While there is considerable work to be done on this front , the new BY MELISSA generation of women entering the industry have plenty of female role

DOWLING models in leadership positions , who have helped pave a smoother way

for them .

We reached out to some of the influential women in beverage alcohol today to learn more about their backgrounds , inspirations and role models , and what it means to be a leader in the industry today . Here ’ s what they had to say .

Bar director , Raines Law Room & Raines Law Room at the William , Dear Irving , Dear Irving on Hudson

How did you get into the beverage alcohol business ? I began bartending in college for a wonderful boss named Susie that ran a bar in New Haven , CT . I have always loved the energy of bars , and while I worked in music and publishing when I moved to New York , I found myself getting back to it full time . With craft cocktails becoming popular there was a creative element that I loved combined with hospitality .

Did you have a mentor in the industry ? Have you been a mentor to others ? I don ’ t have a formal relationship , but I have

PHOTO CREDIT : ERIC MEDSKER a close community of women in this industry that serve as my sounding board and cheer squad , and I am the same to them .

Have you faced challenges as a woman in a leadership position in what ’ s still a male-dominated industry ? sions ? Like many women , I have been underestimated or assumed there is “ someone else ” to talk to , but I have always made an effort to stay grounded in the type of leader I want to be and my genuine personality . Perhaps it ’ s been a slower burn than other routes might have been , but I am proud of my path and the community I ’ ve built .

How has your company benefited from having women at the table making decisions ? I can only speak to my experience , but I see hospitality in very holistic lens . It ’ s not just the drinks , but the ambience , the morale of the team and finding creative outlets in a repetitious service .

I believe all this and more has given Raines Law Room the staying power that it has . We take it very seriously that we are in the background of some of the most magical nights for people , and when I talk about the feeling of a place as much as the data of pours and costs , it ’ s embraced wholly .

Do you think the beverage alcohol industry has improved as far as women and gender DEI in the past five years ? When I was getting started in the craft cocktail scene , it took a lot of cues from fine dining in terms of the formality and Euro-centric approach to what ’ s considered premium or the “ right ” way to serve guests . Spirits and cocktails come from all over the world and are often a point of pride from the culture or country they comes from .

I do see that there is more embracement of a global perspective . I think there can be more diversity in who is at the top of decision making , especially in the big portfolio companies . And that means they need to open to change on the inside and not just celebrating change-makers through programming and events .

What advice do you have for people ( women in particular ) looking to get into the spirits industry ? I would say first that there is no shortcut to experience . So much of hospitality on the bar side is human interaction — which is never the same twice , but we can always learn what communication style works , how to elevate an experience , how to actively listen , and so on . That element never stops for me .

I also think it ’ s important to soak up knowledge from people whose career you admire , but with the mindset that you ’ re weaving that into your own quilt . Think about what feels right and authentic to you , and round it out with what advice speaks to you .

Founder / CEO , Women of the Vine & Spirits ; president , Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation ; founder / CEO , Diverse Powered Brands

How did you get into the beverage alcohol business ? After spending 20 years in the male-dominated television and film technology industry I decided to transition to pursue my passion , working in the wine industry .

10 2023 Beverage Industry Inclusion