Championing Women and Celebrating Originality, the Bacardi Spirit Forward Women Empowerment Series Returns for Its 2nd Year

CORAL GABLES, Fla., March 27, 2019 /3BL Media/ - Bacardi Women In Leadership, in partnership with PUNCH, is pleased to present the second annual Spirit Forward Women Empowerment Series, dedicated to championing the outstanding individuals that make up the hospitality community, and elevating them to their highest potential. Kicking off April 1st in Chicago, and then onto Los Angeles and New York, this year's Spirit Forward will examine timely topics such as representation, innovation, and disrupting the status quo, all through the lens of "originality," and from a diverse group of voices both inside and outside the hospitality community.

"When Sheryl Sandberg predicted, 'In the future there will be no women leaders. There will just be leaders,' she was foreshadowing an important change in the conversation about equality, and the notion of 'women's empowerment,'" said PUNCH Editor in Chief Talia Baiocchi. "Our goal for Spirit Forward 2019 is to lean into that reality. We've gathered a group of forward-thinking women in all areas of hospitality, as well as the fitness, finance, and entertainment industries, to discuss what originality and creativity mean to them. Their diverse perspectives are meant to show, rather than tell, what it takes to be a leader today."

Attendees will be treated to discussions that tackle some of the toughest questions facing the industry today, led by female leaders and entrepreneurs who have overcome these obstacles and forged their own original paths. Along with motivating stories, key insights, and compelling advice, experts will teach participants how to handle their finances, build their own digital brands, and incorporate social activism into their careers. Hospitality and Beverage leaders such as Executive Chef & Co-Owner of Dyafa, Reem Assil, cookbook author and New York Times columnist Alison Roman, and award-winning female bartenders from around the country will lead discussions along with returning advocates from The Financial Gym, activist Ashtin Berry and Causing A Stir co-founders Alexis Brown and Ariel Neal. The multi-talented team of Bacardi Portfolio Ambassadors will host the summit and will be joined on stage by the official MC of Spirit Forward, comedian and bartender Siobhan Tuck.

" At Bacardi, we believe we can power growth by bringing people together and unleashing the talent that reflects the diversity of today's consumers and our industry," says Paula Glickenhaus, Head for Global Reflections at Bacardi. "Spirit Forward is a platform where women can come together to share their stories, learn from each other, and build a community that supports the advancement of women and equality for all in the spirits trade and hospitality community,"

Each event will culminate in an insightful and candid conversation between PUNCH Editor-in-Chief Talia Baiocchi and Chef Missy Robbins, owner of two of the most critically acclaimed restaurants in New York, Lilia & MISI, Esquire's Chef of the Year 2018, the 2018 James Beard Award winner for Best Chef New York, and this year's James Beard Award nominee for Outstanding Chef. Robbins will give attendees an inside look at the evolution of her career, lessons she's learned through both success and failure, and the importance of developing and holding firm to your own original point of view.

Join Bacardi and PUNCH along with celebrated professionals and industry leaders on the tour as they bring the spirits and hospitality community together. Open to all interested individuals, the cost for admission is $40 with a portion of the proceeds donated to Dress for Success, a not-for-profit with the mission to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.

To buy tickets, review the agenda or learn more, visit www.bacardispiritforward.net

About Bacardi U.S.A., Inc. 
Bacardi U.S.A. Inc. is the United States import and distribution arm of one of the world's leading spirits and wine producers. The company boasts a portfolio of some of the most recognized and top-selling spirits brands in the United States including BACARDÍ® rum, GREY GOOSE® vodka, PATRÓN® tequila, DEWAR'S® Blended Scotch Whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, CAZADORES® 100% blue agave tequila, MARTINI vermouth and sparkling wines, the world's leading vermouth and the world's favorite Italian sparkling wines, and other leading and emerging brands.

About Bacardi Women in Leadership 
The Bacardi Women in Leadership Initiative was founded with the mission of unleashing the potential of current and future female leaders at Bacardi to drive sustainable top and bottom-line business growth. Led globally by Paula Glickenhaus, Head for Global Reflections at Bacardi, the initiative is embedded into the Bacardi business strategy and instills a sense of ownership and accountability in business leaders to set the right example and drive engagement throughout the organization. Areas of focus include programs to strengthen the talent pipeline including a formal mentoring program and personal/professional development activities; networking opportunities and initiatives to empower employees in a winning work environment; and community partnerships centered on women helping other women in need. This program positions Bacardi as an employer of choice for talented women and helps establish stronger career paths toward senior leadership.

LIVE PASSIONATELY. DRINK RESPONSIBLY. 
©2019. BACARDÍ, ITS TRADE DRESS AND THE BAT DEVICE ARE TRADEMARKS OF BACARDĺ & COMPANY LIMITED. BACARDĺ U.S.A., INC., CORAL GABLES, FL. RUM – 40% ALC. BY VOL.

About PUNCH: 
PUNCH is a James Beard Award-winning online drinks and culture magazine in collaboration with Ten Speed Press focused on narrative journalism, original photography, recipes and curated travel guides to the best cocktails, spirits, wine and beer around the world. We pursue stories that use drinks as a lens to understand places, people and broader notions of things like authenticity, sustainability, tradition and community. https://www.punchdrink.com/