Dream Big Darling and The Millinger Group are investing in the industry’s next generation of leaders through more than 15 fully funded FLOurish scholarships
October 7, 2026 (Paso Robles, CA) — The wine and spirits industry is changing, and the people leading it must change with it.
Today’s leaders must adapt, make confident decisions and bring people with them through uncertainty. The approaches that worked in the past may not be enough to move businesses, teams and careers forward in the years ahead.
For Amanda W. Higgins, founder of Dream Big Darling, and Rona Millinger, founder of The Millinger Group, the answer is not simply to find better leaders. It is to do a better job of recognizing and developing the talented people already working in the industry.
“The industry is under enormous pressure, and the old rules for success aren’t necessarily going to get us where we need to go next,” said Higgins. “We need people who are willing to think differently, lead through change and make decisions with confidence. There is tremendous talent in this industry. Our responsibility is to invest in it.”
That belief is behind the 2026–2027 FLOurish Program, a six-month virtual leadership and professional development experience for emerging leaders in wine and spirits. Designed for women in the industry, the program will provide more than 15 participants with fully funded scholarships, each covering the program’s $6,500 value. Applications are open through Dec. 4, 2026.
FLOurish begins with the individual. Participants complete a personality assessment and personal debrief, then receive one-on-one coaching, peer mentoring, industry mentorship, networking and practical skill development.
The goal is not to shape every participant into the same kind of leader. It is to help each emerging leader understand how they lead, recognize the strengths they already bring and identify where they want to grow.
“Leadership development isn’t one-size-fits-all,” said Millinger. “Emerging leaders need the opportunity to understand their strengths and identify where they want to grow. They also need trusted people around them who can challenge them, support them and help them turn insight into action.”
That support can be especially valuable during periods of change. Stepping into greater responsibility can feel isolating, particularly when leaders are expected to provide clarity while navigating uncertainty themselves.
FLOurish combines personalized coaching with the perspective and support of a cohort. Participants can speak candidly, test ideas, learn from one another and build relationships that often continue well beyond the six-month program.
The results are both personal and practical. Participants in the 2025–2026 cohort reported increased self-awareness and confidence, stronger professional relationships, greater recognition of their strengths and a broader sense of future career possibilities. One emerging leader said the confidence she gained increased her visibility with executive leadership and contributed to an offer for a director-level promotion. All surveyed participants said they would recommend the program to another emerging leader in the industry.
It Started With One Person Who Saw Potential
The philosophy behind FLOurish began long before the program itself.
Florence Pramberger, a former human resources leader for Seagram’s, Beam and Mast-Jägermeister, was Millinger’s professional mentor. Known as the “FLOmeister,” she had a gift for recognizing talent and helping people cultivate it. Higgins and Millinger founded FLOurish in her honor in 2020.
“Florence saw potential in people, sometimes before they fully saw it in themselves,” said Millinger. “She didn’t simply tell people they had potential. She invested in them and helped them grow into it. That philosophy remains at the heart of FLOurish.”
Her example remains relevant today. Across the wine and spirits industry, emerging leaders are already helping businesses adapt, make difficult decisions and move forward. What is often missing is access to individual coaching, intentional leadership development and a community invested in their growth.
FLOurish was created to help close that gap.
Now entering its sixth cohort year, the program has graduated more than 100 emerging leaders, positively impacted 80 employers, administered and reviewed more than 100 personality assessments, and delivered nearly 500 one-on-one coaching sessions.
“We can’t control all the changes happening around us, but we can invest in the people who will help lead us through them,” said Higgins. “Emerging leaders need more than encouragement. They need meaningful development, honest coaching, practical skills and relationships with people who will support and challenge them. That is why this work feels more important than ever.”
The 2026–2027 FLOurish Program will run virtually from Jan. 6 through June 23, 2027. It is designed for emerging leaders in wine and spirits who are eager to learn, grow and make meaningful contributions to the industry.
“If there is an emerging leader on your team, in your company or in your network who is ready to grow, send them this opportunity,” said Higgins. “And if you’re wondering whether that emerging leader might be you, we hope you’ll apply.”
Applications are open through Dec. 4, 2026. More information is available at https://dreambigdarling.org/
About Dream Big Darling
Dream Big Darling supports the personal and professional development of emerging leaders in the wine and spirits industry through coaching, mentorship, education and community, with programs designed to expand opportunities for women. www.dreambigdarling.org
About The Millinger Group
Founded by Rona Millinger, The Millinger Group provides personalized human resources consulting and individual professional development. The firm co-created FLOurish and provides individualized coaching through the program. https://themillingergroup.com/
