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Gender balance, or the lack of it, is an ongoing issue in the restaurant industry and despite progress, there is still much work to be done.
That’s why we asked four leading female entrepreneurs who have had considerable success in the industry for their tips, for starting out, getting established and ensuring longevity.
These tips are not exclusively for women: many are applicable to any entrepreneur starting out in hospitality or any other industry, but as sadly is still the case, women sometimes have to work harder to gain equal recognition in what is still a male-dominated world.
Let’s meet our entrepreneurs…
Rebecca Mascarenhas. Photo: Paul Winch-Furness
Known as the ‘Queen of neighbourhood restaurants,’ Rebecca Mascarenhas’s first restaurant was Sonny’s in Barnes, London which she opened in the 1980s and which was a much-loved local restaurant for over 30 years. More recently the restaurateur is well known for her collaboration with chef Phil Howard, opening Kitchen W8 together in 2009 and Elystan Street in 2016, both of which have a Michelin star.
Ilaria Puddu
Ilaria Puddu has the golden touch: in just a few years, the concepts she has created in Milan, Italy have become veritable cult addresses. With her partner Stefano Saturnino she has opened around 60 restaurant locations and launched 10 brands in 12 years, with a new Asian-inspired format coming in April. Among the gastronomic formats that Puddu has created are the pizzerias Marghe and Giolina, and Gelsomina, a pastry shop inspired by the traditions of central and southern Italy. All are inspired by female figures, as well as Ilaria herself.
Carlotta Delicato. Photo: Francesco De Marco
Chef Carlotta Delicato has created what could be considered the perfect marriage between work and family at her eponymous restaurant in Lazio. Having grown up with a great passion for cooking, she began her journey in the restaurant industry at a young age, before winning Hell's Kitchen Italia in 2016. She went on to lead the Fire restaurant in Barcelona as Executive Chef and once back in Italy, chose to build a small restaurant that represents her and above all allows her to create a family, both personally and professionally.
Carol Duvay-Leroy
Carol Duvay-Leroy is a native of Champagne and it was the untimely death of her husband, Jean-Charles, in 1991 that propelled her to the helm of the Duval-Leroy Champagne House. "My only ambition was to perpetuate the family business and then pass it on to our sons. To pass on a House, a heritage, an education, an ethic. I took on the role of interim manager when there was no one left to fulfil this role. I often felt all the more alone because I was not prepared for it...,", she confides. After more than 30 years, the Maison Duval-Leroy is still there; it has even grown.
And these are their tips…
Inspiring tips from female entrepreneurs in the restaurant industry
Support each other
“We are incredibly inclusive. We have mentoring programs for women within our company. I see women being very supportive to each other. Twice a year we host an all-female entrepreneur dinner where we have younger women [and] older women having a chat over dinner. I think that collaboration and pride in each other's success didn’t exist 30 years ago,” says Mascarenhas.
Have courage and tenacity…
Ilaria Puddu: “Often we women are intimidated by drastic changes, stepping out of our comfort zone frightens us, but to become good entrepreneurs you need the courage to take risks and be tenacious, especially in the most difficult moments, without being afraid of failure, which is fundamental to success.”
…and confidence
“If you're starting a business, make sure that you consider yourself a principal. Quite often I see women sabotage their own careers by not having confidence in themselves. So if there are three people in the group – two men and a woman – starting a business, that woman often will assume a secondary role, even though she may have as much knowledge in her field as the men. So make sure that you create that space for yourself and that everybody you deal with understands that you own that space,” says Mascarenhas.
“One must not be subjugated, never be told that we women are not capable of doing something, that we are weak, or that we cannot cope with the labours of the kitchens. We are women, of course, and we can easily do everything despite the physical difficulties that may arise, we can command a kitchen like anyone else,” says Delicato.
Never stop learning
“In this sector, it is not enough to have a good idea, you need to constantly study and understand where the market is going, what is missing, what can be done better and when the time is right, anticipate the times and launch new fashions,” says Puddu.
Surround yourself with the right people
Ilaria Puddu: “Whether associates, collaborators, partners or suppliers, choosing the right people to accompany you in your project is important. You need to have people around you who have the same vision as you and espouse your project.”
Understand what you’re signing up for
Rebecca Mascarenhas: “Make sure you understand the work commitment that is being asked of yourself and your partners. I think often people starting out underestimate the amount of time and commitment it takes to get a project off the ground.”
Have passion
“But above all, it is the passion for a job that prevails. As long as you are passionate, you will do everything to achieve your ultimate goal. You have to stay on track, not deviate. Life, especially for women, is not a gift package that is dropped on your doorstep. Life is a train that goes by and never stops. Life belongs to those who have reached out and grabbed a carriage to get on the train, the train of passion. There are always trains passing in front of us...” says Duvay-Leroy.
“Catering entrepreneurship is not a game for improvisers; you need constant study, research, keeping up with the times, continually improving, working towards objectives, having excellent problem-solving skills, having excellent cost and number management, being creative; you often need a lot of sacrifice, but above all, you need to put your heart into it, because when you put your heart into what you do, you can only achieve great goals,” adds Puddu.
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