Name: Leslie Petry

Position: Owner & CEO

Company: Les Barrique

URL: www.lesbarrique.co

• Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I’m a serial entrepreneur who has a passion for wine. Currently based in Silicon Valley (CA), I have started three businesses in the past. I have a love for starting things from scratch, learning along the way, and bringing value to an industry or my partners.

• What are you trying to accomplish with your work?

With Les Barrique, my goal is to bring industry knowledge across the wine business to small and medium sized wineries that are looking to scale.

• What motivated you to take the first step in launching your business?

What motivated me was my passion for wine and my interest in teaching. With both industry knowledge and a sales and marketing background I can help winery owners, particularly those that come from the farming side of the business, with expansion, wine club creation, and reaching new customers.

• What was one of the hardest or most unexpected obstacles you had to overcome to get your idea off the ground?

One obstacle that I faced was getting my name out there and generating a book of business. While this may be one of the hardest things to do, in the end it lends itself to repeat business and recommendations.

• Tell us about a moment you are particularly proud of in your start-up journey?

My proudest moment has been seeing other small businesses thrive through our partnership. I believe in giving back and lending experience to help those that may not have it. That’s the main reason why I started a business around consulting because I believe in sharing knowledge so that others can benefit.

• Did you face any unique challenges as a woman in your field to get your start-up launched?

I faced very few challenges in my field given I’m focused on consulting vs. winemaking. Had I taken on the latter, I probably would have faced more challenges just given the small percentage of women in the US that currently hold this role.

• What advice do you have for someone thinking about starting their own business?

Be patient. It takes time to start and grow a business and there will be many ups and downs. But, if you’re patient, resilient, and give yourself some leeway to try things differently, you will be successful in the end.

• Why .CO?

To me, .CO represents a strong community of entrepreneurs and start up companies that share a similar mindset around taking on challenges, being dedicated to a cause, and working with the community to build businesses. This is what excites me about being a .CO.

• What’s next for you?

The next step for me is to think long-term. Ultimately, I’d like to turn my consulting business into one where I expand my reach by partnering with restaurants, organizations, and fellow sommeliers to help them grow their businesses as well.