INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

Influential women inspiring inclusion

In celebration of International Women’s Day this month, National Liquor News spoke to influential women across the Australian liquor industry about their experiences and achievements.

International Women’s Day is held on 8 March every year as a day to celebrate women’s strengths and to continue the fight for gender equality. This year’s theme is ‘Inspire Inclusion’, which calls for women’s involvement in all spheres of life, as well as recognising the unique perspectives and challenges of women with diverse backgrounds and identities.

From an industry perspective, this means empowering women to take on a broad range of roles and striving for gender parity across all levels of business, from entry-level positions to leadership roles. It also means welcoming diversity and understanding that this is a means of strengthening businesses and the industry.

As we all know, the liquor industry is about much more than just the products on the shelf. It is also an industry of connection and collaboration. The women who spoke to National Liquor News for this feature have made the industry better through their participation and are empowering other women to forge their own paths ahead.

Tess Sharp

People Advisor at Endeavour Group and Retail Drinks Australia’s Young Liquor Retailer of the Year

Tess Sharp’s career in liquor retail began at the age of 24 as Assistant Store Manager for Dan Murphy’s, and she says her career shaped the person she is today.

As the recipient of the 2023 Retail Drinks Australia (RDA) Young Liquor Retailer of the Year award, Sharp currently sits on the RDA Board as an observer, which has provided her with a deeper understanding of the issues facing the industry, and how RDA advocates for the sector in respect to these challenges.

“Despite making up a significant portion of the workforce in the sector, women are still underrepresented in leadership roles across the entire industry,” she says.

“More than ever, I see our industry evolving in ways that are empowering women. However, statistics and lived experience tells us that women are still disproportionately subjected to discrimination and harassment, as well as being underestimated and not taken seriously in leadership roles.

“While it can be difficult, we all need to be committed to breaking through these barriers and resetting what never should have been acceptable in the first place.”

Sharp says the best single piece of advice she can give, is to get yourself a mentor who will challenge your way of thinking and the way that you see the world.

“Having a great mentor will not only help you to navigate challenges and be a great sounding board for when you need to sense check, but they will help you with your personal and professional growth by providing you with honest feedback.”

Nicole David

Licensee and Director of Elizabeth Bay Cellars

Nicole David has an extensive history in liquor retail, spanning nearly 40 years. She has been keenly aware of the underrepresentation of women in the retail liquor industry, having only recently reached gender parity in her own store.

Two years ago, David took over her family’s liquor story during a period of ill health for her father. It was at this point that she realised the full extent of her professional capabilities.

“Sometimes when you are pushed into a situation where you have to step up, you surprise even yourself,” she said.

For David, the key challenge for women in the retail liquor industry is recognition for their skills and their efforts. In the future, she would like to see retail liquor promoted as a valid and rewarding career path for young women.

“We need to open up the conversation about the liquor industry as a career path and show young women where it can take them.”

Kate Burls

Owner of Lorn Bottle Shop

With a background in corporate marketing, Kate Burls never expected to enter the liquor retail industry until she inherited a bottle shop. The career change came with a learning curve, as Burls went from employee to employer, but she found many of her existing skills also applied to liquor retail.

“Like any small business, you have to be able to multitask, and most importantly communicate and that is something women have in spades,” she said.

While Burls recognises that the liquor industry is male-dominated, she has seen an increasing number of women enter the industry.

“They bring a little je ne sais quoi to the industry that appeals to the female market, thus creating greater variety in the market, which can’t be a bad thing,” she said.

Burls encourages women in the industry, or looking to join, to have a clear vision, be prepared to fight for their beliefs, and have a solid support crew to help them through difficult times.

“Most importantly, enjoy the ride. The liquor industry can be very fulfilling and rewarding and a lot of fun along the way.”

Natalie Smith

Co-Founder of Taylor and Smith Distilling Co

From her younger years spent as a sailor to a student of Environmental Science, Natalie Smith has had an extremely diverse career. Together with her partner Ben Taylor, Smith co-founded Taylor and Smith Distilling Co, and she says the business is a reflection of their culture and beliefs.

“We have consciously made a decision to minimise the gender bias and be inclusive in our approach. With our brand, our mission is bringing people together, sharing stories of place through our spirits.”

At the distillery, Smith says the duo have worked hard to build a strong team that involves some fantastic women from a diverse range of backgrounds.

“These women have strongly influenced the directions we have taken, the types of products we offer and how they are marketed,” she added.

Increasing the number of women in the industry is an important step in valuing and encouraging women’s inclusion, Smith says, and ensuring that as women we support each other to succeed.

“This is additionally challenging in a competitive market, but understanding that strong local industries that are inclusive for women and where their voices are heard loud, clear and respected, is an important building block to strengthening the industry overall.”

