years. Despite the challenges of managing litigation, Wenker maintains a lean and flexible legal department, responding to issues as they arise to prevent backlogs. His ability to work late, during holidays and on weekends, and his commitment to keeping things moving, has earned him a reputation for being reliable and efficient, even under pressure.

“My approach at work is deeply influenced by the lessons I learned from watching my parents,” he explains. “The sacrifices they made and the struggles they endured instilled in me a relentless drive to improve my circumstances.”

That means Wenker is not afraid to put in the hard work necessary to make things better for himself, and those around him, and that mindset has carried him through his legal career.

Despite the demands of his role, Wenker says he finds fulfillment in the diversity and complexity of his work. He is at his best in an environment where no two days are the same and where he is constantly challenged to learn and adapt. His ability to manage various legal issues is a testament to his versatility and dedication.

“I’ve never been afraid to put in the effort, and I thrive in chaos,” he says.

Navigating legal battles

At Young Living, Wenker’s responsibilities are vast and varied. He is heavily involved in the company’s litigation efforts such as complex securities issues, as well as environmental claims and the evolving landscape of CBD law. His role also extends to overseeing marketing and branding efforts, environmental and sustainability claims and ensuring the company’s products comply with legal standards across multiple jurisdictions. Wenker’s deep knowledge of the company’s products, many of which he uses personally, has earned him the nickname “the Young Living encyclopedia.” His familiarity with the company’s operations and his commitment to its values are evident in his work, particularly in his involvement with the company’s farms and distributors.

“I use our products, I know our products, and I believe in what we do,” Wenker says. “That’s important for my role, especially when explaining what differentiates us from other direct sales companies.”

Wenker is particularly passionate about his legal work for the Young Living Foundation, a nonprofit that supports communities worldwide. He’s also deeply involved in the ever-evolving world of CBD law, which he finds both exciting and frustrating. The legal landscape surrounding CBD is notoriously complex, with the FDA forbidding companies from marketing it as a dietary supplement while state governments rush to create their own patchwork regulations.

“We’re a big company, and we have a lot of transactions around the world,” Wenker explains. “But many banking institutions still don’t understand the difference between hemp and marijuana or THC and CBD, so it can be incredibly challenging.”

Despite the difficulties, Wenker relishes the opportunity to tackle new legal challenges. “What would make me unhappy is doing the same thing repeatedly,” he says. “I don’t mind being busy and hectic, but I need variety in the work I’m doing.”

Always working hard

Wenker’s journey to higher education was one he had to navigate largely on his own. He figured out the college application process independently, motivated by a desire to create a better future for himself. In high school and college, he kept himself extremely busy, engaging in various activities that honed his time management and self-motivation skills.

Wenker earned an undergraduate degree in German and Humanities from the University of Texas, a Master’s degree in political science and transatlantic relations from the University of North Carolina and an M.B.A. from the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business. He earned a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law.

Following law school, Wenker first made a name for himself at Kirkland & Ellis in Houston. The firm had recently opened a new office, and Wenker was one of just 40 attorneys—within a few years, the office had grown to 120 lawyers, but the workload was still intense.

“It was a sink-or-swim environment,” Wenker recalls. “As a junior associate, I was handling senior-level work, but that’s what I thrive on. I do well when nobody is looking over my shoulder, no matter how hard or complex the work is.”

The ability to succeed under pressure made him an ideal fit for the role at Young Living. He joined the company as Associate General Counsel in April 2017 and assumed his current role in May 2023.

“I feel very lucky to do what I do,” Wenker reflects. “But I don’t know what other roles I’ll tackle in the future. Whatever it is, it has to speak to me. I need to feel that sense of fulfillment, which keeps me pushing for more.”