Hello and welcome. The world is changing, but they're still that moment one where sometimes caught off guard when we're Ashley, pleasantly surprised to see a woman heading or managing a massive warehouse on a woman heading sales for an Alka Bev company. Luckily, we are seeing in hearing of more women achievers in corporate roles in the boardroom in multinationals. But there are still some career parts that are still considered male dominated. In today. We're honoured and happy to welcome on the show a woman who's breaking stereotypes who have carved out success in an unconventional field. Stephanie Macleod, A global master Blender at doors. Welcome to any TV, Stephanie in your watching our women in leadership. Welcome to NDTV, Stephanie. Thank you, Syria. While 70. You know, we know from your accent that he often Scotland. So how does a young girl from Scotland become a master blender? Because, you know, let me just said, if you think of this industry, you imagine an old white in a tweet clad, a more white male is a male dominated industry. At least that's how it seems. So how did you get here? Well, it was really It was being in the right place at the right time with the right skills is really happened. So graduated from university with a fit science degree. At that point, I really didn't drink much alcohol. I thought This is a life's work because new this casks there is a spirit itself and into the magic. The happens inside the maturation cask. So then applied for a go at jurors. And eventually I was asked if I wanted to train up to be the master blender when the current massive 0.2 retired and it took you harmony seconds to say it was a nanosecond. So m in it was such and oh, you are. But I did find it quite daunting because Juris is a huge brand and you hear was me. You know, suddenly thrust into this huge role had a law of support behind me had a lot of people in my corner. I am wanting me to do well. I am so is very lucky And and although there when many women in the room when I was starting the men that were there, where were mostly very supportive and Kurdish me to join things to speak to people to network. So? So that was very helpful. And it was very, very welcome. So so been assembly questions? Yeah, me. You got me So curious. Person. Former. So there is no course. There's not like you can go to grad school and study. No, no, there isn't too. I got the skills for it. And when you joined, when they asked if you were the only woman woman must And now you're only one of seven master blenders in the entire cos Yes, McCarty has master painters for all of the brands. And so I am seventh master Blender for cures. So jurors is nearly 176 years old, so started off in 18. 46 in pair in Scotland. So we want to be here for another 175 years. Not just for next year. Seals for 50 years time. So you touched upon this a little bit. What is it? What are the factors that enabled your growth at Bacardi, right. Is there something about the company, the environment, the company policy? Is that allowed a woman to make it all the way to the top? Is that a philosophy? Did you have mentors. Well, you, APPA Carty, the truly believe in being fearless in being part of a family and having a finder's mentality. And and so, really, if you have a desire to do something, then they will encourages it, training the need. If it's, ah, an experience of another area of the business, then they will provide that. And so in my team, I am trying to reflect that. So it's mostly women that are in my team, and I've got a knee. Gia, who is from Cardi, India. She transpired last August after mom and dad behind all of her friends, because she had this dream to work with Scotch whisky. So she joined the last August and she really fantastic and have got a girl from Estonia ago from Canada and girls as well and and 11 male. The what we see in other industries. How did this happen? How has the perception of women in this industry changed amid clearly you're a catalyst invests and you're trying to boats do that in your immediate environment. So how does it work? Do you actively look for women or have they gravitated towards you? Try not to positively discriminate. Also all have to be the best for the rule. But you know, if there are no women on the West, then knew that vice a problem and and it's noticeable women. It's ethnic migraines as well. Is all the pair states injustice by male and female for us? And so we also have a graduate programme McCarty Now, And this is a few years ago we started this and most of the candidates where women and and most of the graduates that we brought on or women as well. It was just an again, just the best candidates for the rules. And it's amazing to see the graduate is growing and sometimes take the risk industry for grant eat because, you know, you used to a new used to high, fantastic is. And then when you see through new ice and they are so passionate, so enthusiastic, just think Yes, I am lucky to be doing what I'm doing. I think these women are are lucky that we we walk on the shoulders of the women before us. But let me ask, when you entered this industry Amin an M, please be candid official mean what any challenges it you faced as as a woman, even though everyone was supported. I mean, I devoted myself absolutely and completely, and sometimes I still do. And I think a closing that ever leaves use you. You have feelings of shit dip here. You, them, them post of syndrome that we all