Be Inclusive Hospitality’s Post

A robust DEI policy and culture can contributes to build a stronger business, it is much so for Hospitality Industry .

Shaping the Future of the Irish Food Industry: A Conversation with Our Alumni Today, I had the privilege of hosting an engaging session, in conversation with our Bord Bia International Graduates and two of our outstanding guest alumni Sadhbh McCarrick and Clodagh Ryan of #BordBiaTalent @ Food Industry Talent Smurfit. Their journeys, from classroom to career, are testament to how education, industry and innovation come together to develop the next leaders of the Irish food sector. Key takeaways from our discussion: ✅ Creating impact in a dynamic industry Alumni shared insights on how they are driving value by being adaptable, solutions-focused, and proactive - willing to step beyond their immediate brief to add value and seize opportunities. ✅ Blending technical expertise with leadership skills While technical knowledge in areas like sustainability, marketing, global market insights, and digital innovation is key, our alumni demonstrated that career success also depends on the ability to lead projects, collaborate well, and navigate complex business problems with resourcefulness and influence. ✅ Pursuing your dream career with a broad perspective Alumni emphasised that past experiences don’t limit future role opportunities within the food industry. They showed the importance of identifying and playing to transferable skills, such as adaptability, and leadership and problem-solving abilities. A huge thanks to Sadhbh and Clodagh for sharing their insights and inspiring our current International Graduates, the next generation of Irish food industry leaders, who will finish in July. 🚀 #FoodIndustry #TalentDevelopment #Education #AlumniSuccess #FutureOfFood Eileen Bentley Karen Connaughton Nick Curtis-Davis Tim Wray Damien McLoughlin Laoise Lane Margaret Berry Alison Monaghan Joe Peppard Patrick Murray Dr. Colm Murphy Rowan Manahan Anne-Marie O'Sullivan Bernie Keogh Tadhg O'Donovan UCD Smurfit Executive Development Bord Bia - The Irish Food Board

Celebrating Culture, Community, and Growth! As we near the end of Hispanic Heritage Month and mark World Food Day, I’m reflecting on the power of diverse voices and shared experiences in our Toastmasters club, Diplomatically Speaking. In these past weeks, we’ve embraced the richness of Hispanic heritage—listening to stories, learning about traditions, and celebrating the beauty of cultures that make our club community so vibrant. These celebrations have reminded us how storytelling connects us, whether it’s through tales of family recipes or inspiring journeys of resilience and success. On World Food Day, we also recognize how food brings people together, much like Toastmasters does. Savoring a meal or a story—both can nourish the soul. Beyond these special observances, our members have been working tirelessly to polish their public speaking skills. Whether it's mastering a tough speech, leading a meeting with confidence, or giving thoughtful evaluations, Diplomatically Speaking is a place where we grow together. We’ve all taken steps forward, from finding our voices to helping each other shine in every session. It’s a beautiful thing to witness—seeing members step out of their comfort zones, elevate their communication skills, and inspire one another. Here’s to celebrating culture, our shared humanity, and the power of positive words. Here's to those who take the stage and make every speech count. Let’s keep growing, sharing, and making a difference, one speech at a time! #HispanicHeritageMonth #WorldFoodDay #Toastmasters #PublicSpeaking #PersonalGrowth #DiplomaticallySpeaking #CelebrateDiversity #CommunityGrowth #SpeakAndInspire

A brilliant midweek getaway to Oxford for the largest BCorp Festival, Louder Than Words, thanks to B Lab UK I was honoured to co-lead a workshop with the fabulous Louise Gatenby of The Good Board all around Building a Brave BCorp Board. Some of our key takeaways: 🗝️ PURPOSE - the purpose of the Board is to hold the business to its purpose. Don’t get sidetracked with the next tactical thing and miss the big strategic risk or opportunity - and that includes baking sustainability into your strategy. 🌎 GOVERNANCE - juggling a lot of complexity makes it hard to be brave. But that’s the job. To keep pace, evolve and create the space to see far enough ahead into the future 🧩 COMPOSITION - who makes up your Board? Do you have enough independence, diversity and expertise? 🫶 CULTURE - what’s it like? Dominant? Inclusive? Curious? Challenging? Supportive? What environment do you need to make brave decisions? Ultimately, building a brave board is about getting the balance right, with people that think differently and yet are aligned to one clear purpose. If you’re building a brave Board, we’d love to hear your experiences. Thanks to everyone that participated in the session - we had some great discussions.

