Atlanta

Boston

Chicago

Cincinnati

Columbus

Delhi

Detroit

Greater NY

Houston

Louisville & Lexington

Miami

Milwaukee

Minneapolis – St. Paul

Phoenix

Seattle

Toronto

Let's Talk Womxn - Entrepreneurs. Food & Drink.
Let's Talk Womxn - Entrepreneurs. Food & Drink.

LET’S TALK IS A COLLABORATION OF WOMEN RESTAURATEURS TO BUILD COMBINED ECONOMIC POWER. IT IS NOT AN ORGANIZATION, IT IS NOT AN ENTITY, IT IS AN ACTION-LED MOVEMENT BY WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS AS PEERS.

National Collaborations

Nasdaq-LTW1600

LTW Nasdaq Bell Ringing, Social Innovation Award, CNBC & NY1

LTW Nasdaq Bell Ringing, Social Innovation Award, CNBC & NY1

Click here to read more


City Collaborations

Check back soon for upcoming events!

Recent Collaborations

Recent Collaborations

City Cohosts

Lisa-Gutierrez---Dos-Herman
Lisa Gutierrez
Columbus
Liz-Joy---Joy-Ice-Cream-Soc
Liz Joy
Milwaukee
Nicki-Laborie---Bar-Reyna--
Nicki Laborie
Toronto
Anne Quatrano
Anne Quatrano
Atlanta
Kate-Taylor-Martin---Nutbar
Kate Taylor Martin
Toronto
Thy-Mitchell---Traveler's-T
Thy Mitchell
Houston
Denise-Taylor---Bonfire-Win
Denise Taylor
Houston
Melissa-Guzman---The-Caribe
Melissa Guzman
Miami
Josie-Smith---Bubbles-&-Pea
Josie Smith
Miami
lisaandlindseyrusch
Lindsey & Lisa Rusch
Columbus
ElizabethAlmeida
Elizabeth Almeida
Boston
#109-Doriana-Isufi-Molly's-
Doriana Isufi
Chicago
#44-Yasmin-Curtis-Two-Fish-
Yasmin Curtis
Chicago
Kavita-Kumar---Thai-Chili-2
Kavita Kumar
Arizona
#5-Molly-Matelski,-Chicago-
Molly Matelski
Chicago
Josalyn-Holmes---Royal-Tea-
Josalyn Holmes
Atlanta
#40, Jessica Perjes, Ambassador, Tacotlan
Jessica Perjes
Chicago
ShaVonne-McCants---Edible-E
ShaVonne McCants
Atlanta
Michelle-Allen---MMELO-Bout
Michelle Allen
Columbus
Deborah VanTrece
Deborah Van Trece
Atlanta
Rosa Thurnher
Rosa Thurnher
Atlanta
JenZiskin
Jen Ziskin
Boston
NancyCushman
Nancy Cushman
Boston
ancy Matheson-Burns - Let's Talk Womxn - Boston
Nancy Matheson-Burns
Boston
#1-Rohini-Dey,-Ph.D
Rohini Dey, Ph.D.
Chicago
Carla Chalkley
Carla Chalkley
Cincinnati
Joby Bowman
Joby Bowman
Cincinnati
Let's Talk Womxn - Teri Graber
Terri Graber
Cincinnati
Let's Talk Womxn - Columbus - Paula Haines
Paula Haines
Columbus
Alli Jarrett
Alli Jarrett
Houston
Sharon Haynes
Sharon Haynes
Houston
Ouita Michel
Ouita Michel
Louisville & Lexington
milwaukee-Anomalous-Campbell
Anomalous Campbell
Milwaukee
Dana Spandet
Dana Spandet
Milwaukee
Marilupe Moreno
Marilupe Moreno
Milwaukee
Desta Maree Klein
Desta Maree Klein
Minneapolis - St. Paul
Barbara Sibley
Barbara Sibley
Greater NY
greater-ny-May-Fridel
May Fridel
Greater NY
Let's Talk Womxn - Naama Tamir
Naama Tamir
Greater NY
Kat Cirar
Kat Cirar
Seattle
MacKenzie DeVito
MacKenzie DeVito
Seattle
Jacqueline-Nicosia---ARDO,-
Jacqueline Nicosia
Toronto
Angela-Lawrence---Chubby's-
Angela Lawrence
Toronto