Kathleen Davies

Founder of Nip of Courage

Kathleen Davies began her career in the hospitality industry in the early 90s, starting out as a bartender and later moving into sales and marketing roles in the liquor industry.

Since founding Nip of Courage in 2013, some of Davies’ career highlights include the national expansion of her business, her previous position on the Board of Women in Hospitality and now as the Chairperson for Women of Australian Distilling.

“I am passionate about helping women to reach their potential and giving them the support and career advice that I wish I had in the early years of my career. My goal is to see more women in the future sitting on boards and holding more senior positions within the liquor and hospitality industry,” she says.

For Davies, one of the biggest challenges that stands out is women missing out on career advancement opportunities, and she believes this is often a result of imposter syndrome.

“As women, I believe at one stage or another we purposefully derail our own careers without knowing it.”

Sharing her own advice for overcoming self-doubt, Davies says women should “think like a man and wing it”, explaining that men don’t always tick every box when applying for a role but willingly take the risk, and so should women.

“The best lessons in life are learnt when we fail or don’t get the job we really wanted,” added Davies. “Learn from your failures and get up and give it another crack.”

Jemma Blanch

Marketing Director at Four Corners (which includes Four Pillars and Vanguard)

While Jemma Blanch points out that the craft spirits industry is an inclusive space where she is surrounded by a lot of vibrant women, she says you can’t escape the challenges that come when starting a family.

“Being pregnant and having young kids is tough when you’re expected to be out at night, keeping up with new venues and trends and everyone around you is drinking. It does play on your mind a bit.”

But despite these challenges, Blanch says that 2023 really felt like the year of epic women.

“Between the Matildas, Taylor Swift and Barbie, I think the economic and cultural influence of women is flowing through society. I would like to think it is also giving women confidence to value themselves. That absolutely has to happen before other people will value them, and I’m hopeful that is happening in a big way.”

Jaz Wearin

Co-Founder of Modus Operandi Brewing and Founder of NORT Brewing

Alongside her husband, Jaz Wearin co-founded Modus Brewing 10 years ago, and the past decade has been filled with highlights and challenges.

Motherhood has been an important facet of Wearin’s life and career, with her pregnancy cravings serving as the driving force behind the launch of NORT non-alcoholic beer. Being a working mother has provided its own share of challenges.

“I would love to see a world where the government works with business owners to come up with a more fulsome offer for working mums, so they do not fall behind in their career, salary and super contributions,” she said.

For Wearin, seeing more influential women in senior positions, giving keynote speeches, and being featured in media throughout the year would encourage more women to enter the industry.

“I always remember when I first started out hearing Peta Fielding from Burleigh Brewing as a keynote speaker and it was one of those moments that made me realise that women have a very important place in the industry.”

Vanessa Wilton

Co-Founder of Manly Spirits Co

Vanessa Wilton’s venture into the liquor industry stemmed from a strong desire to craft premium Australian spirits specifically for her local community. Wilton drew attention to the strengths of women in business, as well as some of the risk-averse behaviours that many women have to overcome to see business success.

“It’s widely acknowledged that women excel in initiating businesses, yet may grapple with self-confidence and navigating financial risks to scale their ventures to the next level.

“It’s a delicate dance between managing cash flow and embracing calculated risks—a challenge I’ve encountered firsthand.

“Many of us have a natural inclination to create a secure ‘nest,’ which makes the notion of discarding it in pursuit of a potentially larger one quite daunting. Perhaps it’s the nurturing instinct that many women carry from their personal lives that flows into their approach to business. Interestingly, this nurturing quality can also serve as a tremendous asset.”

Suzanne Blake

Marketing and Office Manager at Retail Drinks Australia

For Suzanne Blake, success is less about career defining pivotal moments, but rather a focus on turning up each day and being the best version of yourself, an approach that has been the cornerstone of shaping who she is today personally and professionally.

Speaking about eliminating hierarchies, Blake says she will be forever appreciative of an approach introduced by a respected industry leader during her time in the wine industry.

“An approach introduced to develop organisational effectiveness by enabling the time to think; individually, in meetings, and across every organisational interaction with courage and rigor, […] and creating a culture of ease, appreciation, empowerment, understanding, equality and respect.”

According to Blake, fostering a sense of inclusion and empowerment is critical to diversity and shaping meaningful experiences both inside and outside of the workplace.

“Be true to yourself, have the courage to speak up, be curious, build strong and diverse networks, and ask for what you need. You may be surprised with the level of support available, and if it’s not available, create it,” she added.

“Don’t be afraid to lean into tough conversations with empathy, humility and compassion, bring your support networks in when required, be proud of your achievements and celebrate those around you. Having these qualities builds great leaders.”