International Women’s Day – lights, camera, accelerate action
How can we better support women in hospitality with their careers? We reflect on an inspiring and informative International Women’s Day discussion.
The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day, which took place on 8 March, was ‘accelerate action’.
For the second year running, The Spirits Business hosted a panel discussion centred on women in hospitality, called: Actions Speak Louder Than Words: Engaging in Meaningful Change.
This year’s discussion centred on women in hospitality, with an experienced panel of speakers: Alice Taraschi, manager of The Guard’s Bar & Lounge at Raffles London at The OWO; Hebe Richardson, owner of Sofa & Friends; Siobhan Payne and Hannah Sharman-Cox, co-founders and directors of London Cocktail Week, HANDS London Consultancy, and The Pinnacle Guide; and Anna Sebastian, founder of a global hospitality agency and Celebrate Her. Melita Kiely, editor-in-chief of The Spirits Business, moderated the discussion, which took place at The Guard’s Bar & Lounge – a Pinned bar.
“The natural abilities that women have actually lends itself really well to running a business and to starting a business,” said Payne.
However, an ongoing barrier for women, highlighted by Sebastian, was “how can women progress when it comes to career?”
For Sharman-Cox, she noted how experience makes having the confidence to advocate for yourself easier. Taraschi concurred and added: “Be yourself – that’s the most important thing for us to be.”
Actionable advice and examples of creating events that accommodated to very particular needs of women, mothers especially – which could also be extended to all parents – was also shared.
Richardson said: “If we just ask a couple of questions, we can make our events and our spaces a lot more accommodating to a lot more people.”
Keep your ears to the ground, as on Monday The Spirits Business will be publishing the conversation in full on our YouTube channel and on The Spirits Business Podcast for your listening.
Drinks on the night were provided by The Guard’s Bar & Lounge, with liquid supplied by: Cap Gin, Drylaw Vodka, Kah Tequila, Doctor’s Funk Rum, and Rebels 0.0%.
Click the video below to watch the highlights recap from the Actions Speak Louder Than Words: Engaging in Meaningful Change panel discussion.
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