Belazu Connects returned last night, this time at Fortnum & Mason, diving into what it really takes to break barriers and build safe, inclusive workplaces where women in food can thrive.
Here’s what we took away:
🚀 Embrace your superpowers. Being emotional, intuitive, and sensitive doesn’t make you weak, it makes you a better leader. A great brigade needs empathy as much as it needs skill.
🍴 Hospitality isn’t just kitchens. From product development to food education, the opportunities for women are vast. Know where to look and don’t be afraid to carve your own path.
🤝 Mentorship is key. As leaders, provide safe spaces to guide, support, and prepare young women for challenges ahead. Success shouldn't be limited by gender or background. As Sabrina put it: "If you can't see yourself, how can you be yourself?" And if you’re just starting out, find the people who’ll champion you - forums like Belazu Connects are a good place to start.
🗣️ Men need to be a part of the conversation. They should listen, advocate and challenge outdated norms. Safety and respect in kitchens should be a given.
🔥 Your passion is your competitive edge. Confidence follows when you do what drives you, and encourage your team to do the same.
🧭 Your career path doesn’t have to be linear. It’s okay to evolve, pivot and explore. Reintroduce yourself whenever you need to - every experience adds value.
We talked, we learned, we ate. Big thanks to the Fortnum & Mason culinary team for fuelling the conversation with delicious canapés using our food service range.
And of course, to our warm and brilliant panellists:
Sabrina Gidda – Chef, Consultant, Creative & Author
Anna Søgaard – Founder of Jomfru & Co-founder of Suppher Supper Club
Eloise Moore – Chef Academy Lead Trainer at HIT Training & Private Chef
Amber Francis – Head Chef at Christ’s College Finchley, Chefs in Schools Ambassador & Great British Menu Champion
Daniela Gattegno Ho – Head Development Chef at Belazu
Stay tuned for the next event in the series in July where we’ll be discussing how to build resilient restaurants and how to mitigate risks to the food supply chain.
#WomenInFood #WomenInHospitality #FoodIndustry #HospitalityIndustry #FoodService