Female Entrepreneurs in the Coffee Industry: A Chat with Jessie Gullett
The pioneering spirit infuses the culture here at Salt Spring Coffee. We have a strong leadership team, lots of mentorship and a growing number of female managers in our company. One such leader is Jessie Gullett, our highly respected Tsawwassen Cafe Manager.
Jessie not only oversees the operations and talented barista team at the Cafe, she has also managed all of our 2013 summer events, including Epic Sustainable Living Festival and Vancouver Folk Music Festival. The events were an incredible success, and Jessie played an integral role in bringing Salt Spring Coffee to life in the community.
Anyone who’s had the pleasure of meeting Jessie can agree that she’s a warm, down-to-earth, hardworking individual, who can not only pull an exceptional shot, but also manage and mentor a team with grace and poise. We had the opportunity to chat with Jessie, learn about her journey and gain insight into her “recipe for success” in the coffee industry.
Jessie has a visual arts educational background, which certainly explains her finesse as a barista. Brewing and preparing coffee is a craft, an art to be perfected, and Jessie realized this connection when she first took a job at Salt Spring Coffee’s Tsawwassen Cafe in January of 2009. After finishing her visual arts program, she decided to pursue a career in coffee, and was soon promoted to Cafe Manager at Tsawwassen. Jessie’s role encompasses everything from customer service, financials, hiring, strategic promotions planning, merchandising, as well as managing a team of baristas.
Jessie’s dedication and integrity have allowed her to progress through the company, taking on added responsibilities. When we asked what defines her management “style”, she noted that she leads by example and provides mentorship for her amazing team of baristas. Jessie firmly believes that an attention to detail, willingness to learn, along with an ability to multitask and inspire people to become “invested” in their craft are all essential to becoming a thriving leader in the coffee industry,
When asked about her vision for the future, Jessie explained that she eventually sees herself operating her own cafe, continuing to specialize in sustainability and supporting her local community. Anxious to absorb some of Jessie’s leadership wisdom, we asked her what advice she could give to young professionals looking to break into the coffee industry. She answered: “Become a ‘yes’ person. Be open to exploring, experimenting, and trying new things. Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself.”
At the end of our chat, we wanted to shift gears a bit, and we just had to ask, “Jessie, what’s your favourite coffee recipe?” Without missing a beat, she answered, “ristretto espresso macchiato”, which is a 1.5 ounce shot of organic Metta espresso topped with a bit of steamed milk. She prepared one for each of us, and we toasted to the success of rising young female pioneers in the coffee industry. We’re incredibly proud to have her as part of the Salt Spring Coffee team, and are excited for what the future will bring.
The post Female Entrepreneurs in the Coffee Industry: A Chat with Jessie Gullett appeared first on Salt Spring Coffee.
