How Can Women Build Confidence to Lead in Hospitality?

Female leadership in hospitality grows when women stop waiting to tick every box before applying for senior roles. Michelle Pascoe, Certified Speaking Professional with over 30 years in the club industry, talks with Phillipa Fuller, Secretary Manager of Club Quirindi, about confidence, mentorship, and leading as a single mother in a regional club.

What if the only thing standing between you and that senior leadership role is belief, not experience?

In this episode, Michelle Pascoe sits down with Phillipa Fuller, Secretary Manager of Club Quirindi in the New England region of New South Wales, to talk about what it actually takes for women to move into senior leadership in the club industry.

Phillipa's started her journey through the industry as a waitress in a coastal pub and moved through various regional clubs and hospitality venues before landing at Club Quirindi eighteen months ago. Along the way, there was one mentor who changed the trajectory of her career simply by believing in her before Phillipa believed in herself.

Female leadership in hospitality often stalls not from a lack of ability but from a confidence gap. Women tend to wait until they can tick every box on a job description, while men apply after ticking two or three. Confidence works because it is built through mentorship, networking through organisations like the CMA, and a willingness to ask why when turned down for a role.

Phillipa also speaks candidly about leading as a single mother, the importance of delegation, setting boundaries, and communicating openly with her board about what she needs to make both work. 

Key Takeaways

Phillipa's journey from waitress to Secretary Manager across five clubs in thirteen years.

Why women in hospitality often wait to tick every box before applying for senior roles, while men do not.

How one mentor changed the course of Phillipa's career in club management.

Why delegation and setting boundaries are essential skills for leaders balancing family and senior roles.

What needs to shift culturally for more women to see themselves as CEOs, secretary managers, and general managers in clubs.