Have you ever noticed that a hero, a real hero, often doesn't see themselves as one? Today’s guest is no different. Donna Stoney is the epitome of a humble hero. Donna has spent three decades building a career that places people and their quality of life at the center of everything that she has done.
A serial entrepreneur, Donna is the Founder of Stoney Wines, as well as the Executive Director at StoneyBrooke Residential Services LLC, helping adults with disabilities. When she opened Stoney Wines in 2019, she found herself breaking down barriers and perception as Oregon's first back female head winemaker; but this was not her first history-making endeavor.
One of the most inspiring differentiation strategies that set Donna’s approach to winemaking apart is her commitment to turning every bottle into a conversation.
While many wineries embrace direct-to-consumer sales through wine clubs, Donna reinvents this traditional business model as a powerful, life-changing form of community. She builds community through not one, but several different wine clubs, including one based on “Ally Membership” with a focus on how we’re better together. You not only get two bottles of Donna’s delicious wine each month; members receive educational materials and information empowering them to be better allies to marginalized peoples.
A second club is for “Sister Friends”, cultivating transformative life conversations amongst women. The “Sons We Bear”, a third club, brings men together. Tune in to learn more about how this club inspired a culture-shift that’s blossomed into an annual retreat.
In this episode, we discover how Donna’s big decision to follow her passions resulted in transforming the lives of people all around her, from college basketball to creating a community that is ALL-inclusive. Donna reveals the power of pairing your purpose and passion in an episode that we know is sure to lift your spirits and leave you inspired!
Cool links referenced in this episode:
- TOWARD A RACIALLY JUST WORKPLACE - 2019 Harvard Business Review Article
- Stoney Wines Clubs & Memberships - Dive into more of the wine clubs offered by Stoney Wines that are creating conversations and change
- VIDEO of Anita Baker, "Giving You the Best that I Got" - because we couldn't get the rights to play it in the podcast, take a listen because it's a fun song!
Extra Goodies:
Connect with Donna:
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Credits:
Produced and directed by Samantha Castro and Karolyn Hart. Additional support by Sue Braiden, Richard Brashear, Audrey Duncan and Sue Jenks. Theme music by Noah Smith. Ad music by Rhythm Scott. Mixed by Samantha Castro.
Music in this episode:
- Hill “Dilution Of Distress”
- OBOY “Step”
- Rhythm Scott “Lift It Up and Feel Good”
- Isaac Joel “Inky Caps”
- Cast Of Characters “Many Blessings”
