Suzanne Baker has won various awards during her career in the sector. She is now a non-executive director of Market Taverns and Cask Marque.
Her top tips were:
- Believe in yourself, work hard, set your goals and don’t get distracted in your ambition to achieve them.
- Build a network around you. As you grow support those women around you through mentoring and acknowledgement of achievement.
- Let your voice be heard. Add your knowledge and expertise to the debate or meeting. Be that positive role model.
- Balance your time. This has always been a challenge in hospitality albeit companies are more flexible now. Make sure you don’t miss those important family milestones and children’s key school highlights.
Jenny Hanlon became Adnams' first female CEO in the company’s 150-year history in 2024.
When issuing advice to women in the sector, she encouraged others to stay curious.
She said: “Success in this industry, or indeed any industry, comes down to hard work, resilience and a focus on what really matters – delivering great products and services, building strong teams and running a responsible business.
“My advice to anyone looking to grow in their career is to stay curious, keep learning and surround yourself with good people who challenge and support you.
“I’ve been so fortunate in my career to have some incredible people around and alongside me who recognised my strengths and ambitions. That helps you stay true to your values.
“At Adnams, our focus is on doing things the right way, whether that’s in sustainability, quality or the way we develop our people.
“If we get that right, opportunities open up for everyone, regardless of background. For me, this year is all about ensuring Adnams continues to thrive and a great part of that is getting to witness committed people discover their talents and progress in their career.”
Drake & Morgan people and culture director Chantelle Christy urged others to surround yourself with those who challenge you, be confident, passionate.
Invaluable support
“My top pieces of advice would be to build a strong network of peers and mentors who are not just people you connect with but who challenge your thinking and encourage you to explore new perspectives,” she said.
“Connecting with other women in the industry can offer invaluable support and opportunities.
“It’s also important to be confident, believe in yourself and don’t shy away from sharing your ideas and opinions.
“I always encourage people to not be afraid to say no - sometimes saying no to one thing means saying yes to something else, whether that’s more time to finish a project, solve a problem or set boundaries for your personal time.
“Lastly, keep your passion for hospitality alive! Our industry thrives on passion so always keep yourself open to new experiences and ideas.”
UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls echoed Baker’s advice around using your voice.
She advised to be present and ‘don’t wait to be asked, men don’t' as well as finding a mentor or champion who can provide advice and to ‘lift as you climb’, urging others to make a difference when you get into a position to do so.
Nicholls said: “This International Women’s Day, we should all be proud of the progress we have made as an industry because there really has been a lot.
“We have taken great strides to improve the experience of women. Today, a third of all board positions in the hospitality sector are held by women but when it comes to achieving true equality for women in the workplace, we must not rest on our laurels.
“As far as we have come, there is still plenty of work to do and that is as true for our sector as it is for any.”
Be authentic
The trade body’s skills director Sandra Kelly also highlighted her top tips for others.
These included:
- Being aware of people around you when walking into a room or meeting but not being distracted by them ensuring focus on your contribution to deliver it clearly and confidently.
- Knowing and playing to strengths in workshops or breakout sessions, offering to take notes and summarise if you don’t have a big loud voice or forceful personality. Find a role that provides an opportunity to be visible and vocal in a way that suits you.
- When walking onto a stage for a presentation, use the 10 steps to breathe deeply 10 times to calm adrenaline and ensure you smile inside and out, present in the format right for you and make a personal connection with the audience.
Fellow trade body boss Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association issued advice to different parts of the sector.
She said: “To organisations I would say - to make the progress we need then we must lead from the front and have a leadership and workforce that is reflective of the diversity we all want.
“Fundamentally, if we do not practice what we preach then how can we inspire future generations of women and get rid of barriers that prevent them achieving their potential and making a difference?
“For women in leadership - what’s important is not to forget their own journey they’ve been on and how it can be tough to succeed and progress.
“They’re in a position where they can shine a light and pave a way for others who are still working towards the role they want.
“For those who are still on their path - I would urge them to be authentic and be clear about what you want.
“It’s very easy to doubt your abilities but you must keep backing yourself and if there’s a door in your way, bang it down!”
