1.10 Family Ties - Militza Zikatanova explains the ups and downs of working in the family vineyard

Business of Beverages

In this episode, you’ll learn how working in the family drinks business is more rewarding, complicated and challenging than working for global conglomerates.
We hear from Militza Zikatanova, Co-owner and Marketing Manager of Villa Melnik Winery in Bulgaria about her pre-ordained journey to joining a family business that was established specifically for her and her brother to run. Militza is frank about the conflicting pressures that come with working with and for your parents, a common feature in the drinks industry in production, distribution and hospo. Militza brings her own perspectives to the traditional & regional business from her experience studying in the USA and working in the UK for the biggest drinks business in the world. Plus she talks evocatively and with such passion about Bulgarian Wine that Will and Foxy are booked on the next plane to Sofia!
We also welcome another guest to our "Desert Island" where they can choose to bring only one drink with them. This time it's the turn of Lisa Weser, Founder and CEO of Trail Blaze, a pioneer in the world of legal Cannabis in North America. Lisa may be on the cutting edge professionally but she picks a stone cold classic for her desert island drink, one that we can't believe it has taken ten episodes to arrive at.
Not only that, Foxy discusses how he spends his days on "parental" leave, Will reflects on whether he could ever work in the family business and both lads show their numeric incompetence by celebrating our ninth episode, an episode late!
PS if you are wondering who the mystery voice is chipping on Lisa's DID, that would be the loquacious Bourcard Nesin!
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Business of Beverages is self-funded and hosted/ edited/ independently produced by Will Keating. Pádraig Fox co-hosts in a personal capacity.
All opinions are those of the person expressing them at all times.
Recorded at Hellfire Studios.

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Business of Beverages is self-funded and hosted/ edited/produced by Will Keating.
Pádraig Fox co-hosts in a strictly personal capacity.
All opinions are those of the person expressing them at all times.
We're not sponsored but we would appreciate it if you could click the link above to support the show.