Hawksmoor

Emily is a career hospitality professional with over 20 years' experience in beverage and front of house leadership roles. Emily worked in San Diego, San Francisco and Philadelphia before finding her home in Brooklyn, NY, where she pivoted her career to recruiting during the pandemic. Emily's passion for fostering relationships, service-oriented mindset, and entrepreneurial spirit help her establish lasting partnerships with her clients. Emily earned her bachelor's in social science with a minor in women's studies from the University of Rhode Island, and has completed certifications in entrepreneurship, employee relations and sales strategy. Emily is also a SHRM certified professional (SHRM-CP).

Ideal Restaurant Experience

My go-to place for both comfort and nostalgia is Clover Club in Brooklyn, NY. The atmosphere is dark yet welcoming. Clover Club has done a fabulous job of combining a prohibition-era vibe with modern comforts and service. They offer live music, a cozy back room with a fireplace, and a cocktail selection that is second to none. I have shared some of my best NYC memories with industry friends and colleagues at the bar. It is the type of place where "everyone knows your name!"

What does "creating workplaces where people thrive" mean to you?

Creating workplaces where people thrive means being transparent and candid with employees about their work and setting realistic goals for them to exceed! Constructive communication that allows them to develop professionally and puts them on a path for success. Cultivating a collaborative culture empowers employees to offer their insights—consistently challenging and recognizing their work, creating a balance that fosters achievement.

Sarah began her career in restaurant operations with Hillstone Restaurant Group, becoming one of the youngest general managers at a $10m+ location before transitioning to a corporate HR role. After several years as an HR director, however, her position was eliminated, prompting her to pursue a similar HR leadership role in NYC's bustling hospitality industry. To her dismay, many of the small hospitality businesses she was drawn to simply did not need full-time HR support, despite their struggle with HR. In many of these initial conversations, Sarah instinctively pivoted her interview into a strategy session, focusing not on her career goals but on the HR needs of each business - often offering to complete small HR projects as a freelancer. A few months of working in this capacity was all Sarah needed to embrace her calling to build a sustainable, scalable consulting business. Empowered Hospitality was born.

Sarah earned her bachelor’s in political science with honors from Yale University, and holds her SHRM-SCP, WSET Advanced Certification (Wine & Spirits Educational Trust), and CSW (Certified Specialist of Wine). Sarah was selected as a 2021 Tory Burch Foundation Fellow for her passion for building an equitable, collaborative, and socially-conscious small business, is a perennial speaker at the annual FAB Conference in Charleston, SC, and is a guest lecturer at the School of Hospitality Administration at Boston University.

Ideal Restaurant Experience

Visiting home in Massachusetts always involves a highly-anticipated trip to the local clam shack, where we would go in the summertime as kids. There's no happiness quite like catching up with friends and family over fried clams and 'lobstah' rolls in a place with so many memories!

What does "creating workplaces where people thrive" mean to you?

Creating workplaces where people thrive means fostering growth, transparency, and well-being. It means defining the larger purpose that drives you, and building a team that believes equally in that purpose.