FEMALE BAGPIPE PLAYER SKIN

I bought my first sewing machine at 13, and a teacher at school supported my passion and taught me to sew. I was recently named 'Best New Scottish Designer of 2016' in the Scottish Variety Awards. Using my Highland roots and clan heritage as inspiration, I design for both women (ready-to-wear kilts and cashmere) and men (entirely bespoke).Ĭareer Trajectory: I set my goal of becoming a fashion designer at just 10-years-old, when I was constantly sketching clothes. Photo courtesy of Stephen GibsonĬurrent Job:I'm known for my cutting-edge kilt creations and have designed pieces for celebs like Justin Bieber. Scottish kilt designer Siobhan Mackenzie. Also be prepared to learn from those who have been in the industry a long time - use their knowledge and experience to your advantage.

I spent many summers working unpaid in PR/advertising agencies, but the experience is gave me was invaluable, particularly when I found myself client-side. My Advice For Other Women: Get as much experience under your belt as possible, even if it means unpaid internships. It gives you the instinct to immediately know what is and what is not right for the brand when it comes to everything from packaging look and feel to brand activity. To many, that sounds like marketing waffle - but to me, a great brand/marketing manager genuinely lives and breathes the brands they work with every day.

FEMALE BAGPIPE PLAYER SKIN

I wanted to essentially see improvements happen overnight and realized that is unrealistic: Change takes time and you have to take people on the journey.īest Advice I've Heard: A great boss told me to really get under the skin of the brands you work with, really understand their DNA, personality and values. Photo courtesy of Cara Laingīiggest Mistake: I made the mistake of expecting change to happen quickly in a relatively small, non bureaucratic business. Laing, doing a tasting at a culinary festival. Similarly, in certain countries we deal with, men are not always as open to acknowledging women in business (particularly the whisky business) where most of the big companies have historically had male representation. What It's Like Being A Woman In This Field: The Scotch whisky industry is still very male dominated - that can certainly be challenging when dealing with men twice your age. Shortly thereafter, I was made director of whisky. My father's belief was that I had earned my stripes working for 'the big boys,' so in the summer of 2013, I joined my father and my husband in the family business, Douglas Laing, as head of brands. I enjoyed an amazing three-and-a-half years in this role. In 2010 I moved to the role of marketing manager at Morrison Bowmore Distillers, looking after Bowmore and eventually Glen Garioch Single Malts. From there, I quickly gravitated to Jura Single Malt, which I went on to manage globally. No two days are ever the same.Ĭareer Trajectory: I entered the whisky industry 10 years ago when I joined Whyte & Mackay as a marketing assistant working across various brands. Ltd.Ĭurrent Job: I recently took a leadership role at the Glasgow-based whisky business that my grandfather Fred Douglas Laing started in 1948. As director of whisky, I oversee everything from new business to capex projects. Who: Cara Laing, director of whisky at Douglas Laing & Co.

Female bagpipe player