Women make up more than half of the hospitality workforce, yet hold only a small fraction of leadership roles. Stephanie Jaeger wants to change that.
Stephanie was a guest on Forktales and she currently serves as President of Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI), a global organization dedicated to supporting and elevating women in food, beverage, and hospitality.
WHAT CAN INDUSTRY LEADERS DO TO ADVANCE GENDER EQUALITY IN HOSPITALITY?
“You have to see it to be it. I encourage anybody in the industry to put a woman in a leadership position so someone younger can see themselves there too. It’s also about access—access to mentorship, hearing their stories, being able to talk to someone who’s been there and can say, ‘You can do this too.'”
CAN YOU SHARE A STORY THAT ILLUSTRATES THE IMPACT LDEI HAS ON WOMEN’S CAREERS?
“I know a woman who was a server in a casual restaurant. She got the chance to move into fine dining and got into wine. She won a scholarship through our BC chapter to study for her WSET, and now she’s the head sommelier at a Michelin-starred restaurant. That’s the kind of change LDEI can help create.”
WHAT ROLE CAN MEN PLAY IN ADVANCING WOMEN IN THIS INDUSTRY?
“I think men can play a huge role. Some of the best mentors I’ve had were men. Someone once said to me, the best male mentors are the ones with daughters—because they want to see women succeed, too. It’s about being open, supportive, and willing to listen.”
WHAT SYSTEMIC BARRIERS DO WOMEN STILL FACE IN THE HOSPITALITY AND CULINARY INDUSTRIES?
“Unconscious bias is a big one. We still have that image of a man running the kitchen. We need to shift that mindset. Access to education is also key—being able to afford culinary school or additional certifications. We need more role models to show that women can be in charge of the kitchen.”
