The Widow Clicquot

I am always struck by women’s incredible resilience and contribution worldwide. We are mothers, grandmothers, sisters, daughters, aunts, teachers, mentors and caretakers.  Without us, life on the planet as we know it would cease.  What we take in stride and accommodate is nothing less than a daily miracle.

I am introducing a New Series, Women in Leadership, which, quite frankly, will never lack in available content, yet it is rarely celebrated.  I am doing so in honor of my oldest son, who has shaped my life in every possible way and has been beside me through thick and thin. I will call upon the inspiring Women of the past and the NOW, which will catapult us into the future.  I have asked my friend Wanda Sinclair, a no-nonsense Southern Belle, to assist me with this endeavor by adding her frank and unapologetic “Straight Talk,” which she constantly reminds me is NOT Crooked.

I would like to start with the subject of Champagne.  To exemplify how little the world may know about the origin and development of this product, I will use the current Netflix series entitled  “The Widow Clicquot” as my starting point.  How many of you know how influential Barbe-Nicole Clicquot (1777 – 1866)  has been in the industry? She is considered the Grande Dame of Champagne producers. Barbe-Nicole took on her husband’s wine business after being widowed at 27; she instantly became a single parent.  The brand she created, Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin, remains an elite brand in this industry and still bears her name.

Of course, Women have seen great strides in their freedom and ability to be self-sustaining after years of fighting for our rights as human beings and equals. I find the total lack of understanding of how ridiculous having to fight for those rights actually still is…but let’s stick to the point of Champagne and a woman’s approach to doing business in the 1700s!

Viewing the series, I found a story that exemplified a diligent and committed woman who practiced what I would call Kaizen principles!  She was interested in conversations with her workers and gaining and testing new ideas to perfect their product lines.  This was met with objections and resistance by the men who overwhelmingly held the power positions. She found that men preferred the current hierarchy as a business practice, many of whom tried to remove her from her own company.  Barbe-Nicole saw her vineyard operations like a wheel – a circle where everyone sat together at the table as a team. Her inclusive mindset undoubtedly created – a willingness to support her ideas  – and loyalty – due to the respect she showed her team.  In the end, it was also evident in the series that two enlightened men, her father-in-law and her husband’s closest friend, recognized her genius and supported her ideas. So much of leadership is about how we help others to achieve their goals.

It is worth a look, and although I am not a champagne drinker personally, I found another very talented woman that I can look to in Leadership.  What a joy that is. Think of her the next time you raise a glass in toast!

Netflix – IMBD Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3234122/?ref_=vp_vi_tt

Director:  Thomas Napper  Writers: Erin Digman, Christopher Monger, Tillar J. Mazzeo Stars:  Haley Bennet, Tom Sturridge, Sam Riley