Bacardi Stirs Up Conversations about Equality in a Male-Dominated Business

Dedicated to championing the outstanding individuals in the hospitality industry and beyond, the Second Annual Bacardi Spirit Forward Women Empowerment Series, in partnership with PUNCH, wrapped up its 2019 season. Exploring timely topics such as representation, innovation, and disrupting the status quo, all through the lens of “originality,” the series featured a diverse group of voices from both inside and outside the hospitality world. Attendees from all parts of the bar, trade and media communities were treated to inspiring Q&A panels, professional workshops, engaging seminars, networking opportunities, in-depth discussions and more as the series traveled to Chicago, Los Angeles and New York.

“At Bacardi, we believe in being champions of women in the trade and bar communities,” says Elizabeth Costa de Rusch, Director of Advocacy for Bacardi in the U.S. and one of the organizers of the Spirit Forward series. “There is power in bringing people together to celebrate and motivate each other as we work toward an inclusive environment where everyone feels part of the family, can bring a sense of who they are to work, do what they love and contribute to the success of our industry.”

Professional industry leaders such as Women’s Culture & Inclusion Specialist Cyndie Spiegel, and Executive Chef & Co-Owner of Dyafa Reem Assil lead impactful discussions, along with inspiring in-conversation panels with cookbook author and New York Times columnist Alison Roman, as well as Chef Missy Robbins, owner of New York’s Lilia & MISI in New York and Esquire’s 2018 Chef of the Year. Award-wining bartenders from each market, including Julie Reiner of Brooklyn’s Clover Club and Yael Vengroff of the Spare Room in Los Angeles participated in round table conversations, and returning advocates from The Financial Gym, as well as Activist Ashtin Berry and Causing A Stir co-founder Ariel Neal joined the series for the second year delivering inspiring seminars to an engaged and excited audience.

The Bacardi Spirit Forward Series, created as part of the Bacardi Women in Leadership initiative, was established to provide the tools, solutions, relationships and know-how needed to help inspire and unleash the potential and advancement of women in hospitality.

Join the Bacardi Women in Leadership marquis Spirit Forward event, a full-day of empowerment and sharing by inspirational speakers geared for all industries, on September 26 in Miami Beach, FL. Learn more: https://www.bacardi-women-in-leadership.com/spiritforwardsummitmiami2019