"When people tell you to toughen up really don’t let it roll off your back; really try to toughen up. I used to be so sensitive and hard-headed, and I would get my feelings hurt. I had to learn if you want to play in this industry or even dip your toe, you have to have thick skin."
"Identify what makes you different. Identify if you’re not a great self-promoter, become one."
“My advice would be to kick ass and keep going with it because I find a lot of satisfaction out of it. So many times, you hear people say ‘I hear women are better tasters than men.’ Anyway, I’ve never really believed it. I find it frustrating to think I’m a good somm because I’m born with this ability. If you have the passion its very satisfying to achieve the goals you set for yourself. My biggest advice if you don’t have the passion, it’s only going to be frustrating.”
#genderequality #wineindustry #diversitymatters #democratizewine
I would say, find your inner power and strongly advocate for yourself. Speak up when something bothers you. Speak up when you believe you (or others) are being treated unfairly.
In my experience, that was the turning point for me in my career, when I started stating exactly what I wanted/needed rather than wait for people to read my mind.
SPOILER ALERT: People can't read your mind.
i second the advocating for yourself! that's key. know what you're after and why you're doing what you're doing. try to find a mentor and be open to it not always being a woman 🤐
@Diana Hawkins Has it been easier or harder for you finding mentors on the winemaking side compared to working front of house? *asking the tough questions*
good question. i think i got lucky in FOH because the first person who hired me was so amazing and continues to be one of my mentors to this day. i also lucked out and found some others along the way too who are supportive and ride or die. that said, i know that is not the case for everyone and some people really struggle.
on the production side, i think it's more challenging. it's more isolating especially at the smaller winery end of the scale because it'll just be you and the winemaker and that's it except for harvest so it can be harder to meet people to mentor you. i have been able to find a few mentors but they're mostly men, which is fine. that said, my peer group is very strong, tightly knit, and full of women.
Advocating for yourself is huge! But also, find a woman mentor!!! Even if she isn't in wine!! I found a chef who was a woman and business owner, and together we created a women's Wednesday wine club that just focused on fun people, fun grapes, and an approachable environment. We picked out the wines together, and then my job was to write the tech sheets, and she did the pairings. It was so beneficial to both my career and my self esteem (at the time I was a new wine rep, I lasted 6 months of sobbing every day before I quit) to be working with Tiffany. If you're ever in Eugene OR, go to party! Downtown, on friendly, or bar, and support their amazing business. But also, know that it's hard for everyone. Patricia Greene said that "women taste better", science says we do have better taste buds then men. Also, don't go partying w the boys after tastings. One of the best pieces of advice a mentor gave me (I gathered a lot and love them all) was to always spit your wine at tastings, unless it was older than you, or vintage champagne