Our Credo

  • The goal of Let's Talk Womxn is to build the camaraderie, counsel, visibility, bargaining and economic power of its women entrepreneurs. Together.
  • Let’s Talk Womxn launched in the thick of the pandemic in 2020 for women restaurateurs to learn from & support each other. It has explosively evolved to much more. It is a magical innovative B-cube model of “competitors as collaborators.” Started for women restaurateurs, it has grown to include all women entrepreneurs and makers of food and drink.
  • Started with 15 restaurateurs in Chicago in 2020, LTW has grown to 850+ women entrepreneurs in 15 cities in the US and Canada, with three additional city offshoots. Many more US and international cities are in the LTW waitlist and pipeline.
  • LTW launched 3 additional cities in 2020 who morphed to offshoots: Let's Talk Womxn Philadelphia, Let's Talk Womxn DC and Let's Talk Womxn LA. These morphed into Philly Sisterly Love, DC Women in Food & LA RE:Her (see inception GMA, NewsNation, LA Times).
  • This action movement is entirely voluntary. And kept lean deliberately with no dues, overheads, bureaucracy, fancy office, CEO. The frills and financial drain of many conventional entities in our industry. All LTW support and revenue flows to its women entrepreneurs to boost their core businesses.
  • The crux is monthly sessions by city with "Deep Dives" into business issues to learn from each other, share counsel and referrals. "Pulse" is to know and help each other. Complete candor & confidentiality underlie these business sessions.
  • Each Let's Talk city is cohosted, nourished and led by leading city women restaurateurs. Founder Dey cross-pollinates learnings across all LTW cities & nationally, founds new cities, runs the sessions, seeds initiatives and builds sponsors & external national forums for LTW.
  • Additional LTW collaborative initiatives - apart from ongoing, all-year learning and counsel - focus on amplifying visibility, boosting aspirations, cross-promoting each other, bolstering revenue, and unstinting referrals and access. See details here LTW National Press Release 2023. Much more is afoot on both the city & national levels.
  • Let’s Talk Womxn participate actively in keynotes, talks, panels & forums to share their collaborative positive empowering B-cube model for parity. This model extends across sectors, applies within corporations for "intrepreneurs," and across countries.
  • For entities, corporations and cities who champion women entrepreneurs, backing Let's Talk Womxn is a natural choice. All LTW members are owners, employers and tastemakers with a mass following at the intersection of dining, consumer and retail. We are sponsored directly or via our 501c3 fiscal sponsor. LTW works actively with its city CVBs, SRAs, COCs, corporations and other partners.
  • The X factor in Womxn is an algebraic expression of explicit openness to women owners of all sizes, stripes, color, creed, format, scale, race, orientation, identities, startups or celebrities. All are peers.
  • Within six months of inception, LTW was included in NRN Power List Top 50 for inclusive impactful leadership alongside industry giants. A multitude of awards, accolades and media has followed organically along the way.
  • Women entrepreneurs in culinary are tired of the deluge of manuals, guidelines, conferences & webinars. Positive intentions that cause glacial change.
  • Women owners are tired of being on the fringe of involvement, whether on boards, policy, the media spotlight, or financing. This is dictated by economic power, PR heft, the fawning-over-the-beloved-few "TV celebrity" herd mentality. Let's Talk aims to redress this.
  • Let’s Talk Womxn deliberately has no mission statement, no statement of values and no five-year plan. The universe abounds with these well-meaning, murky, unaccountable, lofty articulations.
  • Let’s Talk Womxn is founded and led by Rohini Dey, Ph.D. Vermilion restaurateur in Chicago. Formerly McKinsey & Co., former World Bank, and former trustee/founder/chair of the James Beard Foundation Women's Leadership Program for a decade (2011-2021).

