Celebrating IWD 2023
We’d like to celebrate all the immensely talented, accomplished, go-getting, brilliant, strong, loyal, multi-tasking, kind women that make our team at Jimmy Garcia Catering so special! We’re beyond proud, not only of all the great women we have across our whole company but of ALL the wonderful women out there and want to say thank you, today and everyday.
Here are just some of the brilliant women we have on the JGC team and what inspires them, why they love working in hospitality as well as come great advice for other women.
Alex Cox - Executive Chef
What inspires me most about being a female chef? I've had a great love of food since I can remember. I was brought up in a home with lots of home-cooked meals, cakes and other treats, and it's the only career path I've ever really considered.
I love the satisfaction of taking simple, good-quality ingredients and making them into something delicious. I started out as a pastry chef and when training it always used to blow my mind that you can take flour, butter, sugar and eggs and make millions of different recipes from those ingredients alone.
Ellie Foreman - Head of Operations
I have always loved the concept of food bringing people together, it is one thing we all have in common; we all need to eat! So, I thought why not make this a memorable experience and create amazing events. It is that elevation of the family sitting round the kitchen table enjoying a meal together, a value which I hold important to me and why I wanted to have a career in the events and hospitality industry.
I adore that I work in an industry which is filled with strong woman, whether this be chefs, planners or operators. There is some incredible talent out there and I am so lucky to work alongside this talent on a day-to-day basis.
If I had one piece of advice to other women coming into the industry, it would be to remember to be bold, confident and never give up on what on what you believe in.
Abbie Park - Sous Chef
I have always loved cooking from a young age. My family used to call me ‘Abbie Kipling’ because of all the baking I used to do, with varying degrees of success!!
As I got older I mainly cooked for friends and family so when I got my first chef job I couldn’t believe that I was getting paid for doing something I loved so much.
What I love about cooking is ingredients coming together to make a really delicious plate. I like being proud of something that I have made and seeing people enjoy it.
My most important message to other women, would be to work hard and your goals can be achieved. Be confident, trust yourself and enjoy what you do!
Sophie Greenwood - Marketing Director
The theme for this years IWD is Embracing Equity - it’s not just a nice-to-have, it's a must-have. The term refers to fairness and is distinguished from equality, of which as we all know, the past couple of years especially, have been hugely prominent for. Through my work, I strive to amplify how we can make the every day more positive because the reality is, we don’t all start from the same place.
I’m overjoyed to be part of the conversation this IWD. When I first started out, I was coming at this career from an interesting vantage point because I’d worked at multiple roles - all creative in some capacity. As women, we’re like rubber bands and we just stretch and stretch and stretch. Having now spent nearly two decades working in hospitality, it’s fast-paced and continues to always stretch you, but it’s also the most supportive industry and you get to work with women who constantly wow you, on a daily basis! You also have numerous opportunities every day to make someone’s day. How brilliant is that!
I love to apply the power of storytelling and the power of connecting with an audience through creativity in events. There’s no better feeling.
Valeria Carboni - Senior Sales Manager
My background and studies in theatre led me to the world of events, because what is an event if not a one-off exciting show?! Combine that with my love of food and that’s how I ended up in catering!
I have been very lucky to meet some wonderful women during my career. They have all supported me and elevated me, and I am thankful to be surrounded by so many strong inspiring people.
Sophie Woodhams - Event Sales and Operations Intern
I doubt there is an industry more exciting and rewarding than the events industry.
Behind every event is months worth of logistical planning, expert sales techniques, awe-inspiring production and meticulous attention to detail - which has by no doubt been organised, in part, by a fleet of inspirational women.
Working in the events industry allows me to be creative, analytical and passionate about the experiences I help to create. Which is principally down to the team of inspirational women that I have the opportunity to work alongside and learn from, every day.
Being some of the most talented, hardworking and dedicated women in the industry, I am constantly challenged to develop, grow and expand out of my comfort zone - helping me to achieve things that at this time last year, I never thought I could achieve.
So I have the event industry to thank for keeping me on my toes - but the inspirational women behind the industry to thank for the knowledge and support.
