This International Women’s Day (Wednesday 8 March 2023), women from the Top 50 Cocktail Bars list discuss their biggest challenges, how the industry has changed since they started their careers and what more the sector can do to #EmbraceEquity.
Katie Rouse, owner, Couch, Birmingham
Best advice received
To take as much advice as you possibly can. Really listen and digest everyone’s feedback and thoughts, whether you disagree at first or not. You’ll receive more and better advice in the future if you listen and consider.
Best advice given
Take yourself out your comfort zone, use ingredients and flavours that you wouldn’t usually and explore what they can do. Never make one ingredient, make many at different ratios, the development process can’t be rushed. Host and perform as much as you can, even if it makes you nervous, it’s the most effective way to build your confidence.
Biggest challenges faced
Throwing myself back into the cocktail competition game after a seven year break. The biggest challenge was just allowing myself to believe I could be considered and that I have grown in my skill set, it’s very easy to stay stagnant and be comfortable. The competitions that scare me the most, I’ve taken the best skills away from.
Have things changed for women in the sector since you began your career?
Absolutely. The first 10 years of my career in hospitality was a fight every day, to play the ‘tough chick’ who could be taken seriously by male bartenders and managers.
I couldn’t allow myself to make mistakes as mine, as a woman, would always be amplified over others. I used to hide how tired I was after working 70+ hours so I didn’t appear weak and my friends and family had to deal with the lack of personality and stamina I had in my minimal time off.
There are still a lot of people who deal with the same issues today but I’ve seen a huge change in a working environment for bartenders, making sure there is a work and social balance, which breeds creativity in the hours they work. There is still a lot of change needed in the way we breed creativity for our teams as equals.
What are the barriers that are still to be overcome and how could this be tackled?
Diversity in recruitment language is always the biggest on my agenda, make sure your place of work is approachable to everyone. The best person for the job may not even apply if they don’t see you to be an encouraging and safe environment.
How can the sector #EmbraceEquity?
Language is still the most important, it shows you are taking notice, learn a person’s pronouns, make sure you’re aware of any disabilities and cater to them the best you can, give your full team equal opportunities to learn, be creative and excel in their career goals.
Opening this conversation to your team could help you make the right changes, if you don’t ask and review your own performance as a person, teammate and/or manager, you don’t have the opportunity to grow.
Rachel Bailey Palumbo, co-owner, Hey Palu, Edinburgh:
Best advice received
Fail fast, know when it's time to throw in the towel and move on to the next thing
Best advice given
Be humble.
Biggest challenges faced
Being heard. It wasn’t until I started my own business, I felt I had a seat at the table.
Although, in the early days of the business this definitely took a minute for people to realise it was owned equally with all decisions e.g., working with brands etc needing to be agreed by both of us and not just my male business partner.
Have things changed for women in the sector since you began your career?
I started in hospitality in the mid 90's and the working environment was very different. Being a female manager back then was constantly challenging and by the time I was 25 I left the profession to do something completely different.
The main difference now is that women are being taken more seriously. Behaviour that was accepted as just part of the job 20+ years ago is now being called out and challenged. In addition to us seeing more women in key hospitality roles.
What are the barriers that are still to be overcome and how could this be tackled?
I think post Covid, the one barrier I am seeing a lot in hospitality is to find new ways to inspire younger women to join the sector and make a career in hospitality.
Hospitality can be very demanding so giving young women the tools to be confident and resilient are key to ensuring they are set up for success for whatever role or challenge they take on.
How can the sector #EmbraceEquity?
Helping women build strong a personal brand through mentoring and sharing their knowledge to help lift everyone up.
Callie Thirsk, owner, Fox & Chance, Birmingham:
Best advice received
The strongest leaders surround themselves with people who inspire them and who have talents and ideas that exceed their own. It takes a combination of all types to make a successful team and business. By creating an environment that nurtures individual talent, the business will see natural success.