have. And then eventually you do realise Yes. Course, I should be here and and it's a parrot challenging yourself. So in you go in serve REM, possibly of of all main. And you don't know anyone you know, You really have to see where I am. Just gonna go up. I'm going to shake someone's hand, hopefully or work. But I'm not going to die if it dozens So So It's just by really taking yourself of war if you comfortable with. And I think that's the only way that you can grew. And if a guy running with my husband he says, You don't get fit by stopping when you're tired, too. And it was a bit like that with with work as well, you know, you've just got to keep keep at pushing yourself. Put yourself out then then year exile e Absolutely. I was wracked with doubt, and everybody was very supported. We all work together because we got a small industry, but with huge global brands. So we we will lie on each other for best practise and and even he of one distillery runs have a spare part. Another company will provide if they can. So there was lots of people to draw on for support and advice when I needed it. So I had a positive experience. Where was going to ask you after that? So now there are more women lenders, mustard and a you all a close knit community tour. Are you competitive? I mean, no, we're we actually am a journalist. Gods all of us together, actually, And who were just talking about, you know, journeys. And where we come from, where we are. Moment. And it was a really good session. So let me make the cardinals in which tickets? We don't ask the men this question enough. Let's talk about work, life balance. So how do you and are you have a daughter and your here in India and China. Russian Get that flight back home. How do you What is your take on work? Life balance and how do you manage it? I don't think anyone has the magic. He and I think if it it, we would all want Muna Singh. Everybody has has as a different life, and I try to limit a long travel as much as a course of began things like What's up? Having family chats forewarning when I can ufdd I mean, that's the thing. Your heart tells you that you don't want to leave them your head, says Sief. Well fared their school all they really know humane Ding this. I will be home with them soon, but it's hard to switch it on your brain when your heart is telling you something else. And they get to watch the mom on TV and be inspired and all other girls young. I I I want to see that you women and their own money go. It's, you know, start first thing in the morning, work hard, contribute to society, and that was really important. Tell you tell that to show your child as well. We have you on the show because that's the message we want to put out. But let me ask another. You've touched upon WhatsApp and technology right are traditionally a role of a master blender would have been, I'm guessing one of those old specialists whisky makers hidden away from the public and guessing working in a lab I'm not to show. Trying to make sure that every bottle or the contents of every bottle of every glass taste smell like sector. Are you know, of the same walked? The master blender was someone who was in a testing rim and a lot, and that is still the same. So when I go by to work next week, there obeah rue of RCIs and I will be assessing the more the casts will arrive in, You know, myself for someone from the team, go up and knows the casks. So that still happens. But now was different. Is everybody wants to know Voted. They want to know how whiskey is meat. Years one bye. People were really that interest, But no people are really interested in. We will be hiding the brand. How is it meets her? The people will make it. And so it is exciting for Emily was pointing. You know, when someone told me that I would have to speak to camera. Remember looking at the camera and freezing and just not knowing what to see. I don't believe you know. But that is how is no the Amazon M Life t Sting. It was a live stream. Wow. And that was terrifying. I think that may be cured me A list Hope of state, Right, Because it was so scary in and I didn't die. He said you have to put yourself up. So yes has completely changed. And and also during the pandemic, I go and visit markets. So everything was done online. So we did all these virtual t stings so sometimes will be six in the morning. It was Japan or be 11 o'clock at night. It was the U. S. And it was greet really wars. I mean, a had to tell everybody in the house, too. Mummy's on our think, but, you know, it was just lovely, actually talking directly to our whiskey drinkers so is a really kind of intimate It's over. Strange to see that because it was virtual mirror thousands of miles away. But there was an intimacy Ashley can later from somebody telling me how much they enjoy taking power in the sessions and help them get through some tough time. Amazing the technology. So the pandemic, in a sense, forced you to leapfrog into are something that would have eventually happened. But it just happened. You double before it was always the Saints that you really have to be there in person. It's not the same if it's for true. Now what happened? The you guys going to go back against? This is the question that's asked in many industries right now that you've tasted work from home and your daughters, governors like to have moment the and And now that you're in a position where I'm guessing you can take these decision, the coherent senior management