Raising a pint to International Women’s Day
We’re very privileged to have some incredible women working throughout Young’s and we caught up with just a few for their thoughts and advice this International Women’s Day.
7th March 2022
#Youngs
One piece of advice you would have given yourself when you were starting out on your career path if you could go back now?
Keep focused on the end goal and don’t get side tracked by other things that come up.
This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is ‘Breaking the Bias’, what does that mean to you?
To be honest I don’t really see things based on gender, you get women that are good in the kitchen and some men that are not so good and vice versa. To me it’s all about attitude, if you want to achieve something you will do it based on your attitude and not your gender. The argument that women are less capable than men as Head Chefs is something which has been commented on a lot throughout my career. However, in my opinion, it is impossible to compare the capabilities of male and female chefs, particularly when you have established chefs such as Clare Smyth holding 3 Michelin stars.
Natalie: Head Chef, The Oyster Shed
One Piece of advice you’d have given yourself at the start of your career?
Her head is shaved and the little hair that remains is dyed a vivid pink. Anything that dangles has been pierced, she is afraid of nothing and she has lots and lots to say. This is 16 year old me; fierce, vibrant, naive and eager to face the world.
My advice for this firecracker is to never, ever try to fit the mould. Out there is a shape and space for you – if you find that you don’t fit, then you’re clearly not in the right place.
Though you’ve dabbled in the idea of conformity – sported a grey suit, straightened your hair, pulled it back in a sensible ponytail, nodded in all the right places, shaken all the right hands – it’s not for you. All you do is create an environment that is false, unsatisfying, high maintenance…boring. Don’t settle for that.
Explore your values, strengths, skills and pleasures fearlessly and honestly. This means that you can design a reality which is right for you. What’s the worst that can happen? Shelve nothing. Never take yourself too seriously – or anybody else for that matter. Never agree just for the sake of it. Ask questions. Be brave. Stand up for yourself and for others. Surround yourself with likeminded people, break the silence, share your ideas, make everyone laugh and be your silly self. You don’t always have to behave. Don’t temper your personality. If you don’t fit in then you’re in the wrong place anyway, so just go pack your bags.
So, let your colours shine and you’ll find home in the end. Work hard, get the jobs done and have a bloody good time doing it. Life is a journey and there will be bumps in the road but that’s what coffee’s for. Laughing helps too, so do it often and share it in abundance.
Vikki: Area Sales and Marketing Coordinator