Final 25 mentees selected for 2024 July-Dec mentorship programme
The OurWhisky Foundation has revealed the second group of 25 women and non-binary individuals to be selected for its 2024 mentorship programme.
Chosen from over 170 applicants, the 25 successful mentees will begin the six-month intensive programme in July 2024.
They will be the fifth cohort of mentees to take part in the coveted, one-of-a-kind programme, and follow the graduation of 2024’s first 25 mentees in June this year. Fifty candidates made it through to the shortlist before interviews with the OurWhisky Foundation team which saw the final group selected.
Applications came from all parts of the industry (and outside of it) and countries all over the world, from whisky-producing countries like Scotland and the US, England, Ireland, Canada and more.
The programme includes the award-winning, confidence-building Power Room as well as monthly personal development workshops and regular one-to-ones with mentees’ carefully matched mentors.
They will also join a dedicated WhatsApp group where they can network, share experiences, ask advice and have regular check-ins with the OurWhisky Foundation team.
The second group of mentees joining the programme in 2024 are:
Chelsey Belec, whisky sales rep/podcast host, Craftwork Spirits/Dram Fine (Canada)
Olivia Bunyan, distillery tour guide, Isle of Arran Distillers (Scotland)
Robyn Butler, distiller, Cotswolds Distillery (England)
Nathalie Chatila, EMEA marketing associate, Ralph Lauren (England)
Diane Flynn, whisky blender Beam Suntory (Scotland)
Grace Gorton, whisky analyst, The Lakes Distillery (England)
Melanie Gourley, quality & compliance manager, Westland Distillery (USA)
Alisha Kasam-Sharples, sustainability process engineer, Diageo (Scotland)
Zoe Leone, distiller, High West Distillery (USA)
Gemma Loudon, carbon reporting analyst, William Grant & Sons (Scotland)
Connie MacDonald, business development senior executive, Muckle Brig (Scotland)
Hazel Macleod, business development executive, William Grant & Sons (Scotland)
Caitlin Malarky, trade marketing manager Whyte and Mackay (Scotland)
Anna Mantheakis, lead distiller in technical development, Westward Whiskey (USA)
Claudia McKenzie, whisky operations manager Compass Box (Scotland)
Clare Monro, retail associate at Johnnie Walker Princes Street, Diageo (Scotland)
Temaira O'Kane, distiller, Church of Oak Distillery (Republic of Ireland)
Angela Salinas, regional brand ambassador, Koval Distillery (USA)
Jessica Schacht, co-founder,Ampersand Distilling Company (Canada)
Hannah Scott, technical NPD manager, CVH Spirits (Scotland)
Siobhan Sellers, assistant brand manager NPD, The Macallan (Scotland)
Terricia Soyombo, senior marketing account manager, ramarketing (Scotland)
Rachel Sweeney-Campbell, global senior brand comms manager, The Dalmore/Whyte and Mackay (Scotland)
Claire Tesh, brands manager, Muckle Brig (Scotland)
Wendelin von Schroder, co-founder, Lodestar Whiskey (USA)
Becky Paskin, founder of the OurWhisky Foundation, said: “It was a huge challenge to pick just 25 people from the biggest pool of applications we’ve had to-date for the programme, but we can’t be more excited to welcome our final candidates. It’s been fascinating hearing their stories and we have no doubt the next six months will get them to the next steps in their promising careers.
“While the overwhelming amount of applicants in this round of mentoring shows word is getting out about our programme, it also indicates just how much something like this is needed for women in our industry. Hopefully, our second group of 2024 mentees will one day be the mentors younger generations look up to for guidance in years to come.”
Since its inception in 2022, the OurWhisky Foundation mentorship programme has helped guide 200 women working in the whisky industry toward their goals, while providing opportunities to build their network and improve their confidence.
Applications for the 2025 programme will open in due course. Full information and application forms can be found here.
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