#BreaktheBias - International Women's Day 2022
/Women have come a long way, but many continue to face discrimination based on sex or gender. International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of those who identify as women. The day marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality. IWD’s 2022 theme is #BreakTheBias. Let’s continue to fight for a gender equal world where differences are appreciated.
Here at Rethink Drinking, we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate IWD 2022 by showcasing these inspiring female entrepreneurs, who are shaking things up in the alcohol-free drinks industry. It was a pleasure interviewing them, learning more about who they are, and what their businesses have to offer. The common theme among them is that they provide non-alcoholic options, so everyone feels included. What a wonderful mission. Here are their stories.
Meet Amber Wisniewski
Amber founded Dry Variety Drinks in 2021, London Ontario’s first virtual variety shop for non-alcoholic wines, spirits, and beers.
Tell us a little bit about yourself
I was born and raised in London, Ontario. I am an entrepreneur with my esthetics business being my focus for 24 years. In December of 2021, I launched Dry Variety.
I love food and drink and living a healthy and balanced lifestyle is something I always strive for. When I made the decision to reduce the amount of alcohol I was consuming, I searched for alternatives and was astounded by the abundance of quality alcohol-free options available. This discovery was exciting to me! It helped me get back on track. I’m continuously seeking out the best non-alcoholic options from around the globe. I carefully choose our products to ensure quality alternatives with premium ingredients and low sugar. We ship across Canada and offer local pickup and delivery in London, Ontario. You can find us at various pop-ups around London too.
What message or advice would you give to other women entrepreneurs?
Listening to my intuition. Staying focused on moving forward has been life changing. If something doesn't feel right, it's better to shift directions quickly and find what does feel right. There will always be challenging days, but this intention has helped me to persevere.
What impact do you hope your business has on those around you?
I hope to bring people together. It’s heartwarming to hear that non-drinkers feel included and that we can all enjoy the ritual of having a drink together. Above all, I hope for Dry Variety to be a part of a shift in our drinking culture. Normalizing alcohol-free options contributes to the development of more meaningful connections, more satisfying relationships, and healthier lives.
What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
Trust the way you feel. This applies to life in all ways, personally and professionally.
Where you can find Amber & Dry Variety:
https://dryvariety.com
@dryvarietydrinks on Instagram
Dry Variety Drinks on Facebook
Meet Jo-Anne Reynolds
Jo-Anne founded Sexy AF Spirits in 2019, offering a collection of alcohol-free spirits, available in Canada, the United States, and Australia.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your business.
I am originally from South Africa and have lived in Canada for 13 years. I am happily married and have two daughters aged 17 and 10. I started Sexy AF Spirits because I wanted an alcohol-free option for when I went out with my friends that was zero sugar, low calorie, carb/alcohol free. There are many reasons why we don’t drink, whether it be for religious or health reasons. I saw an opportunity to create an AF brand that ticked all the boxes when it came to mindful drinking. The products are 100% alcohol-free, sugar-free, kosher, vegan, global plant-based certified, and they taste amazing!
What message or advice would you give to other women entrepreneurs?
Don't strive for perfection, strive for small wins, and celebrate the little things in life, each and every day.
What is your favourite quote?
“If you don’t like something, change it; If you can’t change it, change the way you think about it.” — Mary Engelbreit
What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
To have patience in both my personal and business life.
Where you can find Jo-Anne and Sexy AF Spirits:
https://sexyafspirits.com/
@msjreynolds on Instagram
@sexyafspirits on Instagram
Meet Anika Sawni
Grüvi was co-founded by Anika in 2019 offering non-alcoholic craft beverages and wines across Canada and the United States.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your business
I'm Anika Sawni, CMO and co-founder of Toronto-based Grüvi. I studied Neuroscience and Psychology. I’ve always had a passion for healthful living. I love being outside, hiking, camping, and exploring new places. I was recently awarded Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2022.
Grüvi is a line of feel-good social beverages without the booze. We launched 2 1/2 years ago because we believe that being social and healthy leads to a happier lifestyle. We want you to be able to enjoy your favorite beers or wines with friends, without the negative effects of alcohol.
What message or advice would you give to other women entrepreneurs?
