Today's guest is Libby Brodie, an award-winning theatre and film producer whose business came to a halt with the start of the Pandemic, so she had to reinvent herself. Having started her wine consultancy in 2020, within a couple of years, she took a very traditional wine industry by storm. She is now a wine consultant, presenter, judge, host and a wine columnist for City AM! In this episode we talk about her remarkable journey, about disrupting the wine industry, and... Libby gives a mini masterclass on how to taste and drink champagne! 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• There’s something British in me where we don’t like to talk about our own successes and achievements in any big-headed way. But, I’m also wary of qualifying success and other people’s interpretation of it. It’s very  key that you decide your own version of success and live true to that. I think that I’ve been very fortunate and I’ve worked very hard, and in general everything I’ve put my mind to has succeeded. So, I would say yes, to a certain degree, I am. But, if you’re qualifying it by being incredibly wealthy or never having to work that hard because you’ve already achieved the pinnacle of where you are, then definitely not. I haven’t quite nailed the work/life balance yet either, I’m on a journey.
• As I get older, my version of success leads further away from my work. A successful life, for me, includes friends, family, human connection, I do love external validation, which is why my work is so important to me, and travel is very important, good food and drink, a nice place to live, contentment. Misery lies in perfectionism; I say yes and throw myself into things a lot and then work out afterward how to do it and make it work for me. 
• Networking has a negative reputation, but I think it’s the polar opposite. I genuinely love other people, I think they ‘re fascinating, I really want to get to know them, I enjoy their company, I enjoy talking to and listening to people. I’ve always been someone who would take someone for coffee to ask them for advice, I’ve never had a fear of asking for advice or failure. What’s the worst that can happen? They say no? Just carry on!
• When I launched Bacchus and Brodie in January 2021, I had the idea I’d be a backstage person, because that’s what a producer is, distributing wine to events. But things changed and you’ve got to roll with change. I started writing blogs, it was picked up by a couple of people like England rugby player Joe Marler to teach him about wine on his podcast, I picked up a few Instagram followers from that and soon, within four months of launching I became the wine columnist for City A.M. which has a large readership in London and I now have a whole page.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Life has a funny way of throwing curveballs, so adaptability is a very important strength for people to have flexibility. I thought I’d be in the theatre and living in New York was always my plan, so wine is quite a strange transition.’
‘I like connecting people, I don’t think gatekeeping is how the business and the economy survives. When it works it’s great and they’ll remember you next time. A sharing and collegiate atmosphere has been very valuable, I don’t think you can get ahead by yourself.’
‘During lockdown, with no theatre, I did the WSET (Win & Spirit Education Trust) course, first as a hobby, but then I got bitten by the bug.’
‘Without lockdown I never would have been able to pivot into wine and to be successful doing it on my own.’

ABOUT THE GUEST

Libby Brodie is an award-winning theatre and film producer turned wine consultant, during her time at the Old Vic Theatre, Libby worked on countless events for high-profile philanthropists, celebrities, supporters and creatives. Her career progressed to the West End, which in turn led to her launching her own theatre and film production company. 

Throughout Libby’s career as an events planner turned Theatre Producer, the God of theatre, parties and wine smiled down on her, inspiring her to train with the WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust). She passed each exam and blind tasting with distinction and launched Bacchus & Brodie – an independent, London-based wine consultancy. Informal but informed, at Bacchus & Brodie we personally curate wines with your preferences in mind.

Libby is City A.M.’s dedicated wine columnist, a freelance writer, presenter and creator. Alongside her curation and consultancy work, Libby created and presented “Boozy & The Beast: How To Drink Better”, an irreverent mini-series of tips and tricks to remove the snobbery surrounding wine, founded No.9 Supper Club, hosts private tastings and wine events and launched The Wine Collective UK, working with companies and wine regions on their social media strategy to engage new and more diverse audiences. A passionate communicator or as she sees it, ‘translator’ of the world of wine Libby works across a variety of media platforms.

Website: https://www.bacchusandbrodie.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/libbybrodie/

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Woman Self Made podcast brings you interviews with hugely successful women from all walks of life – world renowned business leaders, disruptive entrepreneurs, world class athletes, self-made multi-millionaires, entertainment and TV personalities. In these conversations we dive into their unique stories with an aim to deconstruct their secrets for success. We talk about their journeys, ups and down, while distilling along the way the habits, tools, tactics and tips, which you can learn and use.

So, grab your favourite drink and join us every Thursday for open conversations with the most inspiring women talking about building successful businesses, careers and living the lives of their dreams.

ABOUT THE HOST

Marina Bennett had a high-flying international career in strategy and finance, and in 2019 she decided to leave her £300k/year City job to take entrepreneurial plunge from scratch. She is now a multiple business owner on the way to her first 7 figures. Marina is also a founder of Woman. Self-made. (@womanselfmade.inc) - an online community of confident, ambitious women who want to achieve success and live the lives of their dreams.