Rise to the Table with Rosewood: Empowering Women in Hospitality

Images courtesy of Rosewood Hotel Group

The hospitality world has always been a study in motion. Kitchens pulse with energy, dining rooms become stages for culture and connection, and behind it all are individuals who carry both creativity and grit in equal measure. What often goes unseen is how much of that progress depends on those willing to challenge long-standing norms and quietly, persistently reshape the industry from within.

It is within this context that Rise to the Table, an inaugural initiative from the Rosewood Foundation, takes on deeper meaning. This is not positioned as a one-time program. It is intended as the beginning of something far more lasting. A movement rooted in access, mentorship, and the belief that representation does not happen by chance. It is built with intention.

At its core, the initiative, which launched on March 2, 2026, brought together eleven women from across the globe for a yearlong journey that began at Rosewood Hong Kong. The setting was intentional. A city where tradition and forward thinking coexist, and where global perspectives naturally converge. It reflected the ambition of the program itself.

The opening residency set the tone. Over the course of a week, participants stepped into a rhythm that blended learning with lived experience. Workshops and roundtables created space for dialogue, while shared meals and culinary exchanges grounded the conversations in something tangible. There was a clear understanding that growth in hospitality does not happen in isolation. It is shaped in kitchens, around tables, and through the relationships built in between.

The week concluded with a graduation dinner, though the word graduation felt almost understated. It marked less of an ending and more of a beginning. A moment where mentorships were not assigned but formed, where partnerships took shape, and where each participant stepped forward with both guidance and momentum for the months ahead.

The vision for Rise to the Table originated with Sonia Cheng, CEO of Rosewood Hotel Group, alongside the Rosewood Foundation. Their perspective feels clear and considered. Leadership, in this context, is not about occupying space. It is about expanding it.

As Sonia Cheng shared, “True leadership isn’t just about occupying a seat at the table, it’s about expanding that table so others can rise alongside you. With Rise to the Table, our vision is to cultivate an ecosystem where talent meets opportunity, empowering a new generation of women to not only navigate the hospitality industry but to redefine its future with purpose and resilience.”

That distinction matters. It shifts the narrative from inclusion as an outcome to inclusion as a responsibility.

There is also a broader understanding at play. Investing in women within hospitality is not simply about equity. It is about perspective. As Mehvesh Mumtaz Ahmed, Vice President of Impact and Sustainability at Rosewood Hotel Group and a member of the Rosewood Foundation Board, noted, supporting female leadership introduces the diversity of thought required to address the industry’s most complex challenges.

What set this initiative apart was not just the structure of mentorship or the caliber of its participants. It was the tone it established. There was a quiet emphasis on camaraderie, on curiosity, and on the idea that success is not singular. It evolves, it expands, and it becomes more meaningful when shared.

Faces of the Future

Introducing the Class of 2026

The inaugural cohort reflected a thoughtful balance of disciplines, geographies, and perspectives. Eleven women, representing eight countries, each bringing a distinct point of view shaped by their own experiences within hospitality.

• Alexia Van Breugel – Sous Chef, Sem, Lisbon, Portugal

• Caitlin Hall – Sommelier, The Perlant, Atlanta, United States

• Feyikewa Animashaun – Chef and Entrepreneur, Ajoje Social and Kewa’s Kitchen, Lagos, Nigeria

• Karla Cardoso – CEO, Drinktivity, Brazil

• Leigh-Ann Luckett – Co-Founder, Crushed Wine Bar and Retail, Hong Kong SAR

• Lelani Lewis – Founder and Creative Director, Nyam and Atelier Code Noir, Amsterdam, Netherlands

• Marie Mitchell – Entrepreneur, Chef, and Award-Winning Writer, United Kingdom

• Rochelle Lawrence – Entrepreneur, Brew, British Virgin Islands

• Stephanie Bonnin – Owner Chef, Patio Tropical, New York, United States

• Tania Yabra – Executive Pastry Chef, Restaurant Wils, Wils Bakery Café, and Restaurant Rijks, Amsterdam

• Joyeta Ng – Sous Chef, Poon’s, United Kingdom

Each name carries its own story. Years of refining craft, navigating challenges, and building something meaningful within an industry that does not always make space easily. What connects them is not just talent, but a shared readiness to lead, and to bring others with them.

In many ways, these women represent the future of hospitality. Not defined by a single path, but by a collective willingness to evolve the industry into something more inclusive, more thoughtful, and ultimately more reflective of the world it serves.

Rise to the Table is, at its heart, a celebration. Of progress already made, and of what is still possible. It is an acknowledgment that the most meaningful change often begins quietly, through investment, mentorship, and the simple but powerful act of opening doors for others.

And perhaps most importantly, it is a reminder that the table itself is not fixed. It can always be expanded.