Wonderworks Communications talks to Fiorella Fontana, Senior Brand Manager at Pernod Ricard.

How did you first come across this mentoring opportunity? Were you familiar with mentoring before, or was it something new that caught your eye?

One of my managers who has extensive experience in the drinks industry and is a real advocate for mentoring and upskilling, recommended that I applied for the mentoring programme. She has worked with Wonderwomen throughout her career and believed it was a great opportunity for me, when I looked into the programme it felt like it was meant to be because not only had I spoken to Sarah a few months before, but also my first ever drinks industry event was hosted by Wonderworks, a creative drinks agency.

What drew you to the drinks industry? And how did the idea of mentoring (particularly within this industry) appeal? What made you want to be part of it?

I landed in the drinks industry by coincidence, or as I would like to say, fate! After university, I was looking to join a multinational company, and an opportunity at Pernod Ricard came up. I quickly fell in love with the industry for its convivial nature and endless brand-building opportunities. Mentoring with Sarah and Miranda felt like great opportunity to broaden my perspective by learning from their rich industry experience and to draw inspiration from the soft skills they have developed as successful female entrepreneurs. I also loved the idea of networking with other women who share my passion and have had different experiences from mine, particularly within the drinks industry.

What were your expectations for the mentoring journey? Did anything surprise you or change along the way?

I initially went in with no expectations beyond "having a chat," but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I learned about myself and my career aspirations in the process.

Can you share a bit about your experience navigating mentoring as a woman in drinks?

Having mentors and group sessions with women who are in the drinks industry was very insightful. It was very reassuring to see how we all face the same challenges and fears and it is about learning to sit still when necessary and being brave when needed.

Reflecting on your journey, how do you feel mentoring has impacted you, both professionally and personally?

It has definitely built my confidence both personally and professionally, I feel a lot prouder of my achievements and confident in my abilities. It has also broadened my views about my career. Interestingly, I was always slightly conscious English isn’t my first language when presenting to English native speakers, after the mentoring this is no longer the case at all.

Where are you at now? Is there anything you plan to do (or to do differently) going forwards?

I used to fear feeling uncomfortable when having difficult conversations, during mentoring I learnt to transfer that fear into motivation to get the right outcome for the business.

Has mentoring influenced the way you approach your work, either individually or with your team?

It has unleashed a more entrepreneurial spirit in me which I have applied more and more in my role and management style.

Overall, how valuable was the mentoring experience to you?

It was really valuable. Given the chance again I would not hesitate in investing time on mentoring!

Do you see mentoring as something you'd like to continue, either as a mentee or a mentor, in the future? Why or why not?

I would absolutely be a mentee again, I believe we never stop learning about ourselves and mentoring is a great way to get to know yourself and unlock your abilities. I love mentoring and it is something I always aim for with members of my team, I find it very rewarding and energising to see people flourish.

Lastly, would you recommend the Wonder Women mentoring programme to other women in the drinks industry? And would you be interested in staying involved yourself? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

I would recommend it without doubt, regardless of where you are in your career something rich will come out of it (and it might surprise you!)