This is the way - helping #culinary professionals grow & develop personally & professionally by tapping into and supporting them living out their #purpose. Aaron highlights this in today's SeniorLivingMinute - it's worth the 60 seconds to take a listen! #SeniorLivingMinute #CareerDevelopment #SeniorLivingCareers #SeniorDining #Culinary #Hospitality

As the semester comes to a close, I would like to reflect on my time well spent in Diverse Voices. A course at the University of Florida that explores the critical role of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in public relations. This course has shown me how these principles are essential not only for communication but also for fostering equitable and meaningful environments. Over the semester, I had the opportunity to collaborate with peers and deepen my understanding of how companies embrace DEI. My team conducted extensive research on Kraft Heinz, focusing on its DEI initiatives. One that stood out was the company’s robust Business Resource Groups (BRGs). These employee-led networks support learning and development, help recruit diverse talent, foster community and guide leadership in challenging times. BRGs are essential to making DEI a core part of Kraft Heinz’s culture and competitive advantage. As Kraft Heinz Global Head, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Crystal Andrews Banks, MA (she / her / hers) said, “DEI&B is part of the fabric of who we are and how we show up as a company, and a core component of our company culture – which is our competitive advantage. The different backgrounds and perspectives of our employees help enable our innovation. This diversity of thought allows us to develop new ideas, challenge the status quo, push the boundaries on creativity, and make the best, well-informed decisions.” I’d like to thank my wonderful professor Ajia Meux for fostering an open space to discuss DEI. Her Diverse Voices course has been instrumental in expanding my understanding of these principles, leaving me confident to enter the workforce with a new perspective on its importance. #DiverseVoices https://lnkd.in/e2gYKqGU (https://lnkd.in/e2gYKqGU)

Giving back to Penn State students with an endowed award is such a rewarding way to channel my philanthropy. Here’s a few reasons why… 1. It gives me to opportunity to connect with amazing students like Gabriela Mutone to support her college experience and give gratitude for what she has done for the THON and SHM community. 2. It puts my donations to work in an endowment that will continue to give in perpetuity, even after I’m gone. 3. Award criteria is customizable for the donor. I was honor my two largest Penn State passions, SHM and THON leadership. 4. $1,000 per quarter for 5 years is the commitment for an award level giving, with it being awarded once you fully fund it. This was a great way to channel my annual giving into one source. 5. Naming the gift brings awareness that allows me to connect with other potential donors and share why I decided to give this way. It also normalizes planned giving for all, removing the misconception that it requires decades of wealth and six figures gifts. As a steward and champion for Penn State School of Hospitality Management, if you’re interested in planned giving and have any questions - please connect with me. In future years I’d love to see more awards named for our tremendous alumni. #weare #pennstate #shmproud

🍴 What sets senior living food service apart for young professionals? Aaron Fish highlights the unique opportunity to provide purpose-driven work, continuous learning, and meaningful career pathways in a field that truly makes a difference. 🎙️ Guest: Aaron Fish ,MBA, CHS, FMP 💡 Company: Trestle Hospitality Concepts #SeniorLivingMinute #CareerDevelopment #SeniorLivingCareers

🎙️ Who's the one getting interviewed now? 🎙️ We’re thrilled to share this clip of our favorite #podcast host featured on today’s episode of SeniorLivingMinute! In just 60 seconds, Aaron dives into how culinary professionals want growth both personally and professionally by aligning with their #purpose, and #seniorliving is the industry that can provide it.  So be sure to stop the scroll and watch this #collaboration - it's a must-listen for anyone in the senior living, #hospitality, or #culinary industries looking to #elevate their career and make a meaningful impact.  💡Want more insights from Aaron? Go take a listen to Tips from Trestle! Packed with expert advice, industry trends, and actionable strategies, it’s the go-to podcast for senior living professionals who want to stay ahead of the curve for all things community experience - food, hospitality, resident engagement, and more!  And give us a follow/like/subscribe and a 5 star review 😉: https://lnkd.in/eeH9Efjd #SeniorLivingMinute #CareerDevelopment #SeniorLivingCareers #SeniorDining #CulinaryExcellence #TipsFromTrestle

Exciting Changes at IFMA The Food Away from Home Association As part of its strategic growth, IFMA The Food Away from Home Association announces the expanded responsibilities of three key leaders, further strengthening its commitment to serving the food-away-from-home ecosystem.   👤 Michael Schwartz – Senior VP, Chief Engagement & Innovation Officer With 10 years at the Association, Mike will now oversee strategic membership growth, engagement, and retention, alongside managing programming, research, education, events, and the Foodservice Leadership Council (FLC). He will continue to drive innovation and strategic partnerships that support member solutions.   👤 Charlie McConnell – VP, Industry Insights, Education & Research Promoted to VP, Charlie will lead out approach to market research, data analysis, and educational development. He will also play a pivotal role in guiding the association’s perspectives on critical industry issues.   👤 Courtney Graham Sriha– Senior Director, Event Programming Courtney’s expanded role will see her manage all event programming, including our flagship events, while creating new programs to meet member needs and enhancing relationship management across key communities.   These expanded roles reflect our ongoing transformation to better serve its members and the foodservice industry. #StrongerTogether #IFMATheFoodAwayfromHomeAssociation   🔗 Read the full press release here: https://lnkd.in/gC8rCE6A