Olga Azarcon I Photo by Star Sabroso I Shot on location at Discovery Primea’s 1824 Whisky and Cigar Bar and Edge
Olga Azarcon
Managing Director I Moet Hennessy Philippines Inc
Olga Azarcon’s journey in the wine and spirit industry has come full circle. After traveling and discovering vineyards and distilleries in college, she joined Jardine Caldbeck to gain more experience in wines and spirits before working at Moet Hennessy Asia Pacific in sales and marketing. “I used to sell our bottles and now manage people to sell the products,” she says. ”What I love about my job now is the opportunity to mentor people. I am protective of my team and have invested much in building trust and camaraderie with each of the MHPI staff. It allows me to work with different groups of people, clients, customers, and media, some of which have become good friends. For the past 23 years, not only have I built the market for Moet-Hennessy products in the Philippines, but I have consistently exceeded our business targets.”
Olga acknowledges the difficulty of being a woman in a male-dominated field. “Just like in any industry dominated by men, women are outnumbered and forced to speak louder or work harder to shine,” she says. But she also sees the balance between the assets that women and men bring to the table. “As a premium luxury company, Moet Hennessy focuses on the experiences associated with our products. You pop the best champagne (be it Moet, Dom Perignon, or Krug) when you celebrate with friends, or you share a bottle of fine Hennessy Cognac or Glenmorangie Single Malt when you entertain your top business partners,” she explains. “It is in this aspect that being a woman is an advantage. A man and a woman usually complement each other when entertaining guests. Each one has its own strength.”
What can you advise aspiring women who would like to pursue a career in the drink world?
If you really want to be in the industry, I’d say go for it! Strengthen your people skills as It’s very social in nature – you get to meet and work with all sorts of people from different fields. Attention to detail is crucial as work focuses on engaging and delivering the best experiences to your customers. Be prepared to travel to learn about the brands you work with. But most importantly, be ready for all the hard work to face the ever-changing consumer and competitor landscape. Work with brands you love, and work for a team who you will learn from.
What do you like to drink?
Different occasions call for different drink preferences. My go-to drink depends on who I am with, the occasion we are celebrating, or the venue where we are drinking. The Moet-Hennessy portfolio brands are very versatile, like Hennessy Cognac, Glenmorangie Single Malts, Cloudy Bay Wines, and our range of Champagne brands such as Dom Perignon, Moët & Chandon, and Veuve Clicquot.
On a regular day, I usually start with Champagne. It’s a very versatile drink that can be taken as an aperitif or paired with a meal from starter to dessert. It can be consumed on any occasion at any time of the day. One of my favorites is Moët Ice Imperial, the first champagne especially created to be served on ice. It’s perfect for brunch, afternoon cocktails, or even for parties. Then, during dinner, depending on the cuisine, I will go for Hennessy Cognac or wines and then end the night with vodka or single malt.
Where do you go for decent drinks in the Philippines, or abroad?
We go to our partner establishments in the country or overseas. I usually hop from one outlet to another to experience the different offers of our partners. Again, a decent drink is not all about the bottle; it is the ultimate experience provided by the staff, the quality of the brand that you consume, and the people you share it with. Also, working with an international company allows you to have VIP access to the trendiest outlets around the world.
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