She has an exciting career in the wine industry on the other side of the world, but on International Women’s Day, Émilie Steckenborn returned to her roots remotely to share words of wisdom with students from her alma mater.
Steckenborn, host of Bottled in China, was the guest speaker of the College’s Ask an Alumni Anything virtual event on March 8. Presented by Alumni Relations and the Niagara College Student Administrative Council, the remote series was held via Instagram Live, giving students an opportunity to pose questions to successful NC alumni.
Steckenborn, who has been living in Shanghai, China for the past 10 years since she graduated from the Wine Business Management program in 2011, spoke about her journey from the College to the industry and addressed questions from students.
“I feel honored and grateful to share my story and inspire the NC community to follow their career aspirations,” she said. “NC provided me with the building blocks to truly understand the diverse world of wine.”
Having the chance to address NC students on International Women’s Day was meaningful for Steckenborn. Through her podcast, she noted that she has featured many women in the food and beverage industry.
“I try to showcase many wonderful women in food and beverage through my podcast Bottled in China. You’d be amazed once you dig a bit; women-owned distilleries, women -operated alternative protein companies, leading Sommeliers and winemakers … you name it,” she said. “Let’s continue to raise each other up and remove any limitations that we put on ourselves because the only person that controls our potential is ourselves.”
Steckenborn looks back fondly on her days at NC where she gained a holistic view of the wine industry, and became equipped with the confidence to speak to winemakers, marketers and exporters alike.
While her career has evolved since graduation, her passion for wine remains as strong as it was while she was a student.
“I still have the same curiosity as when I first started,” she said. “Many will agree that you cannot know everything about wine. I am still learning.”
Alumni engagement officer Jana Boniferro noted that she appreciated Steckenborn’s willingness to celebrate International Women’s Day with the College.
“This was such a great networking opportunity for students to connect with our alumni who continue to provide support and guidance along their journey at NC,” said Boniferro. “This also emphasized the incredible commitment that NC alumni have to the success of students, especially during these challenging times.”
Career highlights
Émilie Steckenborn works for one of the leading wine companies in China and founded her own podcast in 2016. – Submitted photo
Steckenborn seeks to share her passion for wine with enthusiasts and professionals across Asia and works for one of the leading wine companies on the continent as head of Education Asia.
Her knowledge and global experience were gained from wine programs in the Niagara wine region of Canada and UC Davis in California. Since 2016, Steckenborn has been the exclusive wine consultant for China Eastern Airlines, the second-largest carrier in China by passengers. In 2019, she was named among the top 50 future influencers in the global beverage industry by the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC).
To further cultivate her passion for gastronomy, she completed the Cordon Bleu Paris and Université de Reims fine dining and gastronomy program. Further certifications include Certified Sommelier from CMS, WSET L1 in Sake, Credited Bordeaux Educator, Certified WSET Educator as well as being a WSET Diploma holder. She is currently a candidate of the rigorous Master of Wine exams.
Steckenborn is the host and creator of Bottled in China podcast, which she founded in 2016, to share the stories and adventures of passionate individuals in the food and beverage scene who are shaking things up in Asia. In 2020, it expanded to include a global trend perspective, hosting conversations with food and beverage thought leaders and business leaders around the world.
She and her team have trained hundreds of thousands of wine enthusiasts through nationwide training for government trade organizations, brand companies and multinational distributors. She has created and implemented successful national training programs for numerous hotel groups focused on raising service standards and product knowledge across front line staff. In addition, she has worked with some of the biggest wine and water brands to create specific brand training across China and spearheaded WSET APP programs to provide beverage qualifications of the highest industry standard.
Ask an Alumni Anything
Since the series was launched in November 2020, featured alumni has included Jeff Blay, creative director, Enterprise Canada (Journalism 2011, Public Relations 2015); Kevin Rempel, multi-award-winning retired world-class sledge hockey Paralympian and founder and CEO of The Sledge Hockey Experience (Event Management, 2009; and Business Administration – Marketing, 2005).; and Shannon Burns, CHUM 104.5 iHeartRadio Nights host (Broadcasting: Radio, Television and Film, 2013).
