The future is yours to create: Hedda Bruce 

Hedda Bruce is the bar manager at Stockholm’s Tjoget bar in Sweden. She looks up to her team who constantly inspire her, and hopes that trash talk can be a thing of the past 

A little bit about me 

I never planned to become a bartender – I actually wanted to become an architect. But I wasn’t really sure or ready to start that school yet, so I decided to study something fun and went to a bartender school for a year. 

I remember one of my classmates told me not to buy any bar tools, because I probably wouldn’t become a bartender anyway. Yet here I am today, 12 years later, working in my favourite bar.  

I love the social life of working in bars. Then there’s being creative and connecting with new people, working with ‘simple’ things that brings more happiness to peoples’ lives. 

How I approach my work 

Being a bartender, working with what I love and am passionate about makes me really happy. I also love then when it comes to this job, I will always be learning. 

When it comes to what drives me as a person, I always want to achieve better and higher goals. I’m constantly asking myself: What will my next step be? 

One of my classmates told me I wouldn’t become a bartender anyway. Yet here I am today, 12 years later, working in my favourite bar.  

I’ve been given some good advice over my career, the most helpful probably being: “Sometimes we get excellent advice but we forget to take it in. Take it in and pass it on.” 

Competitions have never been a big part of my career but travelling and education have always been very important to me from the start – that’s when I get the most creative and inspired. 

With brands, I think it’s a give and take relationship. We help each other, but I think we can do more together to create a better bar world. Both for the environment and for the individuals.  

My thoughts on mentorship 

I look up to my team. To see them trust, respect and care for each and others – that really inspires me.  

For me a role model is someone who in my opinion is really good at what they do, but also always looks after all the people around them. No matter what role they have, they should be a humble person that is still willing to learn.  

To see my team trust, respect and care for each and others – that really inspires me.  

Leaders should keep supporting the younger generation. I think if we want to help the next generation we need to look at today’s leadership: Listen and communicate more effectively, encourage people to do contributions and motivate each other.  

My hopes for the future 

If I could change one thing about our industry, it would be the negative mindset people have about people working in the bartender industry for a living – that it is not a real job, just something you do before studying that you can’t build a career from. 

I think if we all just try to be better versions of ourselves and help each other, the future will be much better and healthier. 

To make sure our voices are heard, we need to keep supporting and learning from each other instead of trash talking each other. If we can do that, we’ll grow as a community.  

I think if we all just try to be better versions of ourselves and help each other, the future will be much better and healthier. 

I want my legacy to be that I somehow made an impact or inspired someone to achieve the best they can.  That, and that I created an environment where my team felt that they were seen and had a healthy work-life balance.