(Since 2017), FAB is a 48-hour educational and inspirational workshop created by woman, for women in the hospitality industry. FAB began as one person’s vision to create a business workshop for all women in hospitality. A place where they could learn about the true business of the industry, talk about the great things, and more importantly the hard thing about being a woman in hospitality. Its intent was and continues to be a place for people to connect with others, share stories, become each other’s resources, champions, and ultimately, empower one another.
The LEE Initiative’s Women Culinary and Spirits Program “creates a path to leadership for women in the food and beverage industry through mentorship, training, and continuing education opportunities. The goal of this program is to elevate more women into leadership positions within the industry with the mindset that doing so brings more equity and diversity to the industry.
“Each year, we select mentees to complete a six-month program which includes externships, seminars, and more. Mentees are experienced professionals in the early-to-mid stages of their food and beverage careers and are ready to take the next steps towards becoming industry leaders.”
The annual FAB conference for women in Charleston, which earlier in June resumed its “in person” program after two years of virtual agendas, is a crucial component of the Women Culinary and Spirits Program. The 2022 mentees attended instructional sessions and workshops, and connected with other women in the industry.
While at FAB, past mentees hosted a cocktail party and pop up. One of them, Chef Megan Duffy (class of 2021), recorded her thoughts.
When I see strong women, I see unbridled confidence. With shoulders back, and heads held high it is a energy that commands a room.
I often find myself asking the question, how can I become one of these woman? With every skill I learn, with every new dish I create, I still question myself. Is it enough? Every time I ask myself that question, my answer was always no. No, passion alone was not enough for me to see myself as one of those strong confident woman with a seat at the table. However, I’ve learned if you ask a question and take the time to listen life will often times give you a answer. This week I was got my answer.
While preparing for FAB I mustered every ounce of confidence, every skill I’ve learned to create a dish that would speak for me. Setting up at FAB with a nervous sweat on my palms I took some deep breaths steadying my racing mind. The question still lingered, is it enough? As the event started and people quickly filled the court yard I soon had the realization with dwindling apps on my table that I was not going to be able to keep up on my own. I prepared myself for that sinking feeling of drowning; but it never came. In the moment when I felt I was about to go under the smiling faces of the 2022 LEE initiative mentees, who’d I only met the night before, waltz up to my table. Without missing a beat they came right to my side and started helping me assemble appetizers. Before I could even find the words to say thank you, they were all ready responding. “This is who we are, this is what we do. We are here for you.”
It was in that moment that I had my answer.
The strength and encouragement I felt with them by my side and cheering me on was a clarifying moment. I had my seat at the table. Being strong doesn’t mean you have to be able to do it all alone. Being confident doesn’t mean you don’t question yourself. That unbridled confidence is from the encouragement and strength of those sitting at our table.
You can donate to the Women Culinary and Spirits Program here. The LEE Initiative thanks its supporting partners: Audi, Foxhollow Farm, Libbey, Maker’s Mark, Olo for Good Fund, and Richard’s Rainwater.
Photo credit: The LEE Initiative.