Talk to us on Instagram

We all have our favorite and go-to junk food! Here’s ours, what’s yours?

Featured LTW:
Rohini @letstalkwomxn @deyrohini
Tigist @demerachicago @tigistreda
Tiffany @exquisite.catering @chefmama13
Falguni @bombayeatschicago @falgunidewjee
Sam @nakornkitchen @junka_junk
Laurence @bistronomicfood @laurencenoguier1

#letstalkwomxn
#womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs strongertogether
...

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Safona Davis Calderon founder @magslegacycakesandmore & ambassador @letstalkwomxn Chicago shares that Let’s Talk Womxn is “a way to collaborate with other women business owners…and to be amongst their ranks is one of the biggest pleasures there is.”

#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #strongertogether
...

36 3

What ingredient is the most overrated and over used?

@deyrohini asks @letstalkwomxn leading restaurateurs Tiffany @chefmama13 of @exquisite.catering, Tigist @tigistreda of @demerachicago, Sam @junka_junk of @nakornkitchen, & Falguni @falgunidewjee of @bombayeatschicago. See their take.

#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #strongertogether
...

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Tiffany Williams @chefmama13 of @exquisite.catering is a cohost & proud ambassador @letstalkwomxn Chicago! Tiffany’s passions are for education and collaboration with all in the food and drink industry, particularly to be “a pillar for the next generation to come.”

#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #strongertogether
...

88 10

Food shows yes or no? If yes, which ones?

@deyrohini asks @letstalkwomxn leading restaurateurs Sam @junka_junk of @nakornkitchen, Laurence @laurencenoguier1 of @bistronomicfood, Tigist @tigistreda of @demerachicago, Tiffany @chefmama13 of @exquisite.catering & Falguni @falgunidewjee of @bombayeatschicago. See their take.

#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #strongertogether
...

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Candid monthly sessions to sustain real world learning from each other. Sharing our business expertise, expanding our solution sets and horizons. Building camaraderie, collaborations, visibility & support.
1. Add questions + insights+ ideas for future deep dives here.
2. All women-owners in food/drink in any city are welcome to join LTW. Restaurateurs, bakers, bars, cafes, beverage makers, distillers, food CPG, farm owners…..
3. No dues, no BS, no overheads, 100% volunteer run action movement of women owners. DM or email us, see letstalkwomxn.com.

5+ years of learning from and boosting each other’s businesses. 900+ women entrepreneurs across 15 cities with 2000+ concepts.
#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #strongertogether
...

31 8

Heather Bublick @heatherbublick of @soulandsmoke & ambassador @letstalkwomxn Chicago shares not only her perspectives an ambassador but as a former cohost “I attend all the initiatives, I attend all the monthly sessions, and it’s really important to show up for one another.”

#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #strongertogether
...

29 3

Sarah Stegner @sarah.stegner founder @prairiegrasscafe & ambassador @letstalkwomxn Chicago shares “I’m proud to be an ambassador because it really brings our community together. I’ve met women running their own businesses that I can relate to and connect with. And we lift each other up. Working together on projects together has been very rewarding. The information we get from each other use to be gatekeeper - this really facilitates the flow - and helps us all succeed in business.”

#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #strongertogether
...

52 9

Great to meet, drink, eat, laugh at @tigistreda’s incredible Ethiopian restaurant @demerachicago. Our second LTW Chicago Dine & Shine. Cheers to all @letstalkwomxn who came. And shared what led them to LTW and their aspirations for it. These evenings build bonds. Thank you for your warm hospitality, Tigist, and being an integral LTW member since inception!

