BEVERAGE INDUSTRY INCLUSION
Dr . Sonat Birnecker Hart
first child : We wanted to work together , live in a city we loved , be close to family , and make our own rules ( which for me at the time was running a business without checking my motherhood at the door – nursing on demand and being with my children at work .)
Robert comes from three generations of distillers , so we had the knowhow , but when Koval became the first distillery in Chicago since the mid- 1800s , there were a number of issues affecting the growth of our business : not least a number of outdated laws in Illinois . I actually had to go to our state capital in Springfield , IL , to get the laws changed so that we could conduct tours , tastings and retail on site – the first change to the liquor laws since the end of Prohibition .
DID YOU HAVE A MENTOR IN THE INDUSTRY ? HAVE YOU BEEN A MENTOR TO OTHERS ?
I believe that one can learn something from everyone . With this in mind , I have had a lot of mentors , some related to distilling , some related to business , many related to life in general .
With regard to business , my grandmother was a fantastic mentor . She showed me that one should always keep learning , and that one can change one ’ s course in life : She started as an educator , became a nurse when my
“ I try to mentor as much as I can , whether students or members of my team ”
– Dr . Sonat Birnecker Hart , owner and president of Koval
grandfather was ailing , and later became a financial advisor . She was always learning , and always growing .
I try to mentor as much as I can , whether students or members of my team . I started my career as a professor , and I still love to teach . In fact , we have a side business , Kothe Distilling Technologies , through which we help educate people hoping to start distilleries .
We have educated over 3,500 in the art of the business , and have set up over 200 craft distilleries around the world for other people , including the largest in Uganda , first distillery in Jerusalem , and many , many more . It has been a joy seeing so many people achieve their dreams , and being a part of the process .
HAVE YOU FACED CHALLENGES AS A WOMAN IN A LEADERSHIP POSITION IN WHAT ’ S STILL A MALE- DOMINATED INDUSTRY ?
In my mind , this is an industry dominated by very competitive brands , all vying for the same shelf space and consumers , in a liquor market that is becoming compromised by new categories such as cannabis , THC and RTDs . This is the biggest challenge .
Women in this industry , like most industries , have to contend with manners of doing business that pose problems : Alot of business is conducted over drinks after hours , at times when children tend to require a mom ’ s attention , or while playing golf instead of croquet , which is lamentable . Of course , there has been an international magazine that interviewed me and attributed my quotes to my husband .
And there are the international whiskey festivals : where bar owners — that I do business with — think that it is okay ( usually after listing off all of the samples they have consumed at the other side of the room that “ I have to check out ”) to walk me around the room pulling me close with a sweaty arm around my waist , or the reporters who come to the distillery and say , “ are you the shop girl ?”
But with allies like my husband , such reporters are told , “ you have to speak to Sonat , the owner ” while walking away , and we jump up and down together in disbelief over the false attribution in print . And I am cheered on as I write a heartfelt letter to the bar owner about his behavior , and why it is inappropriate and that he would never do that to a male colleague in the same way , in hopes that , coming from me , it will be taken to heart – and when it isn ’ t , my husband reassures me – a true partner in business , and in life .
When things are bad , I just think that my great grandmother starved herself to get her parents to allow her to come to this country – alone – to work ; and work she did . She put three children through college and grad school , sewing day and night , without even being able to read . So , yes , there are challenges , but I have amazing male allies , and I have had some strong female role models that inspire me to power through .
HOW HAS YOUR COMPANY BENEFITED FROM HAVING WOMEN AT THE TABLE MAKING DECISIONS ?
Yes . Most of my sales team is made up of women , and Dando Projects , run by my sister , does our art direction .
DO YOU THINK THE BEVERAGE ALCOHOL INDUSTRY HAS IMPROVED AS FAR AS WOMEN AND GENDER DEI IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS ?
Yes , I really do think that it has changed on some levels . I also think that there
12 Beverage Industry Inclusion 2024