In contrast to dismal statistics, Laura Macartney highlights what are they key factors towards pushing boundaries at work
A recent study from Women of Vines and Sprits and Deloitte, found that only one in 10 women working in the alcohol industry believe that there has been significant positive change towards female employees over the past five years.
As the Events and Digital Marketing Manager at Spinneys Abu Dhabi, Laura Macartney has been actively working towards redefining those statistics.
Working with the leading retailer of high-quality beverages in the UAE, Laura has a vast career in the hospitality arena to speak of before moving into her latest role heading a team overseeing beverage supply to some of the biggest events in Abu Dhabi – including the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Along with it comes a step into the alcoholic beverage industry in the UAE, where she carved out a space for her expertise in the spirits arena. Predominantly a male-led business, Laura has managed to successfully push her knowledge of the market to make these popular brands more appealing to the female market, both in retail and trade.
“There’s been a massive turn in the past three to four years and the industry has seen more female beverage managers, F&B directors and general managers in the city, which is a stark change to when I first joined the beverage industry seven years ago”, says Laura.
Further underlining the turning tides is Laura’s current experience at Spinneys Abu Dhabi. Alongside her GM, Mr. Sacha Tanner, she has been making strides in ensuring that the company is leading the change for more women to not only work at the company, but also to empower them to climb the career ladder, by developing their skill sets and tools.
“In the past few years, we have increased the number of female employees in the office, and more recently, our program ‘Sheroes’ will offer selected candidates a chance for career development too. That means that if you are a female working for the Spinneys Abu Dhabi brand on the retail floor for example, you’ll have the opportunity to train and learn skills that can propel you to different areas of the business, including head office” says Laura.
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As with most inspiration, Laura’s determination to push boundaries in a traditionally male working environment comes from her mother.
“While it might sound cliché to say your mum is your inspiration, she is actually extremely successful as the CEO of a football club in Scotland. She climbed the ladder in a male dominant industry, in a time where it was like a novelty to let women have a seat at the leadership table. Of course, it wasn’t without its challenges, but she showed me that it is possible, so I had no hesitation in carving out a space for me, in this industry”.
Taking from her past and present, Laura doesn’t stop once she leaves the office. As a new, young mother, she continues to effortlessly balance life on the personal and professional front.
“I am incredibly lucky to have a partner who understands the importance of showing our son, the benefits of having an independent, powerful female role model in the family, and helps pick up the slack when we need it.” says Laura.
But even with support at home, the real challenge can often come from the work environment and juggling expectations from your employer. Fortunately for Laura, she attributes a lot of her success with balancing her work/life balance to Spinneys Abu Dhabi’s enforcing maternity values such as one hour off per day for breastfeeding, working from home when necessary, and ensuring that they monitor her workload on a regular basis.
Looking to the future, Laura looks forward to further inclusion for females in the beverage industry, and a rise in more women in management positions.
“Female inclusion in business decisions is important for any company. Our input not only complements traditional ideas, but there is an opportunity for our ideas to forge new opportunities that can be valued, celebrated and open doors” she ends.
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