WILMINGTON — The Delaware Restaurant Association is building off the success of its women leadership accelerator and planning to launch a professional development network to help give women the tools for success, no matter where they are in their professional journey.
The Hospitality Leadership Accelerator Community soft launched last November at the DRA’s annual Women of Hospitality Conference. Members will have access to professional coaching and pop-up events throughout the year, as well as a network of food, drink and hotel professionals.
DRA President and CEO Carrie Leishman said that the idea for a membership-based community stemmed from seeing the experiences of five women in last year’s accelerator program. That program was sponsored by Dogfish Head and included leadership coaches and customized training sessions.
While it was gratifying to see those five women become more confident as the year went on, it also made Leishman hungry for more.
“We’ve been hosting the Women of Hospitality Conference for years, and it was amazing to see this community come together for one year. But it’s also like, ‘So what?’” she told the Delaware Business Times. “Women are excited and craving more chances for professional development, and that’s what really drove this.”
Unlike the pilot accelerator program, the leadership community is opened to all genders, though it is focused on women. It’s also for workers at different levels in their careers, from entrepreneurs with a start-up to mid-level managers and beyond. The accelerator program will also have 20 participants this year.
What excites Leishman the most about the project is the focus on teaching women to be their own advocates as well as advocating for others.
“We know women need to learn those skills, not just for themselves but for their communities, whether it’s something they care about professionally and politically,” she said. “Last year, we brought [the accelerator group] to Dover to meet with elected officials and a presentation for the Women’s Caucus. This year, the group is coming with us to Washington D.C. to understand issues in the restaurant industry through the National Restaurant Association Public Affairs Conference.”
Even if the membership does not align on all advocacy matters, Leishman’s philosophy is that women need to build their own community to grow in their professional and personal lives. And finding time to network can be hard when your job revolves around catering those events.
“I often talk about building our own personal board of directors, but women network differently, and we don’t always have the opportunity to gather with women who could support our career aspirations and goals,” she said. “[In the restaurant industry,] it’s an industry that doesn’t have those opportunities to get together. This is that opportunity to provide those resources to develop their own leadership skills.”
Membership costs are at $199 and include admission to the annual Women of Hospitality conference. Contact the Delaware Restaurant Association for more information.
