Libby Lingua, General Manager of UnderTow

Instagram: @Oolalibby; @UnderTowphx

I chose this as my career because I am a natural-born hospitalian. I care deeply about sharing my passions with others.

I hope that my greatest contribution to the Valley culinary scene is proving to other women that the cocktail scene doesn’t need to be male-dominated, and that us gals can shake just as hard as the guys!

Elevating the beverage culture in Phoenix is what I love the most about my job. I love being a part of a team that is continually pushing the boundaries. Some of the biggest challenges are running into the guests that are unwilling to break away from the vodka and soda, or just unwilling to branch out and experience something new.

I separate myself from my brand and from others in my field by staying authentic to my true self. I would never put out cocktails that I wouldn’t personally enjoy, and I stand behind my product 100 percent. Also, I believe that I separate myself from others in this field by building up the team around me.

I draw inspiration from everything! Colors, textures, food, wine and, most importantly, history and culture. My background is in design, so it’s difficult to choose just one thing to draw inspiration from.

My greatest advise to young girls is don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t amount to something, and stop apologizing so much, especially if you’ve done nothing wrong. Stand by your word and your beliefs, and don’t allow anyone to tell you differently. Period.