Meet Sarah Mack

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sarah Mack a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Sarah, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

I started babysitting at 12 years old and have been working ever since. My mom had my sister and I each take a Red Cross babysitting course when we turned 12. When I was 15, I started working at a marina gas pier and learned much about customer service. Later in college, I held various internships before starting my first corporate job.

I grew up in a family where if I wanted something, I had to work for it. Although it was frustrating to see many friends be handed whatever new wakeboard, iPod, or computer they wanted, I’m grateful that I learned early to balance school, sports, work, and friends. My parents taught my sister and me the importance of prioritization, being self-sufficient, and working towards your goals. I carried these lessons through my corporate career and now with my company.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I co-founded Vinat, a sister-founded wine company that sources and rebrands exclusive European wines with fabulously cheeky labels and no unwanted additives. We’re showing young professional women that you don’t have to be an expert or break the bank to enjoy great wine.

Working with my sister is one of the most exciting things about my job! Emily and I have different but complementary skills. Emily is an incredible designer with a lot of experience in tech, and my background is in finance. It’s been so fun to work with Emily, learn from her creative process, and build a product that we both love and are proud of together.

We recently launched our “Wine Rack Rewards” referral program and have some fun events coming up, including a Sip & Shop with Rag & Bone.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Three critical skills are curiosity, willingness to listen, and taking the time to learn. With any business or industry, it’s essential to educate yourself, be honest about where you aren’t an expert, and learn from those who are. Before we spent a single dollar creating Vinat, we invested time meeting with people from all parts of the wine industry, taking certification classes, and asking many questions. One spot I see some entrepreneurs go wrong is when they fall in love with an idea and stop researching. Emily and I pivoted from our original vision for Vinat after talking to countless potential customers and people in the industry. It’s really important to approach these conversations humbly and open-mindedly.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

My parents never told my sister what we could or could not do in our careers. They left us to figure out what career paths were right for us and provided advice if we asked. My sister and I are fortunate because there are many strong and entrepreneurial women in my father’s family whom we grew up with as role models. Throughout our childhood, we were shown that women can do whatever they put their minds to and that there are many roads to success.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://drinkvinat.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drinkvinat/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drinkvinat
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-g-m-7b03b228/