It's OK, and even admired, to be vulnerable. Vulnerability is key to growth, and ultimately to happiness. Although it can feel very scary, and we have a strong instinct to protect ourselves and our feelings, allowing yourself to be vulnerable means allowing yourself to go ALL in.
What impact do you hope your business has on those around you?
I hope Grüvi allows people to live their best lives and empower others to make choices that are best for them. Alcohol is deeply ingrained into our social norms, and we haven't stopped to question it. If we do, we often feel like an outsider. I see a world where alcohol-free choices and lifestyles are not only normalized but celebrated!
What makes you feel most confident?
I'm still learning this every day! I used to look outward to gain confidence from others, but really, it all comes from within. Being able to tune in to how I'm feeling and making time for the things that make me happy is now where I get my confidence from.
What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
In life and business there are always going to be setbacks, rejections, and mistakes that happen; don't let them throw you off or beat yourself up over it. The key is how you deal with a situation moving forward, how you recentre yourself, mentally and emotionally, and then do the best thing moving forward.
Where you can find Anika and Grüvi:
https://www.getgruvi.com/
@getgruvi @asawni on Instagram
Meet Leanne Kisil
Solbrü was founded by Leanne in 2020 offering alcohol-free elixirs across Canada and the United States.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your business.
My name is Leanne, founder, and President of Solbrü. I love all sports, yoga, and hiking. My favourite way to connect with my family is in nature. I also love playing chess and drumming. I played hockey growing up and professionally in Austria.
I started Solbrü as a way to offer delicious, healthy alternatives to alcohol. I am passionate about supporting the sober/sober-ish community. I also LOVE functional mushrooms and wanted to introduce more ways to consume them regularly.
What are you proud of about yourself?
My tenacity and persistence to achieve what I want in my life and for my family while staying grounded and supporting my community.
What message or advice would you give to other women entrepreneurs?
Ask questions, say yes with an awareness to know when to say no, share your opinions, build relationships, and lean on your network.
What impact do you hope your business has for those around you?
To question habits, behaviours and thoughts and make changes to areas of your life that aren’t serving you and to also feel supported on this journey. It may not be about alcohol consumption, but it's a great start.
Who is a woman entrepreneur you admire?
Best-selling author and public speaker, Arlene Dickenson from CBC’s Dragons Den.
Where you can find Leanne and Solbrü:
https://solbru.com/
@solbruelixirs on Instagram
Meet Marilou LaPointe
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Hi, I'm Marilou! I've been sober for over 4 and a half years, living my best life! I am an entrepreneur who now has two businesses running including my alcohol free company Apéro à zéro. I am a passionate, sensitive, go-getter woman!
Please tell me a little bit about your business and what you do/offer and why did you start it?
The creation of my company started from a real need on my part. I always had trouble finding alcohol-free products and I thought it would be fun to have an exclusive alcohol-free platform, so I created it! Also a big part of my business is breaking the stigma around sobriety, showing that an alcohol-free lifestyle can be just as much fun and it's far from boring.
What are you proud of about yourself?
I am proud to be a woman entrepreneur in a man's industry and to lead the way of alcohol-free in Quebec and Canada!
What message or advice would you give to other women entrepreneurs?
Surround yourself with inspiring women entrepreneurs, it changes everything to have a circle. Keep the vision in mind and trust the process when you encounter obstacles.
What impact do you hope your business has / or what impact do you hope your life/story has for those around you?
Normalizing not drinking alcohol. For those who have a drinking problem, I want to give them hope that there are better days ahead and that life does not stop when you stop drinking.
Where you can find Apéro à zéro:
www.aperoazero.ca
Instagram: @aperoazero
Facebook: @aperoazero
Meet Genna Woolston
Genna is the co-founder of Canada’s first luxury kombucha called Silver Swallow, developed and produced in Ottawa.
Tell us a little bit about yourself
I’m Genna and I’m the found of Silver Swallow. My background is in startups, business strategy marketing and connecting those dots. I started my dry journey several years ago during a “dry” challenge and haven’t looked back!
Please tell me a little bit about your business and what you do/offer and why did you start it?