LTW members:
Tigist @tigistreda @demerachicago
Sarah @thefatshallot
Sonat @sonatdistills @kovaldistillery
Heather @heatherbublick @soulandsmoke
Javon @egg_rolls_etc_
Tiffany @chefmama13 @exquisite.catering
Taylor @themasonx @taylorstacoschicago
Lisa @mspsgfree
Lupe @loopieandnato
Lori @mrsosv @soulveg @vegannow2go
Denita @mstittlescupcakes
Rohini @deyrohini @sanctuary_2025 @letstalkwomxn

#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs strongertogether
...

74 13

Thursday night was special! @illinoisrestaurants has been a backer of @letstalkwomxn since the beginning and it was a wonderful evening of collaboration, shared visibility and support!
Participating LTW stations:
Tiffany Williams @chefmama13 @exquisite.catering
Korina Sanchez, Samantha Sanchez @kori10 @its_samantha_sanchez @lalunita_logan
Heather Bublick @heatherbublick @soulandsmoke
Safona Davis Calderon @magslegacycakesandmore
Tigist Reda @tigistreda @demerachicago
Sarah Stegner @sarah.stegner @prairiegrasscafe
Jodi Fyfe @jodiafyfe @edeninchicago
Chesaree Rollins @chesa_bistro
Clodagh Lawless @chicagoclo74 @thedearbornchi
#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #strongertogether
...

81 9

Tigist @tigistreda founder @demerachicago & ambassador @letstalkwomxn Chicago shares “I’m proud to be an ambassador because of the 150 women I have been able to hangout with, share with, and encourage one another. The community, lifetime friendship and support I’ve gotten from it. And I’ve been able to give back.”

#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #strongertogether
...

61 14

Join @letstalkwomxn at Demera @demerachicago on April 27th for a special Dine & Shine with Let’s Talk Womxn Chicago as we spotlight our cherished ambassador, Tigist Reda.

Tigist @tigistreda is more than a chef—she is a cultural ambassador, entrepreneur, and humanitarian, using her platform to uplift others and bring the spirit of Ethiopian hospitality to everything she does.

Come raise a glass and let’s celebrate an incredible woman in Chicago hospitality. 🍸✨ #letstalkwomxn
...

55 10

@letstalkwomxn restaurateurs proudly back @illinoisrestaurants which has helped LTW grow since inception. We invite Chicago to join us and attend the 47th Annual Chef’s Table, one of our industry’s marquee events. With 30+ tasting stations & for the IRA Educational Foundation, this promises to be a wonderful culinary evening.

Participating LTW Tasting Stations:
Tiffany Williams @chefmama13 @exquisite.catering
Korina Sanchez, Samantha Sanchez @its_samantha_sanchez @kori10 @lalunita_logan
Heather Bublick @heatherbublick @soulandsmoke
Safona Davis Calderon @magslegacycakesandmore
Tigist Reda @tigistreda @demerachicago
Sarah Stegner @sarah.stegner @prairiegrasscafe
Jodi Fyfe @jodiafyfe @edeninchicago
Chesaree Rollins @chesa_bistro
Clodagh Lawless @chicagoclo74 @thedearbornchi

#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs
...

96 14

Thank you @fox32chicago Morning News & @sylviapereztv for sharing our @letstalkwomxn empwerment movement. @laurencenoguier1 owner @bistronomicfood shares what LTW is and why strength in numbers and our positive collaboration is unique.

We are 1000+ restaurateurs & entrepreneurs across 16 cities & two continents with Chicago as our hub! We women owners back each other all year beyond March!
#letstalkwomxn #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #strongertogether
...

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Reach out to Let's Talk Womxn. If you are a woman business owner in food and drink in a city we're in and would like to join us. Our forum is open to all and we'd love to have you.

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  1. share our collaborative Let's Talk Womxn model, a force beyond DE&I initiatives
  2. leverage our expertise on all things restaurants, food, drink and entrepreneurship as 550+ frontline owner operators
  3. tap our pulse as consumers and women with a combined vast following
  4. partner with us to unconventionally and directly foster change and help women scale
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