What does it take to stand out as a female mixologist in a male-dominated industry? Lara Rawa has beaten all odds to become a key player in the cocktail industry. She is an award-winning, certified mixologist with a passion for creating cocktails. Having obtained a law degree from University of Lagos and a Masters Degree in International Business Law from Queen Mary University of London, she got called to the Nigerian Bar as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2007. Lara made an unpredictable career move transitioning from her role as a lawyer into her role as an entrepreneur in the cocktail industry. Her transition into mixology was fueled by her passion for the art of cocktail making and ultimately inspired by a brief period of unemployment. She began building her mixology career when she decided to establish her very own mobile bar company.
She is the CEO of Lagos-based cocktails design and consulting company, Eventi Cocktails. Eventi Cocktails is the organizer of Lagos Cocktail Week, a first of its kind event in Nigeria. The annual event which is the first of its kind in the country is a festival that celebrates the unique cocktail culture in Nigeria through events, seminars and training sessions.
Lara has earned several titles such as the first female Tales Attaché in Nigeria for ‘Tales of the Cocktails’ in New Orleans Louisiana USA. She has also been involved as a judge on different platforms such as ‘The Barman’ TV auditions 2017, ‘World Class Nigeria’ Audition 2017, and ‘The Baileys BakeFest’ 2017.
Lara takes our Lady Boss Questionnaire.
What does Entrepreneurship mean to you?
Entrepreneurship is creating solutions to people’s problems and being able to build a system that allows you make profit from it. So, it is a win-win, especially when what you’re doing is something you’re passionate about and it is adding value to others.
If you weren’t an entrepreneur, you would be…?
A lawyer. I’ve always loved law. Got my first degree in Law from the University of Lagos, and a Master’s from Queen Mary University, London.
If you could have a lunch date with one Lady Boss you admire – who would that be and what would you ask her?
It would be Folorunsho Alakija
I would ask her this: ”What was the toughest challenge you faced in rising to become a very successful female entrepreneur in a male dominated sector, and how did you overcome it?”
3 book recommendations for entrepreneurs?
Zero to One by Peter Thiel
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
The social media platform that has helped your business the most is?
Instagram. Mixology is an art and Instagram is a platform for visuals, so it gives us room to easily showcase our craft to potential clients through the pictures of our works that we share. And, you know, people are on Instagram for the pictures and videos.
