Elevating Women in Business and the Significance of your Brand
The importance of brand became key to much of the discussion at the Dublin Food Chain (DFC) event “Unleashing the Entrepreneurial Spirit of Female Food and Drink Innovators”. An encouraging sight, the room filled with presentations and active engagement about three women’s journey through business.
Some of us at Bradley attended and found ourselves among budding and fully fledged women entrepreneurs. The event brought female food entrepreneurs from all stages of development together, sharing their passion for food and how they have, or plan to turn it into successful ventures. Sharing their wins and losses, road bumps and unexpected turns along their path in business, there was a collective appreciation for crafting one’s brand.
In any industry, but especially such a crowded one as the food and drink industry in Dublin, a brand isn’t just a logo or a catchy slogan, or even the name. Your brand becomes the soul of your enterprise. It’s the story you tell, the values you uphold and the promise you make to your customers. All three remarkable speakers—Lily Ramirez-Foran, Vicki Baird and Domini Kemp—spoke about the priceless time and energy they put into their brand and how it stands to them today.
Lily: An Authentic Brand Journey
Lily, the force behind Ireland’s Mexican boutique grocer and cookery school, Picado Mexican, captivated the audience with her mission to showcase Mexican food and culture beyond misconceptions in Dublin. Instead of falling into the cliché traps she took the path of authenticity, staying true to her roots, but also to the brand that she created to drive her business forward.
Bringing her hard learned lessons to the table, she spoke of the loneliness in business, but also about allowing ourselves to fail. It is the failures you learn the most from, not your successes. In her own fine words, every dreamer needs a pair of lead shoes.
Vicki: Eating the Elephant
Vicki, one of the founders of Stillgarden Distillery, shared how she built her business, crafting modern Irish spirits using fresh, local ingredients. Facing all kinds of setbacks as they launched at the cusp of the Covid breakout, Vicki encouraged the audience to eat the elephant one piece at a time.
She brought us through how Stillgarden pivoted along its journey, but remained true to the core values of the brand. Their success is a testament to their consistency despite the changes.
Domini: The Non-Negotiable Value of Brand
Domini, an award-winning Euro-toques chef, food writer and entrepreneur, spoke about leadership qualities and gender dynamics in business. Recognising the use of “androgynous leadership” in women, she encouraged us all to lean into our strengths. Giving everyone a laugh, she quipped – “Men will tell you how brilliant they are, and women will tell you how busy they are”.
Amongst this, she championed the significance of brand, making it clear that there’s little room for bad branding today. Domini brought home the point of trusting your gut. Something brand can help with when you spend time crafting a brand that is true to your purpose.
It was great to take some time out to attend the DFC event—and immerse ourselves in the world of those we work with. The shared experiences of Lily, Vicki and Domini collectively called for the significance of branding, perseverance and insightful leadership, leaving us all with genuine food for thought. We’re always happy to see the value of brand being recognised, and in such an encouraging space.
