Ritchie: Advice for female entrepreneurs in male-dominated industries

Trish Ritchie

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Did you know that in 2022, only 8% of craft distilleries were women-owned? When my daughter, Bren, and I founded One Handsome Bastard in 2023, we knew that we would be entering an industry that was historically male-dominated.

While this comes with its struggles, we have learned, adapted and thrived in the distillery space by always remembering some key advice.

‘Fail early, fail often, but always fail forward’

As entrepreneurs, we often see failure as a bad thing we should avoid. However, I strongly believe that we need to fail to succeed — after all, we learn much more from failure than success.

I believe the quote, “Fail early, fail often, but always fail forward,” from John C. Maxwell remains true. The last part is important — we need to remember to use the lessons we learn from our failures and apply them to our future actions.

It’s important to remember not to take failure lightly, but to always be intentional with how you approach and react to it. When something doesn’t go as planned, get back up and try again.

Surround yourself with a great team

When facing difficult or stressful situations, having a good support system is essential. I have the best work support system one could ask for as my daughter is my business partner.

Because of our close relationship, we can rely on each other during difficult times and be more vulnerable about problems we’re facing. Our business is built on our family connection, and we believe that makes us stronger.

Give back to your community

To us, giving back isn’t just a checkbox; it’s one of the pillars of our business. We invest time and resources into supporting initiatives that benefit our community, from hosting fundraising events to supporting causes that align with our values.

Giving back is woven into the fabric of our business. It’s about creating a space that lifts up the very people who have supported us. We donate 10% of the proceeds from every bottle of One Handsome Bastard vodka sold to a cause we care deeply about, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. 

Be open to new, innovative ideas

We often achieve success with outside-the-box ideas, not by “playing it safe.” It’s the unique ideas that define your business. We created our vodka with potatoes, different from the more common rye, wheat and corn-based vodka on the market.

Creating new ideas and concepts is what gets businesses noticed and helps in putting you a step above your competitors. Push your own boundaries!

Support other women

In male-dominated fields, networking with other female entrepreneurs is crucial. The struggles that female entrepreneurs go through are often unique, and sometimes the only people who truly understand and can help are other like-minded entrepreneurs.

Sometimes women are left out of the conversation in male-dominated fields, so creating your own conversations is important. These connections are not only necessary, but empowering.

Female entrepreneurs in male-dominated industries often face unique and complex struggles, but never let these disadvantages keep you down.

The future is bright — we are slowly but surely establishing a presence in these fields. If you’re a female entrepreneur, keep persevering.

Editor’s note: Trish Ritchie and her daughter, Bren, are co-founders of One Handsome Bastard Distillery in Scottsdale. Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.