When we were little girls, we were told we could do anything we wanted. But then reality hits, and we start pushing up against glass ceilings, social expectations, gender stereotypes, and everything in between. For instance, even ordering an old-fashioned at the bar often elicits a certain type of reaction from people.
Instead of conforming to these made-up rules, Anna Axster and her cousin, Wendelin von Schroder, are breaking down doors and opening the path for women in the world of spirits. The cousins developed a love for whiskey during their tenure in artist management and touring. However, they felt that many brands did not speak to them as female consumers. So they decided to start Lodestar Whiskey, an award-winning women-owned and operated spirits brand.
CafeMom connected with Anna, a single mom of three, about her business, motherhood, and why she’s determined to challenge the notion that whiskey is perceived as only a man’s drink.
How the pandemic changed Anna's life.
During her career in entertainment, Anna developed a love for whiskey. However, she noticed that whiskey was still almost exclusively marketed to men. Then when the pandemic hit and everything in entertainment stopped, many things in Anna’s life changed unexpectedly and rather abruptly.
“[During the pandemic,] I decided to pivot and create Lodestar Whiskey with my cousin and business partner, Wendelin von Schroder. My work approach had always been rather entrepreneurial, so it wasn’t such a hard decision to roll up my sleeves and jump into something new, and since Wendelin and I had already worked together for over a decade, I knew we would be a great team,” Anna shares with CafeMom.
Her thoughts on raising kids and building a business.
We asked her about the challenge of balancing motherhood and work. Anna shares that her kids are always her top priority, so sometimes things with work will have to wait if one of them is sick or their schedule changes.
“I also believe that it is part of my responsibility to model being a working person and it’s nice to show them that you can build something if you put in the work and approach it with passion,” says Anna.
The one thing Anna’s had to learn over the last few years is to work really efficiently to make a lot happen in fewer hours. She adds that the current systems and expectations that dominate work culture in our society are still built to suit a male perspective.
“I believe a lot still has to change to make the work/life balance a more possible reality for mothers and to address the needs of raising children while also working or building a business. I hope that in a small way, Lodestar can be a part of that change,” Anna tells CafeMom.
Anna's biggest challenge? The lack of time.
The biggest challenge for Anna as a single mom is the lack of time. She says that it’s been really important for her to prioritize and not get stressed out when things overlap and not everything can be done when she would prefer it to be done.
“My kids are only kids for a finite amount of time so being present with them is my top priority and not being in resistance when schedules go sideways has been something I have learned. Sometimes you gotta just roll with it. Similarly, it is important for me to be present when I am working. Lodestar Whiskey was built with community, inclusivity, and the cultivation of joy as our guiding lights and knowing my purpose in building this company and the community around it helps me be present and grounded,” shares Anna.
Most of Anna's family is overseas, which makes support harder to come by.
Most of Anna’s family lives overseas, but she has two cousins who live close by. She leans on her village and is grateful for the family and friends who are part of her children’s lives and her life. However, Anna says that finding support is still a work in progress for her.
“I still try to juggle a lot of things and don’t always have the support systems in place that the situation requires as far as schedules go. I continue to learn to get better at asking for help. When I can’t get a babysitter, Wendelin covers work events and somehow we make it work. With most of my family living far away, it’s really important for me to stay connected with them — we FaceTime and talk often and also visit each other frequently,” Anna shares with CafeMom.
Anna shares a little about her self-care routine, as well as her hopes and dreams.
We asked Anna to tell us about how she takes care of herself and what she hopes to see in the future for her business and family.
“[Self-care is] an area where I have room for improvement. For me, self-care means time to think and taking my dog for a walk, being outside with space to think rejuvenates me,” Anna tells CafeMom.
As for the future, Anna shares that she hopes to stay authentic and present with her kids, in her business, and anything in life.
“I hope for my children to grow and thrive and continue on their individual journeys with positivity. For Lodestar, I hope for us to continue to grow the community around our whiskey and our brand organically and bring new consumers into the whiskey category and make whiskey more inclusive,” says Anna.
