Marilyn Krieger, PhD, Vice President for Public Relations at Winebow Fine Wine + Spirits (USA)

Years in the Industry:
After years of rigorous study and a Ph.D. in Italian literature and film, who knew that I would leave that world behind for a career in wine? It all started in graduate school while I was living in Naples, Italy and became fascinated with wine varieties that I had never even heard of before. My passion and curiosity continued to grow and now, I have 17 years in the industry and work with wines from all over the world.

My Biggest Challenge to Wellness:
Like many of us, managing multiple projects with a busy schedule, tight deadlines, and a lot of moving parts. I’m ambitious, like to challenge myself, and strive for excellence. That’s great, right? But sometimes it is not so realistic and can wear me down. So, I have had to learn to pace myself, prioritize, and accept that I cannot do everything.

How I Keep It Together to Stay Well:
It helps that I love being outdoors and I love exercising—running, biking, and practicing Pilates. When I exercise regularly, I feel better, sleep better, and think better. For me, exercise is the best way to deal with stress, clear my head, and keep my energy level high. I have a Brompton folding bike, which I often ride to work and back. Instead of taking the subway, it’s an opportunity to exercise and be outside.

I grew up playing the piano and started playing regularly again a few years ago. Chopin, Schumann, and Debussy are my favorites. This is a wonderful outlet for me, something that helps me feel grounded and brings me so much joy.

We are so fortunate in our industry to work with a product that we love. But at the end of the day, health and spending time with the people close to me are most important. Life is so fragile, but also beautiful. Staying well means not taking this for granted.

You can find Marilyn on Instagram at @mfkrieger.