FRESH VOICES: In Praise of Taking Risks by Katie Hume

Featured in The Tasting panel | Jan - Feb 2023

I’VE SPENT THE better part of the past decade as a sales professional in the wine and spirits industry. To say that I love what I do is an understatement. I’ve had the opportunity to work for various-sized companies, growing and developing sales markets, brands, and teams.

Naturally, there comes a time in everyone’s career when they might find themselves looking at other opportunities. Whether considering an internal promotion or the possibility of switching companies, you may arrive at a fork in the road. Assessing your options can be both exhilarating and nerveracking, but knowing where to start the process can be the hardest part.

At the beginning of 2022, I was heading into my third year with Mexican spirits producer Casa Lumbre when the opportunity presented itself to join the Copenhagen-based EMPIRICAL, a maker of spirits and canned cocktails that describes itself as a “flavor company.” Having never heard of or seen its products before, I had obvious hesitation, but I was fueled by curiosity to learn more about its vision. Prior to my role at Casa Lumbre, I had worked for E. & J. Gallo and Pernod Ricard; leaving some of the largest suppliers in the world to work for a smaller company was both scary and challenging, but it taught me how to take a chance on myself.

I’ve been asked before, “How did you know it was worth the risk?” The answer is I didn’t.

I believe not many people could answer that question with certainty. When pursuing new opportunities, I’ve had to adopt a new mindset and accept failing forward as an outcome. Though uncomfortable, it allows you to grow and learn from the choices you make. With this perspective, I was able to then prioritize what matters most in my career, which for me came in the form of a list: growth, leadership, culture, and brand origins. My list became my mantra and, ultimately, were critical in helping me make my decision to join the EMPIRICAL team.

So where do you start? By asking yourself: What are the biggest drivers pushing you to make a change? What kind of company or brand do you want to work for? What are your deal makers and breakers? Defining your vision and putting your priorities in writing will help you decide whether the opportunity at hand is really what you want.

Taking a risk, with all its unknowns, is never easy, but the reward is what you learn along the way. So what’s your list?

Katie Hume is the head of US Sales for EMPIRICAL. You can follow her on Instagram @spirited.humen.