15
Reina New York, a Mediterranean tapas restaurant and cocktail bar, hosted five businesswomen on a panel on June 26 to talk about their professional experiences.
This event Nikki LaborieOwner of Reina Hospitality Group Founder of Watch VIBEa Toronto publication covering hospitality, entertainment and culture. The panel was moderated by Kate RuziouFounder and CEO of LuminaryA gender-inclusive global professional networking platform.
Panelists at the event portrayed an authentic portrayal of the women’s business experience by showcasing their backgrounds in various industries, sharing challenges and celebrating wins. Following the talks, panelists and guests networked and mingled at Le Louis, Raina’s chic cocktail lounge.
Sarina Williams is a digital content creator and author. Online nice to meet youWilliams spoke about her experience as a fashion and lifestyle creator after turning 50. Williams talked about the uncertainty of content creation and how it took years to see success, but also reflected on the joy of cultivating an online community. When she turned 50, Williams considered quitting social media, but by staying authentic and sharing her love of fashion, she built a community of women her age who could relate.
“I’ve been able to meet amazing, incredible women who are strong and powerful and go back and do whatever it is they want to do,” Williams said. “I’m so grateful to be here.”
Williams now has more than 425,000 followers, which she said helped her through the tragic death of her fiancé in February.
“Once everyone found out, I got messages from all over the world,” Williams said. “People cried. People sent messages. People from all over the world sent flowers, words of encouragement, prayers, gifts, soup. People take an interest in your life and it builds community. If you’re just being your authentic self, it helps.”
Erin RichieThe Real Housewives of New York star and entrepreneur spoke about real estate, interior design, and her own spirits brand. MesculumRichie said Mescalum was born out of a passion to offer clean-label spirits that would not only appeal to a more feminine American audience, but were also made using ethical and sustainable business practices. Outside of Mescalum, Richie earned her real estate license at age 19 and has worked for The Hollywood Reporter Top Real Estate Agents in New York 2024.
Richie spoke about the discrimination she faced as a woman in the male-dominated alcohol industry, where she was told to “slow down” in her work and was assumed to be just a “pretty girl” and not the owner of her own brand. As a prolific entrepreneur, Richie said she hopes to empower women to embrace failure and shame and challenge male-dominated spaces.
“As we get further into the liquor business, we want to inspire more women to launch different types of liquor lines and open up those doors,” Richie said.
Wellness and fashion entrepreneur Golnaz Ashtiani She spoke about transitioning into the wellness industry after being a fashion designer for most of her life, and learning to prioritize her own mental health while pursuing her professional goals. Bloom DropsAshtiani’s botanical hydration brand aims to support hydration and daily water intake.
Ashtiani said the COVID-19 pandemic has put a greater focus on health and wellness, which has contributed to In Bloom Drops’ success, but that she also owes her success to “letting go of my ego.”
“When I was a fashion designer, I had so much ego and pride that if someone told me I wasn’t the best or they didn’t like it, I would feel really down,” Ashtiani says. “When I was super successful in fashion, I felt dissatisfied and really ungrateful for everything. But when I started my wellness brand, I felt more confident in asking for help.”
Laborie spoke about Reina Hospitality Group’s efforts to empower female executives in the restaurant industry, revealing that both the Director of Operations and Executive Chef are women. Laborie said that while her journey in the hospitality industry has been difficult, working with an all-female team is “empowering.”
Reina is based in both New York and Toronto, and Laborie said that as Reina expands, she is committed to providing her team with professional development opportunities and larger roles within the organization. This commitment to empowering women in hospitality is also something Laborie wants to bring to the hotel industry.
“When I go on vacations alone, I realize that hotels don’t make sure single women are safe, happy, and don’t feel weird being in a hotel by themselves,” Laborie says. “That’s what drives me. And it made me realize that there are amazing women out there doing amazing things, and we need to nurture them in the hospitality industry.”
Finally, Luzio said, Glass rooftopis a co-working space with skyline views that transforms into a cocktail lounge in the evening, and its menu highlights brands that are women-founded, led and owned.
“I love speaking to amazing women in business,” Luzio says, “and I think it’s really important for women and women of color to tell their stories in their own words.”
