Elizabeth Campbell Boyd, Vice President, Corporate Membership & Engagement, Women of the Vine & Spirits is leading a panel session at Vibe Conference this year. ‘The Correlation Between Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) and Business Development & Innovation (BD&I)’, explores the correlation between diverse companies and market growth. This panel will explore how to become a more inclusive leader, how to foster a culture of inclusion, and how to improve team engagement, and includes Dana Pellicano, Vice President, F&B Marriott International, Andréa McBride John, Co-Founder & CEO, McBride Sisters Collection and Kimberly Betts, Managing Director, Deloitte Consulting.
Bar & Restaurant spoke with Campbell Boyd ahead of the conference to learn more about her session, and the work she does with Women of the Vine & Spirits.
Why is DE&I relevant to the industry today?
Not only is Diversity, Equity & Inclusion the right thing to do, it is a business imperative. If your company does not reflect your consumer base, you are inevitably going to fall behind. Uplifting a diversity of voices, ideas and experiences will increase your company’s bottom line, create a collaborate work environment and help contribute to the overall success of the industry.
What are the main points you want the audience to takeaway from your panel?
How prioritizing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion will increase your company’s bottom line, discussing the interconnection between DE&I and Business Development & Innovation (BD&I), and learning how you play a key role in the promotion of both DE&I and BD&I as a leader in alcohol beverage.
It’s been a very tough year for the industry, but Women of the Vine & Spirits has continued to serve the community. Can you tell us more about your work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic?
As the pandemic has disproportionately impacted our On-Premise community, we have continued to do what we can as a global organization to provide relief, community and support. In 2021, the Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation, 501©3, launched the Foundation Assistance Program. The WOTVS Foundation Assistance Program (FAP) is provided by ComPsych® GuidanceResources® and offers counseling, legal and financial consultation, work-life assistance and crisis intervention services to all enrollees and their household family members. It is open to any restaurant or hospitality workers who do not have access to an Employee Assistance Program already.
Additionally, many in our industry are in need of financial support to further their careers, personal and professional development and education. In order to address the Equity, in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, the Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation continues to provide scholarships each year to a pool of deserving candidates. 2022 Foundation Scholarships are currently open.
In 2021, Women of the Vine & Spirits also launched a sister organization, Badass Bartender™. Badass Bartender is the first-of-its-kind community, worldwide, for women bartenders to unite, be empowered and stay inspired. The Facebook Group is a safe (and fun!) place for you to connect with others in the industry, receive support, network, explore career opportunities and make new friends. We are stronger together, and here to support during these tumultuous times!
Do you have any advice for how operators / suppliers / distributors can be better partners for each other?
Our key pillars at Women of the Vine & Spirits, are Connection, Collaboration and Commitment. As a global membership organization, we work with companies of all sizes, across the three-tier system, and within all industry sectors. With have a keen understanding that we cannot champion change unless we work together, women and men, we unite the highly competitive industry to share best practices, personal experiences, challenges, concerns, achievements, and creativity. Collectively, we can work towards achieving greater diversity, equity & Inclusion, while furthering business development & innovation in the alcohol beverage industry.
Keep checking barandrestaurant.com and vibeconference.com for show updates and all the latest news. Don't miss a moment of Vibe Conference, sign up for the exclusive newsletter today. We look forward to welcoming you to Vibe Conference 2022 this April 25-27 at Omni La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California. Registration is open now, reserve your space here.
Special thank you to all of our sponsors for their continued support of the show, including American Beverage Marketers, Anheuser-Busch, Bacardi, Beam Suntory, Boston Beer Co., Campari, Constellation Brands Beer, Constellation Brands Wine & Spirits, E.&J. Gallo Winery, Red Bull, Sazerac and many more.
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Donna Bruns at [email protected], Charlie Forman at [email protected]
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