Florida International University and Women's Hospitality Initiative partner to launch groundbreaking hospitality leadership course
Chef Michelle Bernstein, Chef Lorena Garcia, and Ernisha Randolph of Sweet Butter Hospitality among well-known list of speakers
As part of its ongoing commitment to advance opportunity and remove barriers for future women leaders, Florida International University (FIU) and its Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management has partnered with the Women's Hospitality Initiative (WHI) to implement WHI's groundbreaking academic course, "From the Classroom to the Boardroom: Leadership for Women in Hospitality."
As part of its ongoing commitment to advance opportunity and remove barriers for future women leaders, Florida International University (FIU) and its Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management has partnered with the Women's Hospitality Initiative (WHI) to implement WHI's groundbreaking academic course, "From the Classroom to the Boardroom: Leadership for Women in Hospitality."
The for-credit course, which examines the challenges and paths to success for women leaders in the hospitality and restaurant industries, is being offered in Spring 2021.
"FIU has long been at the forefront for hospitality education because we are constantly reassessing and updating our curriculum to meet the moment," said Chaplin School's Vice Dean Diann Newman. "Statistics show that women hold only eight percent of hospitality leadership positions. This partnership with Women's Hospitality Initiative will ensure that our students - 69 percent of whom are female - will emerge from this course with the knowledge, capabilities, and confidence needed to compete in today's business climate and become the future women leaders of this industry."
The course is taught by Chaplin School Assistant Professor Lisa Cain.
Developed and launched by WHI, the course exposes students to an industry-specific business and leadership curriculum, while providing strategies to recognize and eliminate gender and unconscious bias, racism, and other obstacles that hinder the upward mobility of women into leadership and ownership roles. Other issues addressed include: leadership branding, emotional intelligence, navigating politics and power dynamics, building relationships, networks and allies, as well as building an inclusive team culture.
The centerpiece is a rotating guest speaker series that incorporates lessons and strategies from today's top women leaders, available to view live on the FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management Facebook page. Speakers include:
- Jan. 25 - Elizabeth Blau, Blau + Associates and WHI - The Business Case for Women in Leadership
- Feb. 1 - Ernisha Randolph, Sweet Butter Hospitality - Building a Team, Team Dynamics and Transitioning from Peer to Leader
- Feb. 8 - Chef Michelle Bernstein - The Importance of Continuous Improvement
- Feb. 15 - Jenna Swigert, Open Table, Alex Lourdes PhD, Café Lola and Saint Honoré Doughnuts & Beignets, Leveraging Social Media to Build a Business in the Restaurant Industry
"FIU is one of the top hospitality schools in the country, so we are incredibly grateful to have the support of such prominent women," said Women's Hospitality Initiative Co-Founder Elizabeth Blau. "We've had great success with our first class of students at UNLV and CIA, and now we look to continue to achieve the same success in Florida and ultimately on a national level. It has been such a positive experience working with Dr. Cain, Associate Dean Newman, and FIU leadership. I can't wait to see what the future holds for these graduates."
About Florida International University (FIU)
Florida International University is a Top 50, preeminent public research university with 55,000 students from all 50 states and more than 140 countries, as well as an alumni network of more than 340,000. Located in the global city of Miami, the university offers more than 200 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate and professional levels, including medicine and law. FIU faculty are leaders in their fields and include National Academy members, Fulbright Scholars, and MacArthur Genius Fellows. A Carnegie R1 institution, FIU drives impactful research in environmental resilience, health, and technology and innovation. Home to the Wall of Wind and Institute of Environment, FIU stands at the forefront of discovery and innovation. With a focus on student success, economic mobility and community engagement, FIU is redefining what it means to be a public research university.
About FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management
Florida International University's Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management is the No. 3 best hospitality school among U.S. Public Universities, ranked No. 23 in the world and No. 1 in Florida. Nearly 1,200 undergraduate and graduate students from across the nation and around the globe choose FIU for its outstanding reputation, advantageous campus locations in Miami, expert faculty, rich curriculum and real career opportunities in the international hotel, real estate, foodservice, beverage and spirits management, travel, tourism, revenue management, entertainment, and mega and large-scale event industries. As the second largest hospitality school in the country, FIU Chaplin School’s population consists of 70% women and students from 72 countries represented, For more information about Florida International University's Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, visit http://hospitality.fiu.edu.