Raising the Glass

Untapped: How Women Are Changing the Food & Beverage Industry Through Collaboration

Welcome to a very special episode of Raising the Glass – The Tipple. Rom is joined by a special panel, recorded at one of our Untapped events. Joining her are Emma Heal, Miranda Ballard, and Ciara Cullen to explore the realities of building brands, navigating industry challenges as a woman, and creating better connections within the food and drink sectors. From scaling challenger brands and understanding consumer behaviour to navigating legal complexities and retail distribution, the conversation explores what it really takes to grow a business in a competitive landscape. They reflect on the importance of collaboration over competition, the power of authentic networking, why community plays such a vital role in supporting women founders, and the barriers women continue to face in industry spaces. In the episode Rom talks about a framework for measuring Social Value. The most widely adopted tool for this is the Social Value TOM (Themes, Outcomes, and Measures) System™, formerly known as the National TOMs.  Pour a long glass and enjoy. https://raisingtheglass.co.uk/ Emma Heal on LinkedIn Miranda Ballard on LinkedIn Ciara Cullen on LinkedIn Podcast production by Ginger Wizard Productions

Leading With Kindness: Lessons from Marnie Millard OBE

Rom sits down with Marnie Millard OBE to explore what leadership really looks like in today’s ever-changing world. From her early career in the food and beverage industry to her extensive board-level experience, Marnie shares the lessons that have shaped her approach to leadership. All of which are rooted in clarity, confidence, and compassion. Together, they reflect on navigating change, building resilient teams, and why kindness is not a soft skill, but a powerful leadership tool. There’s no escaping the fact that we live in uncertain times, and the conversation looks at the reality of this as a leader. Marnie talks about diversity at board level, the value of different perspectives, and the role leaders play in shaping culture through trust, flexibility, and empathy. In this episode, you’ll hear about: • Leading with confidence and clarity during times of change • Why kindness and compassion are essential leadership qualities • Building inclusive, diverse, and effective boards and teams • The importance of trust and flexibility in modern workplaces • Creating safe spaces that support wellbeing and growth • Lessons from a career spanning executive and non-executive roles • Reflecting on purpose, legacy, and meaningful impact Pour a long glass and enjoy. https://www.linkedin.com/in/marnie-jane-millard-obe-12841028/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-oliver-mooney-65730614/ Podcast production by https://www.gingerwizard.co.uk/

Representations and Sales, the Power of Diversity in Product Ranges

Welcome to The Tipple! In this episode, ROM is joined by Lottie Tregear, Matt Bowler-Jones, and Emma Thackray for a conversation recorded live on stage at the International Food & Drink Event 2026. They talk about one of the most important, and often overlooked, drivers of growth in the drinks industry: diversity and representation. As consumer expectations evolve, inclusive product ranges are no longer just a cultural consideration, they’ve become a commercial one. This episode explores how brands can better reflect the communities they serve, and why doing so unlocks new opportunities for both innovation and growth. Drawing on real industry experience, the panel discusses the issues challenger brands face in gaining traction, the role of data in shaping more inclusive ranges, and how established players can do more to support meaningful change. From retail realities to shifting cultural influence, this conversation looks at what’s changing, what’s not moving fast enough, and what the industry needs to do next. Here’s what you’ll take away: • Why diversity and representation drive commercial growth • The data behind more inclusive product ranges • The barriers challenger brands face in retail • How accelerator programmes and initiatives are supporting underrepresented founders • Why subcultures are shaping the future of drinks innovation We hope you enjoy our little tipple. LINKS https://raisingtheglass.co.uk https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmathackray/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lotte-tregear-4a80543/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-bowler-jones-19934982/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-oliver-mooney-65730614/ Podcast production by https://www.gingerwizard.co.uk/

Greg Morley on Creating Cultures Where Everyone Belongs

Greg Morley returns with Rom for this episode of Raising the Glass, and they’re refocusing allyship, and what DE&I means on the changing sands we currently find ourselves on. They talk about how inclusive cultures are built, why organisations that concentrate on it are winners and why we all should embrace the power of difference. Greg shares personal reflections and real-world examples that highlight the power of creating safe spaces, encouraging open dialogue, and ensuring every voice is heard. At its heart, this episode is a frank look at where we are right now with DE&I, how we make sure we are still waving the flag and how we encourage others to do so. In this episode, you’ll hear about: • Why DE&I is a winner • The humanitarian and commercial sides of allyship • The power of reminding people that it’s the right thing to do • Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable around inclusion • The importance of equity of voice at the table Hit play, and enjoy a thoughtful and hopeful conversation about inclusion, leadership, and the impact we can all have. Pour a glass and enjoy. LINKS https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregcmorley/ https://raisingtheglass.co.uk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-oliver-mooney-65730614/ Podcast production by https://www.gingerwizard.co.uk/

Aidy Smith on Neurodiversity, Wine & Breaking Barriers

Welcome to The Tipple – Raising the Glass’ short pour where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the drinks industry. In this episode, Rom sits down with Aidy Smith, award-winning drinks broadcaster and neurodiversity advocate, to talk about authenticity, inclusion, and breaking barriers in wine and media. Aidy shares how a life-changing placement in San Francisco sparked his love of wine and community and how embracing his neurodivergence helped shape his voice as a broadcaster and storyteller. Together they explore why simplifying wine language makes the industry more accessible, the importance of representation, and how small acts of kindness can create real belonging. They also discuss Aidy’s groundbreaking deal with Banijay, making him the first person with Tourette’s to sign with the global production company. In this episode: • How Aidy found his path into wine • Why authenticity and lived experience matter • Making wine more inclusive and accessible • The importance of representation in media • Building community through kindness and connection **PLEASE NOTE - THIS EPISODE WAS RECORDED PRIOR TO THE 2026 BAFTA CEREMONY** Pour a glass and enjoy this little tipple. LINKS https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidysmith/ https://raisingtheglass.co.uk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-oliver-mooney-65730614/ Podcast production by https://www.gingerwizard.co.uk/