Diageo's Diane Farrell, Senior Site Manager at the Talisker Distillery, has been recognised in Management Today’s prestigious and long-running 35 Women Under 35 list, which celebrates a handful of the UK’s most impressive women in business. 

“Diane is an inspiring young woman who leads one of Diageo’s flagship malt distilleries – Talisker on the Isle of Skye. She is a strong female role model and is currently mentoring other young women and inspiring the next generation to look at exciting opportunities within the whisky industry," says Pamela Scott, Global Operational Excellence Strategy and Standards Director at Diageo. "She has an ambitious character and I am delighted that she has been recognised by Management Today in this year’s list.”

An impressive women leader at Diageo

At just 29 years old Diane manages one of the world’s most renowned Scotch Whisky distilleries, Diageo's Talisker Distillery, situated on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. In her role she oversees the working of both the distillery and the visitors centre and leads an all-female management team at this iconic site.

As the custodian of Diageo's incredible whisky, Diane is responsible for protecting its quality and heritage. This requires managing a 24 hours a day, seven days a week production process as well as an extremely popular visitors centre, where Diageo welcomes 75,000-90,000 visitors each year.

Feeling proud of her career achievements

Diane studied a master’s degree in chemical engineering at the University of Strathclyde, and then was asked to join Diageo’s graduate scheme. During the scheme, Diane worked in project management and did her dissertation in maturation, which gave her knowledge about how the business came together.

Diane then moved up to the Scottish Highlands to become the distillery manager at Teaninich distillery, and was there for eighteen months before the role at Talisker came up. She thought it was too good an opportunity to miss, and she just wanted to be part of it all. Above all, Diane likes to embrace challenges.

‘My best whisky moment was quite early on in my role here. I was in my house, looking out of my window, over the same water the distillery looks over," explains Diane.

"You could see the distillery in the background, and I just remember having a drink with my partner and feeling so, so proud that I had become the site manager here. It just really sunk in at that point."

Join impressive women leaders like Diane at Diageo

Women's work is treasured at Diageo and they thrive with the support and opportunities offered to them in the company. As one of the leading alcohol beverages companies, Diageo offers a wide range of opportunities to talented women. 

Learn more and apply now!

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