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Women in Leadership Profiles
Name: Sophie Lick
Role: Assistant Winemaker
Company: Lightfoot And Sons Wines
A bit about you: I like to take opportunities and see where life takes me. I’ve studied, lived and worked in 6 different countries in 15 years and I speak 5 languages.
I studied Politics at university but now I make and sell wine. Also, I am French but I learnt to make wine in Australia which I guess is a little unusual!
What is it like working in your company?
Working in Australia is a lot of fun as Ozzies are very relaxed and funny.
Working in the wine industry means your work is never the same; vintages are different every year and the job varies a lot during the same year. Vintage season (when grapes are harvested and processed) is very busy, but the winter is extremely calm.
There are many jobs you can do when you work in wine - agriculture, oenology (the study of win), chemistry, marketing, oenotourism (wine tourism) etc.
Why did you decide to go into your chosen field?
I have always loved wine but I ended up working in a winery by chance when I was travelling in Australia (on a working holiday visa).
I fell in love with the whole process when I was there as I had a great teacher!
What qualifications and work experience did you need to reach your current position?
I did not need a specific qualification for my role, but they did hire me based on the fact that I had a BA and MA and therefore they thought that I would be able to learn a job quickly and follow complicated instructions.
Saying that - making wine is a science so having a BSc in chemistry or oenology would have helped me!
What do you enjoy the most about your job?
The tastings! Actually I love the whole fermentation process and smelling and tasting the different aromas that come from the different wines that we produce.
What obstacles have you overcome in your career?
I have not really had problems with this but a lot of women working in the wine industry face sexism daily. Making wine is often seen as a man’s job so people do not always take you seriously if you are a woman.
Why do you think it is important to have a strong female representation in your industry?
To break the traditions and clichés. Female winemakers are under-represented, especially in the media and it is important that this changes in the future.
What advice would you give those wanting to take a similar career path?
Listen to your chemistry teacher!
