Ladies in Beverage: Katherine “Kat” Wojcik

We reached out to a few of the influential girls in beverage alcohol in the present day to be taught extra about their backgrounds, inspirations and function fashions, and what it means to be a frontrunner within the business in the present day. Right here’s our interview with Katherine “Kat” Wojcik, director of beverage applications and partnerships, Luxurious & Life-style Americas, at IHG Hotels & Resorts.

How did you get into the beverage alcohol enterprise? 

After graduating from College of Nevada, Las Vegas with a level in lodge administration, I deliberate to work in entrance workplace, or different lodge management roles. After 9/11, many firms paused internships and administration coaching applications. Fortunately, I labored in eating places whereas attending college, and as a substitute of transferring to entrance workplace, stayed in eating places and bars.

I’ve all the time wished to journey the world, and have a love of historical past and the humanities. I began my profession as a journey agent, and all through my many roles and cities I’ve lived in, I’ve all the time gravitated again to wine and beverage, because it combines all of the issues I like into one glass!

Beverage has been a typical thread in my profession since I started with the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin about 20 years in the past. I’m grateful for that property requiring all leaders to grow to be licensed sommeliers. 

After receiving certification, I’ve all the time gravitated to positions that contain beverage or wine, with roles in lodges and in sports activities and leisure which are heavy in beverage programming. Except for the sommelier or gross sales supervisor, the numerous roles within the beverage business are pretty unknown. I used to be fortunate to satisfy a good friend that launched me to this world, and I’ve been in a beverage management function at international lodge firms for simply over 12 years.

Did you’ve a mentor within the business? Have you ever been a mentor to others?

I’m fortunate sufficient to have had a number of mentors all through my profession, and nonetheless communicate with lots of them in the present day. Although I want I had a feminine mentor to talk with 20 years in the past that might assist me in navigating the company tradition, construct relationships, and basically, be my finest self in a sea of male leaders. I hope to offer that for somebody, and am a part of the mentorship program at IHG, and likewise unofficially a mentor to others inside and out of doors of the group.

Being a mentor has made me a greater listener and higher chief to our groups, as a result of it’s by no means about me. It’s about them, their profession, and being there in no matter capability they want on the time. 

Have you ever confronted challenges as a lady in a management place in what’s nonetheless a male-dominated business?

In fact! I feel many people nonetheless do. Whereas there are actually lots of girls within the business, lots of the prime management roles are nonetheless held by males. I feel the challenges are barely completely different in the present day than they have been 20 years in the past, nonetheless with the identical underlying root: change. 

The world and this business will proceed to evolve, because it has executed for 1000’s of years. To achieve success on this dynamic business is to embrace the change.

How has your organization benefited from having girls on the desk making choices? 

The selections made are actually extra inclusive, and for a bigger viewers. For instance, females are an rising proportion of enterprise vacationers. Whereas not everybody suits within the stereotype, the wants and needs are completely different with regards to journey items, safety, and meal preferences. By having girls on the desk, we’re in a position to create these curated experiences for our friends.

Particularly for our beverage applications, we now have a bunch of female and male leaders blind-tasting merchandise and discussing them. We’ve a well-rounded program, and our cocktail and wine menus are developed for a range taste profiles and preferences, interesting to everybody, and leaning in to a few of these indulgent moments which are wanted by our friends.

Do you assume the beverage alcohol business has improved so far as girls and gender DEI prior to now 5 years? 

I do assume it has improved through the years with mentors and the numerous applications which have helped to help girls of their targets. It’s additionally vital to acknowledge the success of others, and to offer alternatives for these to enter the business. Organizations like Batonnage, Wine Empowered, Ladies of the Vine & Spirits, and so many extra to say, all contribute to this success. 

There’s nonetheless extra work to be executed on this space – simply because a lady cleans the wine tanks at night time doesn’t imply you’ve a various winemaking group. To be really various means you’ve illustration all through the group and the decision-making alternatives.

What recommendation do you’ve for individuals (girls specifically) trying to get into the beverage alcohol business? 

Firstly – even in the event you don’t assume you might be certified, apply. I’m certain you’ve heard the statistic about how women and men view making use of for his or her subsequent job. I don’t know the way this statistic has modified over the previous few years: Males apply for a job once they meet solely 60% of the {qualifications}, however girls apply provided that they meet 100% of them. 

In lots of circumstances, our business hires for ardour, not all the time previous expertise. Ardour, respect for others, respect for the craft, and the way you view your studying journey is what we search for. You may be taught beverage abilities and enhance your information of the topic by taking courses, incomes certifications, and dealing with others. Simply by consuming and ingesting at eating places and attempting new issues, you’re already gaining precious perception!

And don’t be afraid to take a job that’s not your ceaselessly job to be able to acquire precious abilities. When you don’t prefer it, transfer on, and add it to your resume solely if you wish to. Don’t take up area in another person’s dream job!