Deborah Parker Wong, MSc, DipWSET of San Francisco, California on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Deborah Parker Wong, MSc, DipWSET. Check out our conversation below.

Deborah, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
The wine industry is caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to health claims about alcohol consumption. Risk factors associated with the consumption of alcohol are very individual; for many, the risk is very low and comparable with risks associated with many of the foods we eat while for others, risks are higher. Knowing your risk factors and how alcohol consumption impacts those factors is key. Wine contains beneficial antioxidant compounds that are not found in spirits or beer making it the “healthiest” choice of all beverage alcohols.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
As a university educator, veteran journalist, and international consultant, I’m engaged in several interrelated professional activities that reinforce and amplify my brand and my professional reputation. It’s not common to find journalists who teach or educators who write professionally (other than publishing scientific research) and the connection between these two disciplines is very powerful. Writing strengthens the development of curricula and raises visibility for my brand while lecturing informs public speaking. Everything comes into play when consulting as demonstrating deep subject matter expertise and presenting an articulate and polished presence are essential. As I am the brand, all my business activities revenue generating or otherwise i.e., my Wine Spirit Education Trust school and my social media accounts are branded to my name only.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
Despite being a master multitasker, years of keeping a dozen projects running at all times has begun to take a toll. Being able to multitask is a trait that pays off when you can prioritize and cut loose those pet projects that aren’t providing returns. The realization that you’ve devoted ten years to bringing a project to fruition but are still staring a baren tree can be demoralizing. However, the decision to exit is also liberating and with it comes hindsight and very often the clarity that was lacking while you were chasing success. I’m now focusing my talents and energy on a core set of professional activities and developing opportunities within those key areas.

When did you last change your mind about something important?
This year I withdrew from the leadership position of long-term advocacy project designed to support wine producers who prioritize land stewardship and farm without synthetic inputs. The desire to contribute in a meaningful way to the health of the planet and the people who live and work on agricultural land kept me going for almost ten years. I began the project as a curious journalist and quickly became an advocate. While I was busy advocating in support of those who are making the right choices, both my team and I were being exploited by the organization we represented. Making the decision took several months; I had to unplug my feelings about the project in order to change my mind set about the organization.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely. I began building my brand online long before the advent of the social media influencer and I have relentlessly protected both the authenticity and credibility of my brand. I use social media to gain more reach for the articles that I author, to stay connected with colleagues, and to support the industry activities that I and others engage in but there is nothing inauthentic about my public persona. I intentionally don’t share over much about my personal life because I don’t need to. My audience is interested in what I’m doing professionally.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days. 
I love my work but “my work” doesn’t really look like most jobs. Yes, I’m lecturing often but because my many professional activities are interrelated, I’m rarely bored. After earning a Master of Science degree this year, I find myself moving in a new direction. I’m deeply interested in designing and conducting academic research studies in my field and developing projects based on that research. Achieving a big milestone absolutely gave me a boost this year but this is my third career/industry, so It’s taken me three tries to get it right. Curiosity that has been the driving factor of my lifelong motivation.

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