‍Nina Mohimi: “We must make things easier for future generations”

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My ideal would be that at some point it simply doesn't matter that you're a woman. That it no longer has to be addressed, but that the focus is on performance, personality and individual story. But that is currently not possible because it is simply still more difficult to get visibility as a woman — even if the rest (more than) fits. The industry media have a great responsibility here. It is a complete disaster when, for example, the editor of a leading industry publication says that there aren't many interesting women in the catering industry, otherwise he would report on them. These are the settings that we have to deal with and that actively prevent visibility.

But I have hope that this will change, albeit more slowly than I would like. I increasingly have the feeling that many women in leading positions have recognized that women do not have to be lone wolves. Connectivity is increasing. For my online list, which features more than 200 international and national women in gastronomy and hospitality, culinary media and in communication and production, many have come forward and said: This and that woman is still missing from the list. I was very pleased with this mutual support. We must make things easier for future generations. It would also be desirable for more men to speak out loud about this and not just show their support in private messages.

And what we can all do: When you are asked about a favorite chef, a sommelier and so on, for example, to be able to name several without thinking twice.

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Nina Mohimi is a communications consultant with a focus on culinary and consumer trends and co-editor-in-chief of Popchop, the Future Food Culture magazine