I knew I was a TroubleMaker when…
I would happily argue with my aunties and uncles when I didn’t agree with them! Our family was raised to be respectful and to love our families, but to stand up for what we believe in and challenge things we saw as wrong. This led to some interesting family gatherings, with good hearted conversations, but they were never boring!
Who and or what inspired Jane Walker?
Jane Walker by Johnnie Walker is a celebration of the pioneering women who stretched boundaries throughout the history of Johnnie Walker. The blend heroes whisky from Cardhu – a nearly 200-year-old distillery in the heart of Speyside that flourished under the leadership of Elizabeth Cumming. This pioneering woman ultimately sold Cardhu to the Walker family in 1893, but played a significant role in the brand’s history. With access to more than ten million casks of maturing whisky from distilleries across Scotland, I wanted to make sure that this Jane Walker whisky carried forward that tradition. I also thought of the pioneering people on the Whisky Team that I’ve worked with for over 12 years – especially Caroline Martin and Maureen Robinson, who have personally spent more than 44 years working in Scotch Whisky.
What are some of the challenges you’ve faced and how have you overcome them?
I think my biggest ongoing challenge is learning to be honest with myself and realizing that I have strong skills and experience, and I can face tasks which may seem insurmountable, especially with the right support and encouragement. It can be a struggle to honestly recognize your own capabilities, strengths and development areas and I know I have struggled with underestimating myself in the past. One way of overcoming this is through asking for feedback from colleagues and peers to understand an external view of yourself; their vision may be very different from the one you see in the overly tough personal mirror we all use!
What is one message you’d want to share with women and girls today?
Go after what you believe in while staying true to yourself – strive to believe in yourself and your own abilities and surround yourself with good people.