position, what happens now? During the pandemic, I was on site. Most ease. But you know, for things like market visits, there is just no travel. So I could meet. And so was a virtual T sings at took over. But I thought, maybe I think there is going to be blamed. Details. Why? I think they're still will one in the I think there still will be virtual sessions sometimes is no substitute for actually. So miss your regular. I mean, I think people are still unclear about one. A massive Leonidas, right? So what? Let's get some rapid fire questions in me about six minutes left. What is your regular day look like? So my regular T is a lot of meetings talking about projects or the new innovations of coming up facing casks, discussing our inventory so enormous inventories spans from the 19 sixties and deciding what to do with the best possible use of talking with her brand teams and often talking with journalists and and just making plans for the future. So we've got to leader in enough stock and buy in enough casks in order to ensure that all. Then you make spirit. We are bringing in has casks to go to and hacen of were houses to do this all day. What is this mean for the food that you eat when you're in India, like how are their foods are off limits? Yes, I don't wear perfume, a work I am trying very so from a cent point of views. And I don't really like other people were pair of human commence the planting rim was basically we used showed up shape news. England see soother wide at the bottom and team part of the top and then watch Marcin talk. And if there is any other samples, don't news in the right ways of spec. Then I'll send the sample to our laboratory and they will run its testes, see if there's anything there, shouldn't be there. And so having a cold in your industry is, it's no, it's being in a pandemic in having reporting of work. Lockley have a team loaned me. So if I have a cold, then there somebody else I can can take. So what do you look for when you are trying to get someone on this team? If our viewers are interested in, you know, what are they looking for? But he looking, I'm looking for a really good sense of smell. So so somebody that can discern between also describe what the differences are. Allah is often the hardest part, and so you got time, build up a sensory memory. So I go round market sniffing thing sniffing route just so that I can see right storey walk in spice so that I am looking for also some of the real attention to detail and someone who is want to serve our markets and ensure that they have everything that the meat and someone who's going to listen and hear what they're hearing so that we can ensure that we got exactly the right spirit for the right market and being in India and team were telling me that you just so much richness in texture and flavour and into increasing is to sue exciting about what we're going to get out when we when we pair them together. And it's just going to be endless combinations that we can nosing is, they say, sometimes that you know women have a better sense of smell than men. Is that who had all Is any truth to that, in my opinion? New. I mean, I think, as human beings, we all have different abilities, and some people are better nosing. They have more sensitive powers than others by definitely Witten. See that main apparel in women when it comes to nosing? Because facts kind of what's been doing in the past. You men can only do this job because they're better at, and we know that that's not true. Everybody, as human beings have have different abilities different guests that they can bring. So male colleagues who are fantastic knows Ear's and the same with with women as well that if that's a requirement for the job, how do you? How does one know if one has a propensity or a skill in that? And and can you train yourself to be better? Can we? For every candidate that we bring in, we put them through a sense retest. Given a series of blind samples, we don't know what they are, and they have to tell me you what we think they are and world. The differences between them destroy. I've it's, and that is a really important, important part of the rule. And it's equal. The mail of Maine are good at in the main of women are good at. So is no a male female split. We describe it wonderfully. So last night I'm just gonna ask you a quick any message out to young women. You know, maybe we have an Indian audience who are interested in both. Trying are going into a career that is not a conventional one, and also specifically in this this industry last word do. My aim is to encourage as many women as I possibly can. There are so many roles for women, engineers of scientists, master blenders, this accountants, lawyers and scientists. So is a whole Mary at of careers, really meaningful careers that you can have a Bacardi people are maybe working in India the next month are working in score mint, so so really anything is possible. If you want to travel the world, then the industry is a place to be in and and please don't see as being male dominated because it is changing, has changed and is going to change even more in the future. Chester. Thank you, Stephanie. So, Mark, you've captured everyone's heart with your Storey, and I think I can safely say that it gives courage. I think it gives courage to those who are dreaming of similiar careers of walking off the beaten path. Basically of anyone hoping to follow their dreams. Thank you for joining us
