As Sarah Bodner’s career progressed at Chartwells Higher Education, she eventually earned the role of research and development executive chef for the company. One day, about two years ago, she found herself at a dinner with her fellow chefs for a work meeting. But when she looked around the room, she saw the faces of three women chefs, all of which were involved in Chartwell’s Women in Culinary Program. As she looked at them, she had thought, “We’re here, we did it.” Many women throughout their careers, in various industries, may find themselves often as the only woman in the room when they progress to leadership roles. But that day, Sarah realized, she was not in fact the only woman in that room.

Chartwell’s Women in Culinary program seeks to bring together women chefs throughout the company and empower them, as well as inspire them to empower themselves and the women around them.

On this episode of Onsite with FSD, in honor of Women’s History Month, Bodner joins us to discuss her experience in the program, inspiring women she’s met throughout her culinary career and her thoughts on the representation issue in the industry.

Listen as we hear about a recipe book filed with creations from her grandmother and the way in which her mother’s work ethic inspired her to push forward her career.