“In the world of finance, it’s no longer acceptable to be an armchair accountant. It is critical to ingratiate yourself into the wider business and become a true partner and trusted advisor.” 

“Next gen wine business honors the legacy of Napa Valley while paving an equitable and environmentally responsible future for our industry's many workers, small family businesses, and customer experience. Values and intention are integral to entrepreneurial strategies that address climate change, global health crises, and socio-economic diversity.”

“To be a successful winemaker today, you can’t just be good at making wine.  You must have a broader understanding of ALL the components that drive the success of a brand as well as a focused approach to understanding your key consumers and the value you are attempting to provide them.” 

“As an entrepreneur you must stay true to your conviction as many will doubt you. Say NO to as much as possible in order to stay focused, and surround yourself with great supportive people."

“Never stop learning, the world of wine is hurtling into the future and success is found by those who can adapt and change at an ever increasing rate.”

“Your vision for your wines and your winery is critical, but it’s worthless unless you can communicate it to your customers and employees and convince them that they should share it.”

“When I signed up with EMBA program I had set all sort of goals and intensions for myself, what I learned from day one is those individual goals are blown out of the water by exponential proportions when you focus on getting your team right. As an executive and a manager of teams I have found the greatest successes are realized when you establish processes that support all team members.  Thoughtful and intentional work place culture lifts your team’s successes to unimagined heights.”

“The biggest thing that I’ve learned is how nuanced the wine industry is…and the large and small decisions that are made at the winery, how those are flowing through the P&L.”

“If you are truly passionate about what you are making, or your project, you will never have to try to sell it.  I have learned to focus on the relationship and the sale will happen naturally.”   

Join this outstanding group of the wine industry’s leaders; become an alum of one of our programs:

Executive Wine MBA Program

Professional Wine MBA Program

Undergraduate Wine Business Program

Professional Certificate Programs

“Consumers are hungry for authenticity and passion behind a brand. Finding your authentic voice is the simple expression of identity, guided by an unobstructed vision, all achieved through knowledge and passion.”

“Consumers are hungry for authenticity and passion behind a brand. Finding your authentic voice is the simple expression of identity, guided by an unobstructed vision, all achieved through knowledge and passion.”

“Business is the greatest game in the world.  Millions play, but few play well.  As a game, it's simple.  Simple, but hard.  Simple in the same way that winning marathons is simple (eat well and out-train everybody else) but hard also in the same way (because who really wants to do that every day, year after year?). The simple way to win at business is to build a great team, and to work with it to create a system that creates extraordinary value for customers in the long run.  

 The world lies to you that this process is glamorous.  Entrepreneur-hero stories like Inc 500 make it look easy.  But when you dig into the real stories of those that win decade after decade, it's not glamorous.  It's messy.  It never goes by the book.  There are peaks and valleys, but more valleys.  Those men and women, the successful ones (not just the flashy ones, but those that win in the long term) battle doubts, haters and every other obstacle to get to the peak.” 

“There is so much to know beyond winemaking or marketing or sales. Bringing them all together in perfect harmony will mean much more to you and your end user than you may ever know. Make the best product, be the best product.”