Throughout Women’s History Month, we are spotlighting women employees who have helped strengthen our culture, push our business forward and help Molson Coors thrive. Today, we speak with Allison Spohn, an IT development analyst based in Milwaukee. Alison started at Molson Coors shortly after college and has found an environment that's supportive and empowering, especially as she's taken on a role with our BREW (Building Relationships, Empowering Women) employee resource group.
Celebrating diverse voices shouldn’t be limited to one month. How can people be strong allies throughout the entire year?
Many consider being an ally and being a mentor to be the same thing. And while they may go hand-in-hand, allyship is really just about actively being a voice and advocate for others without them knowing it. Be that person at the table who makes sure everyone, regardless of status, has a seat at the table and has the opportunity to have their voice heard.
What motivated you to join BREW?
Like many others, I joined BREW originally as a way to get to know people like myself at the company. When I joined Molson Coors, I was fresh out of college and had just moved to Wisconsin, so I didn’t know anyone. Joining BREW and stepping into a leadership role on the BREW board enabled me to get to know my peers, many of whom I would not have met otherwise.
What has been your proudest moment as a member of BREW?
I think my proudest moment as a member of BREW was reflecting back on 2021 and seeing all of the progress we made and our accomplishments as a chapter. Coming out of the pandemic, we were able to host so many successful events and even raise more than $2,000 to donate to local nonprofits. It’s exciting and empowering to see our organization (both within and outside of BREW) come together to celebrate, network and create change in our local community.
How do resources such as BREW strengthen our first value of putting people first? How do they strengthen all of our values?
Molson Coors is all about its people; it’s what drives our culture every day. BREW is built on the foundation of creating opportunities for women to not only grow both personally and professionally, but for our allies to learn and grow alongside us. BREW provides opportunities to learn, network, give back and celebrate one another’s accomplishments. It’s one of the largest ERGs we have, and there is a reason for that. People recognize the great opportunities BREW has to offer that are relevant, but also make work fun. That’s why employee resource groups such as BREW are so important in driving our culture and our core value as an organization.
What would you say to women who are interested in pursuing a career at Molson Coors or in the beverage industry?
To any prospective female considering a career at Molson Coors, I say go for it and don’t let anything or anyone stop you. There are not many companies that truly live their values, let alone put their people first. Molson Coors is one of them. The company truly puts its people first and creates equal growth opportunities for all employees. Whether it be learning opportunities to find your niche in your role, ambitions to be a people leader, or altering your career path, if you voice your interest, the company does what it can to get you there. The best investment any company can make is in its people, and Molson Coors takes pride in doing just that.
Has seeing female senior leaders like CFO Tracey Joubert, CMO Michelle St. Jacques and Chief Legal and Government Affairs Officer Anne-Marie D’Angelo influenced your career development at Molson Coors? If so, how?
Being so early in my career, it has definitely been encouraging to see so many female senior leaders in all areas of our business. To see each of these ladies go about their work in such a graceful yet powerful manner, and have so many people’s respect while doing it, you know they are making an impact in everything they do. It is something I aspire to, and seeing them achieve it only makes it seem more feasible.