For Brittany Yeng, the path to Skrewball was non-linear, but that is exactly at the heart of Skrewball's ethos.
Brittany Yeng started in chemistry, from which she then transitioned to law. she combined the two to do pharmaceutical patent litigation. While she was pursuing her career, her husband decided that he wanted to open a restaurant. The only way the couple had time to spend together was when she would help him build that dream.
As her career took off, the couple couldn't spend that time together. With their first daughter on the way, Yeng wanted to return to building something together. She saw the success of this peanut butter cocktail that he had created and thought it would be wonderful to share with the world. They decided it was the right time to jump in and built an incredible company together.
The most important advice that Yeng has received was to apply now, and decide later. This came about when she was talking to a judge about which law schools to apply for. Before she even applied or got accepted, she was debating whether she’d want to go.
“Instead of wasting energy on what I would do if I got in, I used that energy to apply to as many places as I possibly could. Once all my options were in front of me, it would be easier to decide. That mentality works in so many areas of my life,” said Yeng.
“Sometimes we shut down an idea too soon and waste our time on decisions we do not have to make in the current moment. So, when there are a few good options on the table, I'll progress both to see what wins out.”
Yeng said that mentors do not need to be formal relationships. She has constantly looked at people's leadership styles and ways of working to inspire her to try new things. At each phase, those people have changed, providing constant evolution.
“It's the small hacks they share, the words of wisdom, the perspective that often comes in off the cuff remarks, that have profoundly changed the way I approach situations without them even knowing how much it means to me.”
Yeng’s years in the industry have been a rollercoaster, from Covid shutdowns to non-alcoholic drinks being the hottest new trend. She said people are changing what they want, and they’re doing so faster than ever. Liquor brands used to stand the tests of time, and once they became popular, they stayed so for decades. Today, brands need to be responsive to the needs of their customers if they want to stay relevant to the fans that built the success for them.
Yeng would like to see a revival of community-based brands in the future. She said a lot of newer brands have been tied to a single person or personality. However, that minimises the most important part of alcohol: the social aspect.
“I love seeing a community of people finding something they truly love and sharing it. I love it even more when the brand becomes part of that and responds to and becomes a part of the community. We’ve built that with Skrewball and have seen firsthand the impact it can make. I believe this will be the direction of the future and I'm excited for it.”
The highlight of her career so far has been the people she has had the opportunity to work with.
“In a “normal” job, there is a limited set of people you work with. Through Skrewball, I have worked with people from all walks of life and all departments and each one of them approaches life and the brand entirely differently. The impact on me and the lessons I've learned cannot be taken away.”
Brittany Yeng described Skrewball as a fun and innovative brand. She said it never gets old to see people's demeanor change as they get to interact with a brand that allows them to be creative and have fun again.
“I was reading how creativity is a powerful antidote to anxiety. In my experience, that is absolutely true. I see new life in people as they get to be creative. I want to share that with as many people as I can.”
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