Leading the Charge to Level the Playing Field
Confronted by gender discrimination in her career, sommelier Rania Zayyat founded Lift Collective to make the industry a safer, more welcoming place for all
Rania Zayyat harnessed her frustration with the sommelier world to help create more opportunities for others through her organization, Lift Collective.
(Olive + West Photography)
By
Mar 8, 2021
Rania Zayyat has followed a similar career path as many other top wine-service professionals, earning accreditation from the Court of Master Sommeliers and serving at esteemed restaurants. Stints at
Wine Spectator Grand Award winner Pappas Bros. Steakhouse and Award of Excellence winner June's All Day in Texas are just two of the feathers in her cap. But along the way, she’s had a drastically different experience than her male counterparts.