NRAEF : Blog

March is Women’s History Month and we’re putting a spotlight on some of the women in our Hospitality Sector Registered Apprenticeship program. Read more below about Edie Goik, restaurant manager apprentice, and her apprenticeship employer Carrie Barrix at Maru Sushi. 

Edie Goik

Restaurant Manager Apprentice 

Maru Sushi

Q: What impact do you hope to make on the restaurant and foodservice industry?
A: I hope to leave enough of an impact that someone else wants to join the industry or take the leap into a higher position in the kitchen. Although I do dream, as most chef’s do, of opening up my own restaurant, my heart really lies with teaching and elevating others. If I can make one guest a dish that speaks to their heart so deeply that they never forget that experience I will have accomplished enough in my eyes as well.

Q: Why is it important for more women to pursue leadership roles in the restaurant industry?

A: I believe it is important that more women join the foodservice industry simply because of inclusivity. The more different kinds of women we can add means the more experiences and new ideas. The only way to elevate hospitality is to include everyone.

Q: What advice do you have for other women looking to pursue a career in hospitality?

A: Go for everything! Try new things not because you are good at it, but because you wish to experience and add you into something. Most importantly, keep on challenging folks in the community that give you push back. Everyone has a unique experience to bring to the table, and what you bring is always new.

Carrie Barrix

Director of Corporate Affairs

Maru Hospitality Group

Q: What does Maru Sushi’s participation in the NRAEF’s Apprenticeship Program look like?

A: Maru Hospitality Group has been a part of the Apprenticeship Program for a few years now.  It has been an exhilarating and humbling experience to walk along people who want an opportunity to better themselves, and have chosen Hospitality Management as the avenue in which to do that.  We have over 21 apprentices in our company now, and 10 of them are female.  They all understand that the Apprenticeship program is simple, but not easy.  It takes perseverance, and hard work. They have to focus not only on the task at hand, but also look ahead to strategize at what is yet to come.  It has been a joy to watch them all develop, at their own pace, and come into their own management/leadership styles.

Q: What impact do you hope to make on the restaurant and foodservice industry?
A: The biggest impact I hope to make is to empower each apprentice to understand their worth as a person, unique in their ability.  I want them all to understand that they are capable of so much, and I press them (a little harder than they are used to sometimes!) but only because I see their potential.

Q: Why is it important for more women to pursue leadership roles in the restaurant industry?

A: It is important for women to pursue leadership roles because they are available and we can offer a different perspective in how we lead.  Research suggests that utilizing a higher level of emotional intelligence in the workplace improves communication, management, problem-solving, and better interpersonal relationships.  These “soft skills” aren’t “soft” at all, but truly “power” skills!

Q: What advice do you have for other women looking to pursue a career in hospitality?

A: Get started!  Don’t second guess yourself and let fear or overthinking take over.  Find a starting point and start there.  Start learning all you can about whatever areas you are interested in.  Hospitality is truly multifaceted, there is so much to learn and so many avenues you could take.  If you can, find a mentor or at least a person you can learn from and ask questions to.  

This project has been funded, either wholly or in part, with Federal funds from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration under Contract Number 1605C2-20-C-0010. The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement of same by the U.S. Government.