Silver Swallow is a luxury kombucha in two styles - a classic white bubbly and a new rose style. We created high-end and healthy bevvies to help fill the void for those looking for non-alcoholic alternatives that make them feel: _______ (fill in the blank: fancy, gourmet, celebratory, romantic, relaxed). We’re so delighted when people tell stories about using our bubbly to get through a dry challenge, mark a life event, or support their self care.
What are you proud of about yourself?
I’m most proud of being open about mental health, especially my experiences postpartum and with bipolar and generalized anxiety disorders. Because I’ve been so vocal, many people in my extended network have reached out to me when they were struggling. I’m always happy to offer a listening ear and share the resources I’ve come across.
I’m also proud to show that you can run a business with mental health challenges. It must be true, given 1 in 5 Canadians experience mental illness in any given year. I hope my attempt to break the stigma gives others confidence to be proud of who they are and get the help they deserve.
What message or advice would you give to other women entrepreneurs?
Just try. Invest minimally and test the market. If you get good feedback, then keep building. If you don’t, then don’t be afraid to scrap it and start again.
Do you have a favourite quote?
"Wellness takes work". The saying can come off harsh but I find it recognizes the struggle it takes to make personal change and motivates me to actively make decisions that better my health.
Is there another business/woman entrepreneur you admire?
My friends at Mom Friends who started a postpartum care kit company. Their self-starting approach, tech-forward thinking, and funny and compassionate writing has inspired my approach to running my own business.
What's the best piece of advice you've ever received (personal or business)?
A supervisor once told me, “Don’t let the great, get in front of the good". I remind myself of it when I’m getting bogged down with perfection. In business, it’s important to test your offering with your customers early and often, and then refine as needed. And that means getting comfortable with putting a good foot forward—and not necessarily your best. That can come later!
Where can we find you?
silverswallow.co
Instagram: @silverswallow
Meet Danijela Kovac
Danijela founded Teetotaler Wines in 2020, a Toronto-based company that offers a line of non-alcoholic wines made in Spain, distributed across Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Please tell me a little bit about yourself and your business.
I am Danijela Kovac, 46, single parent, living in Toronto, Ontario. I’m Founder of Teetotaler Wines, a Canadian company that offers a line of non-alcoholic wines made and imported from Spain. There are five wines to choose from: Red, White, Rose, Sparkling White, and Sparkling Rose. It’s all about providing options! Teetotaler Wines was born out of wanting to create another option for those of us who have chosen to not consume alcohol, be it permanently, or just for one night!
What are you proud of about yourself?
First and foremost, my sobriety. I have been sober for almost 12 years. I’m still as grateful and proud as I was that first year. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I was still drinking. Secondly, going to university has made me such a better woman. About a year and a half into my sobriety, I pursued my lifelong dream of a university education. I double majored in Women and Gender Studies & Religion and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, followed by a Master of Education. I’m proud of pursuing one of my passions by launching Teetotaler Wines. It began as a side hustle in the fall of 2020 and is now my full-time employment.
What impact do you hope your business has on those around you?
The wines we offer represent the freedom to be who you want to be. I do my best to live my life authentically and proudly. I hope other women will see that they can choose the same for themselves. If I can get to where I am today, by going through all that I endured, then anyone can. Don’t give up! Fall in love with yourself so much that you pursue the life you have always wanted to live. Don’t stop until you get there.
Who’s another woman entrepreneur you admire?
There are many. I admire Irene Falcone from Sans Drinks in Australia. I am truly grateful for her support of Teetotaler Wines and all that she has done for the non-alcoholic beverage community.
Where you can find Danijela & Teetotaler Wines:
www.teetotalerwines.com
@teetotalerwines Instagram and Facebook
https://www.linkedin.com/company/teetotaler-wines on Linkedin
About The Author
Ariel Ng Bourbonnais is a writer, sober-yoga-teaching mama, and infertility awareness advocate. After struggling with years of infertility, Ariel realized the benefits of a regular yoga practice, writing, and finding humour during hard times. She is a published author of Through, Not Around - Stories of Infertility and Pregnancy Loss (Dundurn Press). She has been regularly practising yoga since 2014, completing 240 hours of teacher training in 2021. https://yogawithariel.cloudstudios.com/
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