“Leave it at the door” was a common management expression in my early restaurant days. It was implied that once in uniform, any personal problems should be bottled up in preparation for a stressful, fast-paced shift. These words were even posted on the staff bulletin board. It was understood you were to keep quiet about your personal issues and get to work.

We made it through the winter, and by now I’m sure most of you, like me, are looking forward to planning our summer. But with restrictions likely to be in place for the next few months at minimum, this might be another great opportunity to plan to explore somewhere a little more local this summer. And what’s a more fun (and safe) way to do that than by dreaming of planning a summer vacation?

A few months ago, I started on a rather ‘traditional’ job search path, but found the process limiting and discouraging. As women we naturally undersell our talents and are immediately disadvantaged in this regard. I was enlightened by the “Parachute” concept of reversing the traditional role of job seeker to instead elevate myself to a position of confidence, enablement and the power to choose.

The past year has left many re-evaluating their passions and purpose while at a career crossroads. Vancouver’s own Lilian Umurungi-Jung, owner of nut butter brand MUMGRY, knows this career quandary well. We had the pleasure of chatting with Lilian all about the takeaways from her experience working in hotels, the power of community and how to balance it all as a working mom.

We sat down with Vancouver-based finance expert Gina Judge, Founder of the Millennial Money Guide, moderated by WORTH’s Director of Education, Julie Pecarski. Together we learned how budgeting, debt, saving and investing all tie into a financial plan.

Maya Lange has become a household name for many in B.C.’s tourism industry through her impactful role as VP of Global Marketing for Destination British Columbia. Read on to find out more about what lies ahead for the tourism industry and Maya’s advice on conquering impostor syndrome, building a strong network and the power of pivoting.

At WORTH Association, we use an inclusive definition of the terms woman and female. We welcome trans, cis, gender queer and non-binary people in our community. We also welcome men who support our mission to educate, elevate, empower and advocate for equity. This definition has recently been expanded to be more welcoming and further elevate and empower.

My move to Victoria, BC coincided with a newfound appreciation for a “quality over quantity” approach to alcohol, and fortunately Vancouver Island hosts some of the best-of-the-best artisanal spirit creators. So, where does the post-pandemic path lead for distilleries and how will their role in local tourism be impacted?

This past year has left many of us hungry for something to sniff about. That yummy smell you experience, when you enter a hotel or restaurant is typically crafted with a thoughtful approach. We spoke with Melody Lim, owner and creator of Mala candles, to gain insight on how to create a home sanctuary and maximize the benefits of scent.

On March 8th, 2021 we recognize International Women’s Day across the globe. This year’s theme is “Choose to Challenge”, a call to action to combat injustices in the fight for women’s equality. Since our incorporation, IWD has always been a positive event. A day to celebrate inclusivity and acknowledge the social, political and economic achievements of women. It’s also a chance to gather our community.

If someone had asked me this time last year to define what my boundaries were when it came to work, I would have just shrugged it off and said, “I have decent boundaries. I’m good!”. I believed that when it came to working in the hospitality and tourism industry, it was work hard to play hard and that is what I signed up for. You don’t sign up for this life if you want weekends and holidays off.

Part 3 of Colourful Conversations brought us a discussion between Tolu Aladejebi of Black in Hospitality and Co-owner and VP of Career Contacts Natasha Jeshani about all things recruitment and creating safe work environments. Natasha also happens to be an Amazon bestselling author (HR Insider: How to Land your dream job and keep it).

If you’re feeling disconnected from the tourism and hospitality industries, there are some great opportunities in March to reconnect with your industry peers and brush up on your knowledge. We rounded up 5 can’t miss low-cost and free options to help you build your resume and connections while staying on top of trends.

Looking to ace your next video interview? Career Contacts is here to provide these 5 tips to put your best [virtual] foot forward.

After the end of one chaotic year, I found it challenging to set goals, make resolutions, create a vision board or even select a ‘word’ for 2021. How could I consider what might lie ahead while I was trying to make sense of the past? I was still processing a year that left me burnt out and depleted. I did not anticipate to find clarity on the future by tapping the top of my head during an IG live. But that’s exactly what happened…

The first-ever female President and CEO of the British Columbia Hotel Association (BCHA), Ingrid Jarrett is an industry powerhouse who has spent the past three decades directly contributing to building the tourism sector across BC and Canada. Her impressive resume spans leadership roles along with volunteer work in leadership positions on several tourism boards. She found time in her incredibly busy schedule to sit down and talk with us about her tourism leadership journey and share her advice for other women in leadership.

The second installment of Colourful Conversations brought us Judith Kasiama, founder of Colour the Trails, in conversation with Woman of WORTH Tolu Aladejebi, and left all of us wanting to get outdoors immediately! If you missed it, never fear, we’ve recapped it with you in mind.

Networking, schnetworking. Quite frankly, I did not even understand what that daunting term meant until I was knee-deep in my corporate career in luxury hotels. For many of us the mere word ‘networking’ leads to instant fear and dread. It’s easy to find excuses not to network, such as not having anything to wear, being stuck in a lockdown, not sure what you even want to ‘do’ with your life, shall I go on? There is always an excuse but almost everyone has the ability to open their eyes and get their head out of the screen.

We are conditioned to believe from a very early age that our success depends on our attractiveness, grades, ability to meet expectations of other people and of course an ability to be better than anyone else. For as long as I can remember, I was committed to be perfect in every aspect of my life, even though nothing was ever easy for me. A perfect student, perfect daughter, perfect wife, perfect friend, a perfect mom… and then the pandemic happened.