What Type Of Person Thrives In The Spirits Industry, According To A Brand Manager At Diageo China
Sharon, a Diageo China Brand Manager, identifies passion for the industry and curiosity as key traits for success, noting that while "passion is definitely the most important thing," a curious nature can also lead to thriving, as evidenced by her own five-year career despite initially lacking strong personal interest in spirits. Essential skills include prioritization, problem-solving, and communication.
Passion, Curiosity, Problem-Solving, Communication, Prioritization
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Sharon Tsai
Brand Manager
Diageo China
National Taiwan University, 2012
UCLA Anderson School of Management, MBA
Political Science, American Studies
Food, Beverages & Alcohol
Communication and Marketing
International Student
Video Highlights
1. Passion for the wine and spirits industry is essential for success.
2. Curiosity and a willingness to learn are valuable assets.
3. Strong skills in prioritization, problem-solving, and communication are crucial for thriving in the industry.
Transcript
Sharon, how would you describe people who typically thrive in this industry?
I think they are really passionate about the wine and spirits industry. All the senior management I saw while I was at Diageo were very passionate about the Scottish or whiskey industry in general.
Passion is definitely the most important thing. The other thing I would call out is curiosity. For example, I wasn't that big on whiskey or spirits in general, but I am a very curious person.
I am always curious to learn new things, learn about marketing, consumers, and the market trends. I ended up staying in the industry for more than five years, although I did not drink at all, or as much as others did.
I still enjoyed myself very much as a brand manager for Johnnie Walker. So, I think passion and curiosity are two of the most important qualities or personalities for people starting in this industry.
Of course, skill-wise, as I said before, people who are good at prioritization, problem-solving, and communication would be — I think those qualities are so important, those skills are so important for people to work in this industry.