Honoring Female Leaders in the Beverage Alcohol Industry

Juyoung Kang

Partner and Head of Beverage, Doberman Drawing Room 

BIG: How did you first get started in the beverage alcohol industry? 

Juyoung Kang (JK): I started when I was 19 after answering a newspaper ad with my sister, which led to my first serving job in Philadelphia at a private members-only club. 

BIG: Did you have a mentor in the industry? Have you been a mentor to others? 

JK: I’ve had many great leaders who paved the road for me. I learned valuable lessons about how to become a leader and great bartender. The lessons I’ve learned were so profound and impacted who I am today, and I have been passing them on to whomever wants to listen. I hope those who have learned from me consider me a mentor, but that’s not a title I can bestow upon myself. 

BIG: Have you faced challenges as a woman in a leadership position in what’s still a male-dominated industry? 

JK: As humans, we face challenges every day in an industry where both good and evil exist. As women, we face these challenges more often, especially when pursuing leadership roles. It comes down to how we defend our seat and respond with grace that sets apart those who truly belong, which is usually undeniable. 

I’ve faced challenges where being a woman, and a minority, led others to question whether I could rise to the occasion. Not because of my talent, but about whether I could handle the workload, as women are often thought of as weaker in strength, endurance and loyalty. There was also plenty of mansplaining along the way, but I met it all by working harder, faster, stronger and more effectively. 

BIG: How has your company benefited from having women at the table making decisions? 

JK: Having a perspective from women is crucial. We represent a demographic in consumerism that affects the longevity, adaptability and innovation of products. I believe my company has benefited from having me at the table because I have a viewpoint that transcends the present case. Women are natural planners. We create critical paths, multitask with ease and organize across multiple categories. 

BIG: Do you think the beverage alcohol industry has improved as far as women and gender inclusion in the past five years? 

JK: There has been some improvement, but I don’t think hiring someone because they’re a woman and sitting back to see if she sinks or swims is progress. While some places have given women platforms and guidance to advance, others have set them up with no mentorship or plan for growth. Women leaders also need to do more to create opportunities for other women, while also encouraging and mentoring other women. However, women entering the industry must be proactive and believe they can be taught to advance. Inspiration only works for those open to taking it in. 

BIG: What advice do you have for other women looking to get into the beverage alcohol industry? 

JK: Be open-minded to the pathway presented to you. It may not seem like something in the beginning, but that’s where you gain knowledge and technique, and become well-rounded. Sometimes learning outside your immediate role can later prove to be the exact skill set you need. 

Project management helps run a program. Science classes help with creativity and technique. Spin classes help keep you fit but also help with endurance for the day-to-day activities of the bar. It’s about changing your perspective to see how everyday occurrences and interests can be applied to your work. Just because we learned about shapes in kindergarten doesn’t mean we don’t recognize them in the present moment (for example, a demitasse spoon vs. a soup spoon).