Interview: Women-Led Heritage Distilling Company Charts Its Own Course
As leadership in the whiskey industry continues to change, women like Jennifer Stiefel and Rosemary Ripley have made a name for themselves in the male-dominated industry as they are now leading Heritage Distilling Company.
Recently, the two merged their companies to further their mission to create national, craft distilleries.
Jennifer Stiefel is co-founder and president of Heritage Distilling Company, and for the past nine years, her leadership has led Heritage to be one of the most awarded craft distilleries in North America. She’s also the CEO of the Tribal Beverage Network, a first-of-its kind partnership with Native American Tribes to develop Heritage-branded distilleries and to serve patrons of tribal casinos and entertainment venues.
Rosemary Ripley, is CEO of Better World, and has garnered significant expertise through work for companies including Kraft Foods, Miller Brewing, Philip Morris, Heineken NV and Zevia. Combined with her private equity background, and after their merger, she has helped accelerate Heritage Distilling Company’s growth strategy.
The two of them recently visited with The Whiskey Wash about their roles as female leaders in this industry. As leadership in the whiskey industry continues to change, women like Jennifer Stiefel (pictured above) and Rosemary Ripley have made a name for themselves in the male-dominated industry as they are now leading Heritage Distilling Company. (image via Heritage Distilling)
The Whiskey Wash: How did your career path lead you into the spirits industry, and what were some of the initial hurdles you faced?
Jennifer Stiefel: “I was raised in Alaska where I learned […]