Her Story
About Stephanie
Stephanie Franklin serves as Founder and CEO of Fly Wines, a venture she launched following an aha moment during the pandemic after many years in tech. Motivated by personal loss, she transitioned into the wine industry over three years ago and has built relationships with 4- and 5-star restaurants and wine shops in the Bay Area. She earned her Master's degree from London and Bachelor's from Georgia State, and she is WSET Level 2 certified. Franklin is a member of the African American Association of Vendors and sits on the board of the Verizon Project, while partnering with the San Francisco Opera Guild. She emphasizes integrity in her work and personal life, credits adaptability for her success, and advises young women entering the field to remain open to learning and constructive criticism. Her company is actively developing non-alcoholic sparkling wines amid industry transitions, with goals to secure national distribution.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Stephanie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to being adaptable. I have a goal, but I can adapt the process along the way. I'm not discouraged if the process changed or I have to deviate. I think for a lot of people it is hard if you're so fixed-minded on it didn't happen, but for myself I'm like oh that didn't work but maybe what can we do different to possibly make it work.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was from the first multimillionaire I ever met who said 'Don't just meet your goals, exceed your goals.' Even if I have a goal to do something, I try to exceed it even if not by a lot but just a little bit because that little bit does push the needle forward.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be open to learning. Be open to criticism. And don't take criticism or critique too hard. It's there to grow you and not to state that you're less than. Separate yourself from the words that someone is giving you, the critique that someone is giving you, and leave the critique at it. It does not mean you're a bad person.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in wine right now is getting funding and working capital because the industry is going through a transition period. A positive opportunity is the transition from just alcoholic beverages to non-alcoholic wine, and we are in the mix of that with our Fly Wines branded non-alcoholic sparkling wine.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity is most important. If I say something that I'm going to be able to do, I definitely try to do it, and if not, I actually state hey I can no longer do this. Having integrity and building that rapport and communication with people is actually one of the things that's gotten Fly Wines to be where we are today.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.