Our CEO and leadership
We are a proud woman-owned, woman-operated brewery. Our CEO, Kelly Klein, co-founded the company with her husband Ricky in 2013 and has been the chief executive ever since.
The brewing industry is overwhelmingly male; over 70% of the employees of the industry identify as male.
Even more shocking is the lack of female representation at the highest level. While 17% of breweries have a female CEO, only .5%, or one out of every two-hundred breweries have a solo female CEO, all of the rest are co-CEO with a man.[1]
Surprisingly, these numbers aren't that far off from women-owned businesses in general. While no one maintains a complete list of all businesses and their leadership, only 6% of Fortune 500 Companies have a female-identifying CEO.[2]
Not only does Vermont Craft Mead have a female CEO, two of our three executive positions are held by women, and we are predominately female-staffed making us extremely rare in the craft industry.
The brewing industry is overwhelmingly male; over 70% of the employees of the industry identify as male.
Even more shocking is the lack of female representation at the highest level. While 17% of breweries have a female CEO, only .5%, or one out of every two-hundred breweries have a solo female CEO, all of the rest are co-CEO with a man.[1]
Surprisingly, these numbers aren't that far off from women-owned businesses in general. While no one maintains a complete list of all businesses and their leadership, only 6% of Fortune 500 Companies have a female-identifying CEO.[2]
Not only does Vermont Craft Mead have a female CEO, two of our three executive positions are held by women, and we are predominately female-staffed making us extremely rare in the craft industry.
Why does female leadership matter?
Women often feel more comfortable and safe working for businesses with female leadership. This is especially important in male-dominated industries.
We are proud to have employed and offered internships to many young women who had an interest in the brewing industry, but felt uncomfortable in other male-dominated brewing operations. Some have continued to work for us, and others have overcome the gender barriers and become professional brewers elsewhere.
Female leadership also impacts marketing decisions. There are numerous examples of sexist marketing campaigns in the alcohol industry, and they persist despite the fact that women make up a substantial percentage of the drinking population.[3]
Having women in leadership roles helps everyone in the company, regardless of gender, make choices that help to rewrite the story of how gender is portrayed in alcohol marketing.
We are proud to have employed and offered internships to many young women who had an interest in the brewing industry, but felt uncomfortable in other male-dominated brewing operations. Some have continued to work for us, and others have overcome the gender barriers and become professional brewers elsewhere.
Female leadership also impacts marketing decisions. There are numerous examples of sexist marketing campaigns in the alcohol industry, and they persist despite the fact that women make up a substantial percentage of the drinking population.[3]
Having women in leadership roles helps everyone in the company, regardless of gender, make choices that help to rewrite the story of how gender is portrayed in alcohol marketing.
[1] More information here: https://beerconnoisseur.com/articles/stunning-lack-diversity-craft-brewing
[2] As of June, 2019: https://fortune.com/2019/05/16/fortune-500-female-ceos/
[3] In 2018, women made up 31.5% of craft beer drinkers in the US: https://www.brewersassociation.org/insights/shifting-demographics-among-craft-drinkers/
[2] As of June, 2019: https://fortune.com/2019/05/16/fortune-500-female-ceos/
[3] In 2018, women made up 31.5% of craft beer drinkers in the US: https://www.brewersassociation.org/insights/shifting-demographics-among-craft-drinkers/
