Get to know the incredible women who serve you

To celebrate International Women's Day, we interviewed some of the talented women in our canteens and cafés on topics ranging from fun stuff like swapping roles to serious challenges that they've had to overcome in the industry. 

"Maria Sklodowska-Curie (aka. Marie Curie), the pioneering Polish-French physicist and chemist, because she is a smart and inspiring woman" – Aga, Central Saint Martins

"I would take myself for dinner because I am my biggest inspiration" – Deimante, Central Saint Martins

"Julie Watson as she was the best manager I worked with in my 7 years at the company" – Maria, Central Saint Martins

"There would definitely be three women – my mother, my sister and my grandmother. It's hard to choose just one because they were, and are, all extremely important in my life" – Larissa, Central Saint Martins

"Irina Binder, a well-known writer from Romania because she is a gentle, but at the same time strong, woman" – Florentina, Central Saint Martins

"Mother Theresa, as she inspired me how to be a woman and a mother" – Hazel, Central Saint Martins

"Madonna because she was brave for bringing a new style to music" – Zaneta, Chelsea College of Arts

"Beyonce as she is one of my all time favourite artists" – Svetlana, Chelsea College of Arts 

"Queen Elizabeth II because I'd love to know how she stayed true to what she believed in, even though the men around her were telling her to change" – Rebecca, London College of Fashion East Bank

"My Grandma, who came to the UK during the Windrush generation as a young lady with no family or formal education. She worked hard to develop a successful career, bought property and paved the way for generations of her family to gain economic opportunities that would otherwise not be available to them. I would like to hear her perspectives of the changing times from when she first arrived in the UK, to now." – Sasha, London College of Fashion East Bank

"Amelia Earheart who disappeared over the Pacific Ocean while trying to become the first female pilot to circumnavigate the world, she had determination and courage" – Sharon, London College of Fashion East Bank

"Gloria Steinem – Mother of feminism 😊" – Vladka, London College of Fashion East Bank

"To have a better chance of moving up the ladder in hospitality, maybe study it in college first" – Zoe, Central Saint Martins

"Be persevering, positive, committed, empathetic, helpful, willing to learn new things from others and always help your work colleagues" – Larissa

"Be considerate to everyone's needs and always do your best to follow the rules and expectations of your superiors" – Gabriele, Central Saint Martins

"That they should be patient, because working with people means having patience" – Florentina

"Have a can-do attitude" – Zabeta

"It is a lovely job where you get to meet a lot of different people from all over the world" – Svetlana

"Try and keep a level head in difficult situations" – Rebecca

"Be organised, let your personality shine and be ready to work hard, ensuring that customers are at the forefront of your mind at all times" – Sasha

"You have to enjoy what you do" – Sharon

"Choose who you work for wisely, working for someone good can shape your career in ways that go beyond the job itself" – Vladka

"Multi-tasking at busy times without getting burnouts" – Diemante

"There are always many challenges in everyday life, but I believe one of my biggest challenges in the industry is the language, learning new things every day and always delivering a quality service. But I am very happy even when facing these challenges" – Larissa

"Adjusting to different cultures and getting to know people" – Zabeta

"The language barrier as I am originally from Ukraine" – Svetlana

"Working with challenging behaviour" – Rebecca

"Being listened to" – Sharon

"Recognising that the general public often has a limited view of hospitality as a career that can empower you. By embracing the idea that you don’t need to justify your passion to anyone, you can fully focus on what inspires you: creating good food and sharing it with people." – Vladka

"I wouldn't change it, I'm exactly where I'm meant to be" – Deimante

"Zoe because she is very hardworking" – Maria

"I don't think I would want to swap roles with any member of the team because I love what I do. Maybe just out of curiosity, with one of the chefs" – Florentina

"A supervisor or managerial position as I have done it before and love organising" – Hazel 

"I like to make cakes so maybe the pastry chef" – Zabeta

"The chef as I love cooking and trying different recipes" – Svetlana

"The barista, because I love interacting with customers and having the ability to practice latte art. It looks simple, but it takes a lot of practice and knowledge about the different milks and consistency to help make a beautiful design. I love seeing the delight on customers' faces and their reaction when they see a design on their coffee." – Sasha

"With our sandwich maker, Edita. In the moment of making sandwiches, the world fades away, and it’s just you and the bread." – Vladka

"Respect and accepting different cultures" – Deimante

"To never judge a person at face value and to never be biased. Always learn the inner depth of a person before making assumptions – Zoe

"Do not judge anyone regardless of their appearances, differences, gender, perspectives, knowledge, life choices and other factors" – Gabriele

"Being a woman is a big responsibility, you have to be a good example. Respect others and be loving so that you can pass it to the next generation" – Hazel 

"Learning as many skills as possible" – Zabeta

"Coding and computer science" – Svetlana

"To learn to listen to your heart and be true to who you are" – Rebecca

"Communication skills and diplomacy are crucial for any young person wishing to accelerate gender equality. If they can communicate effectively, assertively, methodically, and diplomatically get their points of view across, people will be more inclined to pay attention." – Sasha 

"Problem solving" – Sharon

"Self-awareness is an essential skill for advancing gender equality. When you develop self-awareness, you become aware of your biases and privileges and how social norms influence your behaviour and perspectives. This critical understanding empowers you to challenge stereotypes, identify inequalities in your life, and take decisive action to champion gender fairness.

Equity is as essential as equality because it ensures everyone receives the resources, opportunities, and support they need based on their unique circumstances." – Vladka

"Polish cheesecake with chocolate icing because it's my favourite dessert" – Aga

"I would choose a heart-shaped bake with a meaningful message on it" – Deimante

"Maybe a sweet snack with chocolate, something reminiscent of the sweetness and strength of women" – Larissa

"My favourite cake, Tiramisu 😊" – Florentina

"A flower cupcake 🧁" – Hazel

"Summer fruit salad" – Zabeta

"I would choose Black Forest Cake, it is chocolatey, fruity and one of my favourites" – Svetlana

"Biscuits covered in purple icing and decorated with inspiring words like 'Empower', 'Equality', 'Strength' and 'Leadership'" – Rebecca

The women on our team unstoppable! 💪

Let's continue to celebrate amazing women - past, present and future. 

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