Who is Malene Younglao?

“My joy is found in the kitchen and the vineyard so when I'm not working side by side with teams and team leaders you'll find me knee deep in grapes, soil and olive oil.”

Malene Younglao is a Trinidadian -American food and wine professional that specializes in international hospitality operations and development. A former punk musician she cut her teeth on the New York Food scene getting her start at Miss Lily’s in 2010. She then went on to work closely with Chef Marcus Samuelsson growing within his organization until becoming the Director Of Operations Tournant where she would lead teams both domestically and globally opening properties. She has also consulted for various brands finding her purpose in supporting brands to expand and scale she has lead operatios across the USA, Saudi Arabia, UK and Caribbean (English, Dutch & French) and Ethiopia. She is passionate about creating operational structures that are not only profitable for companies but equitable for the people that work in them.. She believes strongly that well-structured, safe, vibrant operational environments that consider both the needs of business and it's people are destined to succeed.. When she isn’t building organizations she is avid yoga practitioner that spends her time outdoors; hiking, farming, in the vineyard or working on her passion project; craft spirits brand Foreign Yard Distilleries.