Celebrating Women in Hospitality
International Women’s Day is an important event that is celebrated around the world every year on March 8th.
It is a day that recognises the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women and promotes gender equality.
This year, to commemorate this special occasion, we decided to speak to some wonderful women in the hospitality industry in Perth. These women continue to serve and contribute to their industry, and we were thrilled to hear their stories and gain insight into their experiences.
In this blog post, we will share their stories and provide a glimpse into the lives of these inspiring women.
Let’s dive in and celebrate the incredible achievements of women in the hospitality industry!
#EMBRACEEQUITY
Jade
Restaurant & Gallery Owner - Palette Fremantle
A Day in the Life: I wake up at 4:30 and get ready to open up Palette by 6 am. For the first few hours of each day, I am making coffee and serve the customers. After this I do a few hours of paperwork whether it’s accounting, planning for upcoming exhibitions, or marketing planning. By mid-arvo, I get pretty tired so head home to hang out with our puppy Loki and spend the evenings working around the house or going out for dinner with friends.
Why do you think it is important to celebrate International Women’s Day?
It is important to celebrate and reflect on all the women throughout history that fought for women’s rights, and the better world they have helped to create for young women like myself today. These strong women who paved the way forward, particularly in the workplace, have created endless opportunities for future generations – to be entrepreneurs and businesswomen and most importantly, the freedom to have choices in life.
What is the most important piece of advice you have been given?
The most important piece of advice I have been given is to constantly be learning. I definitely don’t know everything but having this advice motivates me every day to constantly broaden my knowledge and become a better person. Another piece of advice is to always be thankful to every person that is helping me on my journey and not take anything for granted.
What is the most important message you want to send out to young women starting a career in hospitality?
You can achieve anything you put your mind to! It’s cliché but you can either listen to what people are saying and let it drag you down or you can work double as hard and achieve your goals. I think it’s important to believe in yourself and stand firm in the face of people telling you their opinions, a lot of venues and people in the industry still have very old-school thinking in place and tend to be stuck in their ways. It is super important to be picky about where to start your career and find solid role models – we are lucky there are so many new, cool venues and opportunities out there today!
How do you stay mentally healthy? What are your daily practices at home and in the workplace?
Mental health is extremely important for everybody to maintain, no matter what role you’re undertaking. It is so easy to forget this or put it on the back burner when things get busy. My dog Loki is my number one stress cure! Taking him to the park or even just cuddling on the couch after a long day helps to ground me and remind me how even the smallest things in life can bring such joy. I am an artist first, so always doing something creative helps me stay mentally healthy whether it’s painting in my own time or even designing something for Palette – I love it so it never feels like work!
Is there anyone that inspires you? Can you tell us about a role model who has inspired you over your career?
My grandparents start a business about 40 years ago and are both incredibly hard working to this very day. My grandma in particular held the business together whilst also looking after five young daughters to be exact. My goal is to be as determined and happy as they are!
Although I only met her at the start of the Palette journey, our amazing coffee supplier Ren Taylor is also such an inspiration and support. She has built up a bunch of different hospitality venues and is constantly pushing the boundaries. Ren does it all with her constant bubbly personality and a smile on her face – the definition of girl power.
Serena
Manager, MRKT SPACE - Leighton Beach
What barriers have you faced in your career and how did you overcome them?
Having to deal with people that have different values and priorities in the workplace, especially if they are in a position of power. I learned to find a middle ground in almost every situation, taking time before answering back straight away.
Why do you think diversity in the workplace is so important?
I strongly believe that diversity is one of the greatest teachers we will experience in life. It’s a source of knowledge and helps you understand yourself better.
How do you stay mentally healthy? What are your daily practices at home and in the workplace?
Sports and physical challenges are what keeps me mentally healthy, especially playing team sports as it helps me regulate my emotions when I am stressed, tired, or upset. In the workplace what helps me stay balanced is the relationship that I create and nurture with most of my regular customers. Also, dogs, always ❤️
Do you think there’s a stereotype attached to females in the industry?
Yes- from both men and women, although in different contexts. I wish I had a dollar for every time a man has told me, “Good girl” – just for pouring his coffee.
Anneke Brown Managing Director - Anneke Brown Consulting
Read Anneke’s feature story on our blog and check out the Podcast interview on ‘Back of House, Front of Mind.’
