Near 300 women and men from across the drinks industry joined at Doltone House, Sydney to celebrate the globally recognised day and to hear Catherine DeVrye – former Australian Executive Woman of the Year, give a powerful and emotive speech on the story of her life and experience in customer service, and how to drive success through the changing and sometimes turbulent climate both our professional and personal lives; in Catherine’s own words – “how to make it happen”.
Women in drinks is the industry collective of women working in the Australian alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks sector.
Women in drinks was founded in 2012 by the drinks association (publisher of drinks bulletin), to encourage and create opportunity for women working within the industry to come together, to share knowledge, information and experiences to assist one another in personal and professional development.
Men are also encouraged and welcomed to join such events to create awareness of equal opportunities. Each year, a keynote speaker is chosen to present at the International Women’s Day Lunch to provide insight into the challenges and achievements of their own career and personal life, to inspire more women to pursue a career at all levels.
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Guest Speaker DeVrye has faced some of the most difficult challenges a person can face in their professional and personal life – from losing both her parents at the young age of 21 to being thrown into a marketing and sales role at IBM with no prior experience, after being made redundant from the Department of Youth, Sport and Recreation in Victoria. Despite such challenges, DeVrye went on to become an executive at IBM and author of eight best selling books, among a number of other achievements. Catherine says her success can be attributed to her open attitude to and perspective on life, as well as to taking risks and always looking forward without losing sight of her goal.As for how to drive success in sales and customer service, DeVrye says it’s important to not think of the role as selling, but rather to providing a solution. De Vyre also highlights the importance of being passionate in sales, valuing your customer and striving to make a difference.
“The main thing I’ve learnt over the years working in customer service, is that to really succeed, if you really do give great service, that the service comes from your heart, as well as your head; while you have to make a living, you also want to make a difference.”
DeVrye also believes that great customer service relies on everyone in the overall supply chain taking personal responsibility and “passing on the baton, not passing the buck”.
“It doesn’t matter if there’s four, 40, 400, or 4,000 people in the team of your industry, it’s about everybody taking personal responsibility and passing the baton – not passing the buck”, DeVrye says. “And I think that’s a key secret ingredient to success, because too often people pass the butt, they don’t pass the baton, and don’t accept personal responsibility for what they do.”
“Take time to show your customers that you care. Because you’re not really in the drinks business, you’re in the people business.”
To conclude, DeVrye said: “The business environment is constantly changing, and each and everyday we face challenges, but it’s about weathering the storm, looking forward and supporting one another.
“Take some risks, make mistakes, learn from mistakes and move on. With risk comes reward”, Catherine said. “We all have mountains in our professional and personal lives, but it’s about making sure you never lose site and take one step at a time.”
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Yesterday’s Women in drinks International Women’s Day Lunch also witnessed the announcement of the formation of the first Women in drinks Board, with Lisa Saunders appointed as Chair.
Lisa Saunders joins the Board from Treasury Wine Estates, alongside Board members Angela Burgum (Treasury Wine Estates); Lucy Nandi and Emma Beard (Lion – Beer Spirits and Wine); Jennifer Collins (Pernod Ricard Australia); Michelle Bakar (Brown Forman Australia); Melissa Heyer (Accolade Wines); Elizabeth Greene (Diageo Australia); and Sarah Bentley (Moët Hennessy Australia).
Together, these nine women represent the first ever Board of Women in drinks and are responsible for the ongoing Structure and Strategy of Women in drinks.
Lisa says she is incredibly happy to have been appointed as Chair and already looks to the future direction of the Board.
“When Sandra asked me to join the Board, the Chair position was a logical step.
“I’m really passionate about Women in drinks, and supporting women and encouraging women to give each other confidence to taking the next step, whatever that is. And if we can help and contribute to that, even in just a small way, as well as provide forums for women to network and to be independent on various things, then we will have ourselves made a great step. That’s what this Board and Women in drinks is all about – to lead and guide, inspire and support.”
As for the future, Lisa says the Board’s long-term vision is to help embed the changes women of this industry would like to see through a natural transition.
One of the first tasks the Women in drinks Board will undertake will be to set the official Vision and Charter of Women in drinks. The focus will be on the three key areas that Women in drinks embodies – “Inspire, Support and Educate”.
For more information on Women in drinks and/or the drinks association, visit www.drinkscentral.com.au
Alternatively, Lisa Saunders can be contacted at Lisa.Saunders@tweglobal.com
Click here to view the Women in drinks Board
