2025 WOMEN IN BEVERAGE
dancer and teacher, raised in a large, close-knit, business-minded family. As the eldest sibling of four, I was given a lot of responsibility from an early age, and I have always enjoyed it.
Much like my husband Dan, I was raised and educated in the arts, and always strove to be a creative, analytical problem solver with the goal of finding the best possible solutions, in the most cost-effective way. As a woman, I value clear and transparent communication, and work best with a dedicated and motivated team that includes women.
Do you think the beverage alcohol industry has improved as far as women and gender inclusion in the past five years?
I’ m not sure about the past“ 5 years,” but I do believe the situation has gotten better compared with 20 years ago. Since then, I have worked with and witnessed an increasing number of capable women in different aspects of our industry, and it is always gratifying to see.
What advice do you have for other women looking to get into the beverage alcohol industry?
I would advise anyone, especially women, to learn as much as they can about the beverage alcohol industry and to be sure they have a sincere, and professional passion for it before they commit to it as a career. Being a woman in this industry is still a challenge and one needs to be strong and resilient if they want to succeed.
LITTY MATHEW
Founder of Greenbar Distillery
How did you first get started in the beverage alcohol industry?
It ' s quite a convoluted back story! It all started when I met Melkon
Khosrovian, my husband and current business partner, on the first day of journalism graduate school at the University of Southern California. We fell in love over a cup of spilled cafeteria coffee. But we came from different backgrounds and had different life goals. Despite the challenges, he asked me to marry him, and I said“ no” twice over the span of a decade. Finally, we got together and enjoyed being together so much that we ditched our formal education and migrated toward a small business that allowed us to work together.
When we started in 2004,“ craft distilling” wasn’ t even a term. We’ d taken a home hobby and weaved a business out of it thinking if we enjoyed drinking spirits made with real ingredients, so would others. And here we are 21 years later with a distillery that makes organic spirits with a California vibe.
Did you have a mentor in the industry? Have you been a mentor to others?
While I didn ' t have a mentor in the industry, I had a former boss, Leslie Pollock, who taught me to express myself. She encouraged me to have an opinion. She was my manager at Transamerica Insurance, where I was a temporary marketing assistant. I learned so much about creating marketing materials from her. Composition, color, keywords. She was( and still is) a phenomenal cook, which was also an interest of mine. We bonded over our love of flavors. I left to start Greenbar Distillery and Leslie eventually left to become a chef.
Have you faced challenges as a woman in a leadership position in what’ s still a male-dominated industry?
I haven ' t had a negative experience regarding my role. Most people see me as a small business owner. Of course, they are thrilled when they find out what kind of
business it is. However, I don ' t think the liquor industry is immune from societal norms. Women ' s roles have been minimized in our industry because that has been the case in many industries. What I absolutely love, as a woman, is owning my own business. That ' s where it ' s at, people! You can take control and change your life. I find that to be incredibly powerful.
How has your company benefited from having women at the table making decisions?
In my 21 years as a distillery owner, I have noticed that some of the best ideas to solve problems have come from the women on our staff. Our unique and measured approach to the issues that crop up illustrates that as a society, we’ re missing out when women are not at the front of the table.
Do you think the beverage alcohol industry has improved as far as women and gender inclusion in the past five years?
This is a hard question to answer, as within those five years, we ' ve had a pandemic catastrophe that killed 1.5 million Americans, where many businesses, including distilleries, went out of business. And today, given the harsh economic conditions we now face, it is hard to have an accurate picture of women and gender inclusion.
What advice do you have for other women looking to get into the beverage alcohol industry?
I guess my foremost tip is to come into the industry with more funding than you need. Unfortunately, this is not a bootstrap industry. Once you get in, here are my tips, in no particular order, to be a good boss:
• Be sure that you really enjoy what
14 2025 WOMEN IN BEVERAGE