In this episode, George sits down with Karissa Kruse, President & CEO of Sonoma County Winegrowers, to explore her visionary leadership in the wine industry. Karissa shares the inspiration behind crafting a groundbreaking 100-year business plan and what sets Sonoma County grape growers apart from the rest.
Karissa also reflects on her critical role during the pandemic, ensuring farm workers had access to vaccines—personally scheduling an incredible 6,000 appointments in just three months.
She highlights her work founding the Vineyard Employee Recognition Program in 2018, which paved the way for the Leadership Academy. Recently, graduates of the program took their skills to Washington, D.C., thanks to a partnership with Alaska Airlines.
A leader driven by action, Karissa lives by the mantra: “Pilot anything and everything, and if it doesn’t work, let’s learn, and if it does work, great, let’s scale it.”
Tune in to be inspired by her innovative approach to sustainability, leadership, and community in Sonoma County!
