Amy Prosenjak, president for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates’ Oregon business unit and member of the Linfield Board of Trustees, was named a 2023 Women of Influence honoree by the Portland Business Journal at their 20th annual luncheon on April 4.
Prosenjak previously served as president and CEO for A to Z Wineworks beginning with the company’s acquisition of REX HILL in 2007 through the company’s own acquisition by Ste. Michelle in 2022.
She said she was surprised but honored by the award, which she found out about when PBJ publisher Candace Beeke emailed her, adding that her company’s transition posed leadership challenges but was also an opportunity for growth. Ahead of the luncheon, she shared some advice for Linfield students.
“Being your authentic self really is the superpower,” she said. “It’s easy to say to yourself, ‘I’m too young; I’m not the right person; I don’t have enough information.’ But no one besides you can hear that. You just strive to be your best self, and uniquely you.”
She also recommended that students consider taking a leap and pushing themselves to go beyond what they think they’re capable of.
“Say yes, even if you don’t feel you 100% have the outline and know exactly how to do it,” she said. “As females, sometimes we want to know the whole story before we say yes, but when you’re willing to give that yes, you actually stumble into some really cool opportunities.”
Prosenjak has served on the Board of Trustees since 2015 and shared her story with the Oregon Wine History Archive in this 2021 oral history.
