Women in the Coffee Industry with Kate Ireland
At Bristol Twenty Coffee Company we are celebrating International Women’s Day!
Meet Kate Ireland, our Financial Director. With a passion for finance and coffee, Kate was over the moon with the opportunity to join the family business. As well as being the Financial Director at Bristol Twenty, Kate also runs a sustainable activewear brand, Ful:ki, empowering women. Kate embodies entrepreneurship, blending passion with business savvy and a dedication to female empowerment. We asked her questions about what it is like to be a woman in the coffee industry.
Tell us about yourself.
I have always had a passion for finance and coffee so when I had the opportunity to join the family business as the financial director I was over the moon.
In my spare time I love to try new cafes and restaurants to see what’s being offered out there. I also love to exercise. With my knowledge of business and confidence gained through Bristol Twenty I set up a sustainable activewear brand called Ful:ki to empower women which I run alongside Bristol Twenty.
What do you find most rewarding about being a female business owner?
Being your own boss has so many benefits as a female, choosing your hours to work around your family can really help, our lives are so busy now and things are not always 9-5 so being able to work around our life commitments at any hour of the day is great!
Have you observed any shifts or improvements in gender representation and diversity in the coffee industry over your career?
We have a lot of customers who run female-owned businesses and I think it is amazing, I don’t believe there should be any difference in females or males owning businesses but I think the world is shifting in general and more women are finding the confidence to step up and believe in themselves which is great.
What advice would you offer to other women looking to pursue a career or entrepreneurship in the coffee industry?
Business can be hard and with the ever-changing trends difficult to keep up with. I would advise you to follow your dreams, always remember why you started, try not to compare yourself to other businesses and remember you are worthy of running a business no matter your gender.
What do you envision for the future of Bristol Twenty Coffee?
We have a great team here at Bristol Twenty Coffee Company. With our collective efforts I believe we have started to make our mark in the industry. Looking ahead, I see continued growth for the business.
Thank you Kate for all your hard work!