So Ambitious 302: The Unusual Pairing - Ingrid Best on Building Space for Black Women in Luxury & Wine
Welcome back!
In this inspiring episode of So Ambitious, we sit down with Ingrid Best, founder of IBest Wines, to unpack her bold journey from corporate spirits executive to visionary wine entrepreneur. Ingrid reveals how her time in South Africa unlocked her creative superpower, why she walked away at the height of her career to launch her own brand, and how she’s rewriting the rules of storytelling, brand-building, and legacy creation.
From the messy middle of entrepreneurship to navigating naysayers, fundraising challenges, and staying true to her love for wine, Ingrid shares the lessons that keep her grounded, ambitious, and committed to lifting others along the way. Whether you’re a creative, a founder, or someone daring to take a big leap, this conversation will fuel your courage to bet on yourself.
KEY POINTS
- South Africa unlocked Ingrid’s creative superpower and fueled her vision for IBest Wines
- Lessons from working with global giants like Diageo, Bacardi, and Moët Hennessy shaped her brand approach
- How storytelling and showing the “messy middle” are essential for building authentic brands
- Walking away from a top corporate role was the bold step toward her true passion
- How naysayers pushed her to focus, stay quiet, and trust her vision
- Focus is a discipline; mentorship, walking, and long flights became part of her process
- Mentorship revealed confidence as the key barrier holding young women back
- Building IBest Wines with personal capital, then raised support from trusted Black women investors
- Transparency with investors and the community builds resilience during challenges
- Ingrid: Legacy is about self-belief, equity for women, and creating generational wealth
QUOTABLES
“I’m a 20-year overnight success. Everything I know came from working with the biggest brands in the world.” – Ingrid Best
“People don’t just want to see the perfect ad. They want to see the messy middle.” – Ingrid Best
“I walked away from the height of my career because I finally had the faith, courage, and ambition to bet on myself.” – Ingrid Best
“Legacy for me is equity, global storytelling, and proving that big acquisitions can close the wealth gap.” – Ingrid Best
RESOURCES
Ingrid Best
IG | @Ms_Ibest
IG | @ibestwines/
IG | @feleciahatcher
IG | @blackambitionprize
So Ambitious is produced by EPYC Media