International Women's Day: Whisky is...Connection
To mark International Women’s Day on 8th March, we caught up with current and former members of the SWE team to hear how whisky has helped them forge meaningful connections with women across the industry and within the SWE family.
Matilda Mear: Assistant Visitor Experience Manager
“Working in whisky has allowed me to build meaningful connections with other women who share a passion for the industry. I was lucky enough to be a part of the OurWhisky Foundation ‘Atonia’ programme. This gave me the confidence to grasp all the opportunities the industry has to offer. Through these tastings, industry events and collaborations, I have found a supportive network that celebrates each other’s achievements and advocates for greater female representation in the whisky world. These relationships have not only strengthened my professional growth but also created lasting friendships rooted in a shared passion and mutual encouragement.”
Rosie Willmot - Head of Communications at The Scotch Whisky Association & SWE Alumni
“Apart from the quality of our incredible product, a huge part of Scotch Whisky’s global appeal has always been its people: the conversations I’ve had – and still get to have – with people in all areas of the industry over the course of my career is why I love it so much. It has always been a very nurturing and welcoming industry for anyone at any stage of their career, and I was really lucky to see that first-hand during my time at SWE.”
Moa Reynolds - Content Creator, Writer and Photographer & SWE Alumni
“I think whisky really has connected me to some incredible women over the past eight years since I started working in the industry. From my humble beginnings at The Scotch Whisky Experience which really set the tone for how involved women are in whisky as there were some inspiring people all around me so, when I eventually moved on to pursue my own voice in whisky, I already had women to look up to. To today when I actively try to encourage and work toward a more inclusive whisky world and frequently meet new people through my work, the OurWhisky foundation programme and online – and it’s so easy to connect because we already have something in common – we like whisky!”