Influential Females Dominating the Landscape
Hello there, friends of Branded!
Welcome to this week's newsletter - and let's dive in without further ado!
This week, I felt compelled to share the subject of our theme straight away - the incredible power of women, and I ain't just talkin' about the recent collaboration between none other than Pitbull and the legendary Dolly Parton with their new jam, "Powerful Women."
Now, don't get me wrong, I reckon we all know those two are powerhouses in their own right, but this collaboration celebrates working women, harking back to Dolly's famous hit "9 to 5" and shout-outs to Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda, who co-starred in the 1980 film of the same name. Be sure to give it a spin if you haven't yet, but I digress...
Moving along, it's worth noting that, in the very same year as the "9 to 5" film, President Jimmy Carter issued a proclamation declaring the week of March 8, 1980, as National Women's History Week, eventually escalating to Women's History Month in 1987. This momentous occasion occurs annually, with U.S. presidents issuing annual proclamations, recognizing the accomplishments and milestones of women throughout history.
Last week, on February 29 (a special day for those in the know), the Women in Restaurant Leadership (WiRL) summit took place in Nashville, Tennessee. This event brought a multitude of women from every rank of the hospitality industry together to learn, engage, and promote career advancement. Our very own Chief Marketing Officer, Julie Zucker, was one of the remarkable individuals participating in this inaugural event, and you can read all about her experience in her article further below.
Let's give a hearty shout-out to Danny Klein, Editorial Director at QSR and FSR magazines, and everyone who made this premier event so staggeringly successful.
In other news, Branded portfolio company Lunchbox released its list of the Top 30 Women in Food 2023, championing the incredible women in the food industry who continue to pave the way for a better tomorrow.
As for the industry statistics, it's a sign of progress that women make up a substantial portion of restaurant owners, managers, and employees, particularly in tipped positions. However, there's still much work to be done in closing gender pay and representation gaps, with reports showing that 90% of women in the hospitality industry have faced some form of sexual harassment.
Rest assured, trailblazers such as Chipotle and Yum Brands are taking steps to address these issues, conducting pay equity analyses, and creating initiatives to ensure fair and consistent pay across their organizations.
You may be wondering, "Why does this matter?" Allow me to clarify: research demonstrates that women in leadership positions improve productivity, foster greater collaboration, inspire organizational dedication, and promote fairness - qualities that we at Branded hold in the highest regard. Despite these benefits, only 10% of Fortune 500 companies are led by women, so there's still much work to be done.
Now, before you dive into the enriching insights and statistics in the article below, let me share a quick historical tidbit about International Women's Day. Celebrated worldwide on March 8, this day was originally organized by the Socialist Party of America, recognizing the 1908 Garment Workers' Strike, wherein women protested their working conditions.
In the following decades, international women's suffrage movements established National Women's Day across various nations in Europe. Today, International Women's Day is recognized and celebrated as a UN-observed holiday, setting a theme each year to support women's rights.
As we delve into Women's History Month, I invite you to share this newsletter and engage in the ongoing discussion about equality, love, respect, and the unyielding power of women.
It takes a village, folks, and I am grateful to be part of ours.
You can find the article Julie wrote about the WiRL conference below, along with her inspiring experiences and insights into the event.
Julie ZuckerPartner and CMO at Branded Hospitality Ventures
Women in Restaurant Leadership: A Movement to Empower and Inspire
March 9, 2023
By Julie Zucker, Partner and CMO at Branded Hospitality Ventures
As a woman working in the often male-dominated hospitality industry, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to attend the inaugural Women in Restaurant Leadership (WiRL) event last week in Nashville, Tennessee. Regardless of your gender or career stage, I hope that these insights will resonate with you and inspire us all to continue championing for gender equality, support one another, and pursue excellence together.
Lessons learned at WiRL:
1. Mentorship and Sponsorship: The Keys to Career Advancement
As women, it's essential for us to lean into mentorship and sponsorship opportunities, making intentional efforts to build relationships with like-minded professionals who can advise, challenge, and advocate for our growth within the industry. The WiRL conference was an excellent venue for networking and taking the first steps towards these valuable connections.
2. Embrace the Power of Your Own Authenticity
It was both inspiring and reassuring to hear from industry trailblazers who openly shared their stories of overcoming obstacles, challenging the status quo, and continuing to pursue their passion for the restaurant industry. One common theme was the importance of embracing one's authenticity - recognizing that our unique perspectives, experiences, and values make us powerful players in the industry.
3. Fortify Our Support System
Gender bias and discrimination still exist in the industry, but building strong networks and community bonds is crucial for combating these challenges and moving towards positive change. WiRL provided an opportunity to form lasting relationships with women who are committed to uplifting, empowering, and encouraging one another in our professional endeavors.
4. Cultivate Volume and Visibility
Live events such as WiRL serve as critical platforms to amplify women's voices and ensure that we are represented in the industry conversation. As thought leaders, it's essential for us to share our knowledge, experiences, and expertise with others, fostering growth and innovation for the entire industry.
5. Champion Next-Gen Leaders
One component of the WiRL conference was a collegiate challenge in which student teams developed and pitched business concepts based on current industry challenges and trends. Engaging with these young women who are just starting their careers in the hospitality industry was both rewarding and eye-opening, as they demonstrated impressive creativity, critical thinking, and passion for the industry's future.
In Closing:
It was an honor to be part of the inaugural WiRL event, and I'm excited to see how it continues to evolve and make an impact on the restaurant industry. As we continue to empower and uplift women, we will forge a more diverse, dynamic, and inspiring future for the industry we all love.
Embrace the power within you, intentionally cultivate relationships, and believe in the change we can inspire together. And remember, It takes a village!
Julie Zucker on LinkedInBranded
- The incredible power of women is being celebrated in various ways, from collaborations like Pitbull and Dolly Parton's latest hit "Powerful Women" to events like the Women in Restaurant Leadership (WiRL) summit.
- The WiRL summit brings together women from all ranks of the hospitality industry to learn, engage, and promote career advancement.
- Branded's Chief Marketing Officer, Julie Zucker, was one of the participants in the inaugural WiRL event in Nashville, Tennessee.
- Lunchbox, a Branded portfolio company, released its list of the Top 30 Women in Food 2023, highlighting influential women in the food industry.
- There's been progress in the hospitality industry, with women making up a substantial portion of owners, managers, and employees, especially in tipped positions.
- However, significant work remains to be done to close gender pay and representation gaps, with nearly 90% of women in the hospitality industry having faced sexual harassment.
- Companies such as Chipotle and Yum Brands are taking steps to address these issues, conducting pay equity analyses, and creating initiatives for fair and consistent pay.
- Women in leadership positions improve productivity, foster collaboration, inspire dedication, and promote fairness – qualities that are highly valued at Branded.
- Despite these benefits, only 10% of Fortune 500 companies are led by women, leaving much room for improvement.
- International Women's Day, celebrated on March 8, was originally organized by the Socialist Party of America to recognize the 1908 Garment Workers' Strike and is now a UN-observed holiday.
- WiRL is part of a broader movement to empower and inspire women in the hospitality industry, addressing issues like mentorship, authenticity, support systems, visibility, and next-gen leadership.
- As women continue to embrace their power, build relationships, and uplift one another, they will create a more diverse, dynamic, and inspiring future for the industry.
- In addition to supporting women, the WiRL summit also features collegiate challenges to engage and support future leaders in the hospitality industry.
- To stay updated on women's issues in the hospitality industry, follow Branded's insights on their website or connect with Julie Zucker on LinkedIn.
