Her Story
About Leah
I've been working in hospitality for over 7 years, beginning with cleaning for a company with my family before immediately transitioning into customer service. For the past 2 years, I've been working in the service industry at Alamo Drafthouse, a movie theater, restaurant, and bar. In this role, I serve as a shift supervisor for the bar department, collaborating with other shift supervisors to provide leadership for the entire bar team. My responsibilities include training new employees in bartending and teaching them about our guidelines, expectations, and everything important to working at our establishment, while also ensuring we deliver the best experience for both customers and every employee. I hold a bachelor of arts in criminology from DePaul University and am seeking to transition into the legal or social services field to continue to grow professionally. In the meantime, I've found that hospitality offers many of the same person-to-person interactions, just in a different context with more administrative and clerical work, while still using the same skills for research and setting guidelines and expectations. Beyond my current role, I hold an adult basic education certification from an internship I did in college, where I tutored and helped adults to develop their skills and knowledge of foundational concepts. I interned as project coordinator with the Touch Gift Foundation, a non-profit that delivers necessities and supplies to those in need. At TGF I was in charge of research, coordination, collaboration, and verifying requirements/guidelines for the company itself.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Leah
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute a lot of my success to my parents. I would not be where I am today without them. They were the ones who helped me move to Chicago to be able to go to DePaul, and without that, I don't even know where I would be. I'm just eternally grateful for that, and they still inspire me today. Additionally, I attribute much of my success to my tenacity and hard work. As a first-generation college graduate, I always felt a responsibility to make the most of every opportunity I was given. My resourcefulness and resilience have kept me on the path of success.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've received is don't burn yourself out. While it's important to work hard in everyday life, especially when it comes to your career, it's also important to be adamant about caring for yourself so that you're not exhausting all your energy. If you do burn out, then you're not going to be able to contribute to your career anyway. So honestly, take care of yourself, make sure you're healthy, and make sure your needs are met outside of the workplace. Once you do all that, you’ll be able to do your best work.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell young women entering my industry to be sure of themselves. I notice that a lot of the women I encounter are willing to just take a step back, mostly because society kind of tells them to. But I think you have to be very headstrong, you have to make your way through the world, and I don't think that anyone should ever feel that their contributions are lesser because of their gender. Be strong and self-assured, know that you're doing the right thing, and always advocate for yourself.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I would definitely say the disconnect between upper management, lower management, and standard employees is a big challenge. It seems like there's never one expectation for everyone, and when colleagues aren't on the same page, it's very hard to understand the best way to approach problems in the workplace. Another challenge is holding a leadership role among peers. It can be difficult to address work related situations in general, but it’s especially difficult when you work closely with people you care about. That’s why it’s so important to keep a balance between work and life.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I really value communication and consideration between people in both my work and personal life. I approach everyone as an equal, and I believe that mindset fosters more genuine interactions and authentic relationships, regardless of whether they are in or out of the workplace. I also value selflessness. It’s important to show up for the people around you and offer support in whatever ways you can without the expectation of receiving something in return.
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