Today’s podcast is one for anyone in hospitality and bartending who has ever thought about making the leap over to the brand side of the industry. Maybe you’ve wondered whether or not you are someone suited to the brand world, working for a spirits company? Hospitality can arm with you a number of skills to make the move to brands, but they’re also looking for a particular type of person as my guest, Hayley Morison, points out in this interview.

Hayley is the national trade advocacy manager for Beam-Suntory, and as the driving force behind their hospitality engagement program The Blend, Hayley has supported hundreds if not thousands of Australian bartenders over the years. In the process they’ve won the Training Program of the Year at the Bartender magazine Bar Awards a record five times. She’s the Asia Pacific co-chair for Tales of the Cocktail’s Spirited Awards, and in 2017 landed at number 9 on the list of Australia’s Most Influential bar figures. 

On this episode Hayley talks about how the brand side of the business works, what they’re looking for in people who cross over from bartending and hospitality into the brand world, and the most rewarding and creative aspects of her role.