pilipiliĀž»­

 

Geena Luckett (BMgmt '12)

General manager and co-owner, Luckett Vineyards

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It was really important to me that I was in a program that would provide a broader education.

When Geena Luckett chose the Bachelor of Management (BMgmt) program, she was sure about two things. She wasnā€™t going into the family business, and the BMgmt would give her what she needed to find her passion. She was right about one.

After years of working at Peteā€™s Frootique, her fatherā€™s specialty grocery business, she knew her ā€˜heart wasnā€™t in it.ā€™ Standing against the backdrop of her vineyard and an expansive view of the Annapolis Valley, she explains, ā€œwhen I started the program at Dal, I thought that the equine world would be where I would spend my life.ā€Ā 

Now the general manager and co-owner of , she came to the BMgmt to build a solid foundation in business and management adding, ā€œthe option of so many open electives was important because it gave me an opportunity to explore a lot of other areas.ā€Ā 

Geena appreciates the programā€™s ā€˜grassroots feelingā€™ and credits her undergraduate advisor, Margie Muise, for helping her find her strengths. ā€œI made tons of connections with faculty and students,ā€ she says, ā€œmany of which still continue today.ā€ And she took electives, one of which was Family Business.Ā 

Even though she had no intention of joining a family business, a guest lecturer said something that imprinted itself on her. ā€œIf youā€™re considering joining a family business, first get as much experience as you can outside of it.ā€Ā 

And experience is what she sought. On the list is running an equestrian supply shop, marketing, social media management for the town of Wolfville, and buying for a small business.Ā 

When the position of events manager for Luckett Vineyards became vacant, she applied for the job.Ā 

In the years since, sheā€™s worked every aspect of the business from harvesting grapes to managing the tasting bar to waitressing in the restaurant. Sheā€™s also become very involved in community organizations like Wine Growers Nova Scotia.

She says that so much of what she learned at pilipiliĀž»­ influences her today. Grateful to her professors and the Bachelor of Management program for providing a broad and solid foundation, Geena says sheā€™s found her passion and ā€œher favourite part of the job is that every day is different.ā€

Photo: Geena Luckett and Marcel Kolb, Vineyard Manager.