Laura Taylor

“Being paid fairly for the value I was bringing to the business. When I was younger, I adored my job as a PA and will always value the access it gave me to great wines, but I was being paid as a PA whilst doing so much more than that (selling, organising events, working the late hours that come with life in the wine industry). Simply put, my colleagues were getting the benefit of my work and being paid more, often working fewer hours. I wanted to progress in my career but it took me a while to learn how to have my voice heard effectively. Eventually, I worked it out by providing proof of my results and – importantly – being brave enough to state my ambitions, my voice was heard and now I am proud to be a director of Private Cellar with my own network of customers and even being featured in the Weekend FT’s How to Spend it magazine.”

“I have been the beneficiary of the opportunities that Queena Wong has provided to MW and MS students through Curious Vines, starting from a tasting that she organised with Pauline Vicard of Areni Global a few years ago. The support that Queena has garnered from the industry to help women train, taste, network, learn is extraordinary, providing us a space to grow without judgement; and the difference I see in myself and other MW and MS candidates leaves a big impression on me.”

“When we founded Private Cellar in 2005, my co-directors Andrew Gordon and Nicola Arcedeckne-Butler MW took a risk bringing me on board as I was travelling to and from the USA for IVF treatment. I am indebted to their support and their faith in my ability, trusting me to do the work to build our brand from the other side of The Pond, knowing that my personal circumstances would change if the treatment was successful. The treatments didn’t work, but I hope that this very personal story provides hope for younger women that you can build your career and look after your family commitments. Should you need proof, Nicola has three daughters, passed the MW with flying colours and has a very successful career in buying. Twenty years on, we are still working together in a company with a great balance of men and women on our board. It’s challenging, of course, but if you use your network and have confidence in your ability, you can go far.”

“I love how the world of wine is becoming more open and collaborative. There’s a feeling of a global community with networks like Curious Vines, winemakers travelling around the world to make wine in different climates, and wine merchants like The Bunch who are competitors but are also collaborating to work out how to navigate trade in a post-Brexit world. At a time when wine consumption is declining, we have to keep this passion alive and share the stories with younger consumers – it’s great to see more podcasts, social media accounts, fun educational programmes, new packaging initiatives. I’ve grown up in the traditional merchanting space and I’m not going to pretend I don’t love a cobwebbed cellar, but the innovation in wine excites me and I am always on the lookout for something new to try.”

“I would like to nominate Sam Caporn MW who, when she was at Wine Magazine as their tastings coordinator, encouraged me to escape work at lunchtime and take part in their tasting panels. I learned so much and we had a lot of fun at the same time. Roll on many years and Sam is now an MW, passing in 2011 and picking up the coveted Madame Bollinger Award for her tasting ability. She is also a respected wine judge and through her website and tastings, Sam teaches about wine in an informative but fun way.”