Best advice given
Learn to stop letting others' opinions get in the way of your own success. The only person you should be competing against is yourself, especially as everyone's success looks different. If you're constantly worried about what other people think of you and the things you do, you'll never have time to focus on the things you want to achieve.
Biggest challenges faced
Having to find my own way to build my confidence and self-belief. I've had my opinions and my ideas questioned and challenged and put down throughout my career, an unfortunate side effect of working in a male dominated industry.
The consequence of that was I learned to find my own voice and stand behind my beliefs with conviction. The only person who was ever going to teach me to have that confidence and to not be afraid of taking up space was myself.
That lesson was one of the most difficult challenges I've faced since starting in hospitality, and while there's still plenty of progress to be made, finding that voice has gotten me to where I am now.
Have things changed for women in the sector since you began your career?
One of the most exciting changes I've seen through my career is seeing an increase in women role models within the industry. When I started as a bartender, the people who were used as examples of inspirational and successful role models were all men with a distinct 'bartender bravado'.
It's amazing to see this mould get broken time and time again with strong, confident women making their mark in all areas of hospitality, from running award winning venues to being hugely influential spokespeople and everything in between, each with their own flair and style.
What are the barriers that are still to be overcome and how could this be tackled?
While there's been dramatic changes in the presence of women throughout the hospitality sector, there's still a long way to go before achieving true equity and equality.
I still regularly find people assuming my position within my business to be lower than those of the men within the team. I've been lucky enough to learn to combat that by speaking up and not being afraid to take up space in conversations, whether with guests, contractors, brand reps, or anyone else I come across on a daily basis.
However, I find many women I've worked with over the years often leave hospitality because they felt undervalued and did not have the chance to find their voice to defend themselves nor did they have anyone to help call out those who make snap judgements.
Empowering people, men and women alike, to take that stand and help women find their confidence to speak up when unfairly challenged or treated is key to breaking down the still prominent barriers within the industry.
How can the sector #EmbraceEquity?
I am a firm believer in the power of training equity. Giving everyone equal opportunities starts with offering the same training programs to all.
Structured training programs within a business give people a chance to start on equal footing while also allowing for each team member to potentially find new skills, talents, and interests.
Providing access to external training courses often has the benefit of not only upskilling a team but igniting passions in individuals. That passion reflects in the work that they do and in their enthusiasm for their careers.
Carey Hanlon, general manager, Present Company, Liverpool
Best advice received
Easily the advice to go and work abroad. One of the biggest and best experiences I’ve had was moving to be part of the opening team at Super Lyan, Amsterdam. Overthinking used to often keep me in my comfort zone, on this occasion I made the decision quickly, over a weekend in fact and moved within a month.
It was one of the best choices I’ve ever made and really built my confidence - I’ve taken that with me to every scary decision since.
Best advice given
Don’t be afraid to ask for what you’d like or need from a workplace, you can’t assume others will see these things from your perspective. As long as it’s respectful and appropriately timed, open communication can really help you feel heard and get the most out of your role.
Biggest challenges faced
In the early days I was constantly referred to as a great ‘female’ bartender. I used to hate that; it implied I was only great for my gender.
It has in the past created the belief that opportunities given to me were about the gender quota rather than me. Perspective is important though being the exception rather than the norm has its advantages too.
Have things changed for women in the sector since you began your career?
Things have certainly changed in the industry in the decade or so, since the early days of my career.
I didn’t always feel safe, experiencing verbal and physical harassment, even an instance of stalking, making it sometimes feel like a scary environment to work in. It feels like there’s far less tolerance of this now.
What are the barriers that are still to be overcome and how could this be tackled?
We lose a lot of experienced women from front of house roles as they move to brand work or leave the industry all together. I feel like progress on respecting and facilitating more of a work life balance could really help keep not just more experienced women in hospitality but everyone.
How can the sector #EmbraceEquility?
Educating decision makers to realise that having a diverse team will make for a more effective team. It’s not just about morality it makes good business sense.
