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
Let’s Talk Change
Let’s Talk Change
Women’s Leadership in Restaurants & Franchises
Let’s Talk – A Women’s Networking Celebration
Let’s Talk – A Women’s Networking Celebration
CHICAGO INNOVATION PRESENTS TASTE OF INNOVATION. PANEL + LTW CULINARY EXPERIENCE 5/20/2025
CHICAGO INNOVATION PRESENTS TASTE OF INNOVATION. PANEL + LTW CULINARY EXPERIENCE 5/20/2025
CHICAGO INNOVATION PRESENTS TASTE OF INNOVATION. PANEL + LTW CULINARY EXPERIENCE 5/20/2025
Tickets $53-$70.
This event spotlights innovation in the ever-changing world of food and drinks. This year’s event features:
– Food industry innovators discussing 2025 emerging trends that excite them
– Tasting stations curated by Sanctuary & Let’s Talk Womxn restaurants
– Libations from Chicago craft brewers, distillers, wine-makers and more
Tickets: https://chicagoinnovation.com/events/the-taste-of-innovation-2/
CHICAGO HUMANITIES AT SANCTUARY. IMMIGRATION, SANCTUARY & FOOD 5/9/2025
CHICAGO HUMANITIES AT SANCTUARY. IMMIGRATION, SANCTUARY & FOOD 5/9/2025
CHICAGO HUMANITIES AT SANCTUARY. IMMIGRATION, SANCTUARY & FOOD 5/9/2025
Tickets $50.
Join Chicago Humanities at Sanctuary, a new women-centric cocktail den and restaurant, for an evening of feasting and provocative conversation celebrating differences. Feast on global gourmet food stations — crafted by Chicago’s Let’s Talk Womxn restaurateurs — meet the restaurateurs, enjoy statement cocktails (cash bar), and hear soapboxes from leading Chicagoans on why they’re proud to be from a sanctuary city. Sanctuary is overt in its goal of empowering women, celebrating differences, and proudly serves as the hub for Let’s Talk Womxn.
Tickets: https://www.chicagohumanities.org/events/attend/celebrating-differences-immigration-food-sanctuary/
Let’s Talk Womxn National Restaurant Show Exclusive Dinner Experience 5/18/2025
Let’s Talk Womxn National Restaurant Show Exclusive Dinner Experience 5/18/2025
Let’s Talk Womxn National Restaurant Show Exclusive Dinner Experience 5/18/2025
Tickets: https://www.nationalrestaurantshow.com/home/dinner-experiences/
Tickets $300.
National Restaurant Association Show and Let’s Talk Womxn Exclusive Dinner Experience.
Experience a culinary feast like no other crafted for the Show attendees and their guests. A five-course dinner, with five leading Chicago culinary concepts, cocktails & wine, hosted by Let’s Talk Womxn restaurateurs and wine maker. Each course a different cuisine with the restaurateurs present to share their vision. Also experience a conversation on the evolution of fine dining. Hear varying perspectives by veteran restaurateurs. Are we being scammed or is fine dining an ever evolving art form? Meet your restaurateurs and hear the views of Deann Bayless (owner Michelin starred Mexican Topolobampo and Frontera Grill), Korina Sanchez (owner lauded La Luna, Treehouse, Moe’s Cantina, Tunnel, Old Crow, Third Coast Hospitality), Doriani Isufi (owner beloved Molly’s Cupcakes Chicago), Molly Matelski (owner premium Italian winemaker Mmmm Enjoy), Rohini Dey PhD (owner elevated comfort fare Sanctuary by Vermilion, founder Let’s Talk Womxn). Hear the Behind The Business on restaurants and about their unique national Let’s Talk Womxn collaboration, now 900+ women restaurateurs strong across 15 cities.
Sanctuary & Let’s Talk Womxn Invite You To…
Sanctuary & Let’s Talk Womxn Invite You To…
Join us at 3/13 6pm at Sanctuary for a Let’s Talk Womxn dinner feast and conversation. Bring your daughters and mentees. On cultivating fearlessness in ourselves and our daughters. With partners The Chicago Network, Harvard Club of Chicago, Girls in the Game, WBEZ and Chicago Sun-Times. $120 standard ticket, all inclusive (conversation, dinner, wine, tax, gratuity). $60 tickets for our minor daughters.
Tickets here (Code LTW25 for $20 off):
What Women Want: Fortifying Our Democracy
What Women Want: Fortifying Our Democracy
LTW National Restaurant Association Show Women Leaders & Owners Reception
LTW National Restaurant Association Show Women Leaders & Owners Reception
Let’s Talk Womxn invites all women in food and drink to attend the first Women Leaders & Owners Reception it is cohosting with the National Restaurant Association Show. The largest food service and restaurants convention with over 55,000 attendees. We invite ALL women to attend, meet, explore ways to promote our businesses and careers beyond platitudes & hear from industry leaders Michelle Korsmo (President & CEO National Restaurant Association), Adrienne Trimble (VP Chief Diversity & Cultural Officer Sysco), Kelly Higginson (President & CEO Restaurants Canada), Rohini Dey, Ph.D. (Founder, Vermilion & Let’s Talk Womxn). Presented by Sysco, a longstanding champion of our Let’s Talk Womxn.
LTW Nasdaq Bell Ringing, Social Innovation Award, CNBC & NY1
City Collaborations
Check back soon for upcoming events!
Recent Collaborations
More Than March – Milwaukee
Ticket: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lets-talk-womxn-more-than-march-dinner-tickets-1247308185359?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios
More Than March – New York
Ticket: https://www.wonderville.nyc/events/more-than-march-2025
More Than March Bash Boston
Kick off Women’s History Month with Let’s Talk Womxn Boston! For one special night on Thursday, March 6th, experience tastings from 18+ of Boston’s top women in food and beverage. You’ll meet LTW Boston members, enjoy their delicious creations, experience fabulous comic relief and celebrate together with a fabulous DJ and so much more to…
More Than March Bash
Join Let’s Talk Womxn Chicago on 3/2 4-8pm at Moe’s Cantina for Chicago’s definitive women power celebration and an unforgettable feast & drinks by 30+ of Chicago’s 130 incredible womxn restaurateurs and F&B entrepreneurs! Shimmer in stylish silver or come as you are to celebrate, feast, drink, dance, connect and just have fun. Packed with action with…
Global Gourmet Dinner
Harvard Business School Women’s Association & Let’s Talk Womxn Oct 2, 6-8PM. At Vermilion. Chicago. We invite all Chicago food aficionados to an epic multi-concept gourmet feast with wine & cocktail pairing Hear “behind the business” restaurant insights Tickets $150 Email: admin@hsbwa.org by 9/27 Vermilion. 10 W. Hubbard St. Chicago, IL Women boosting women in…
Let’s Talk Womxn National Restaurant Show Webinar 4/17/24
Let’s Talk Womxn National Restaurant Show Webinar 4/17/24 Registration free at Maximizing Your Digital Presence for Growth.
Let’s Talk Change. Reinventing Restaurants. Vermilion 5-7pm.
Let’s Talk Change. Reinventing Restaurants. Vermilion 5-7pm. Tickets $60 for gourmet food stations, event & soapboxes by 10 leading nationwide women restaurateurs. Cash bar. Real opinions, insights & revelations with no holy grails by real restaurateurs! A dynamic gourmet evening for ALL who love dining out and restaurants. What’s working with our restaurants today? What’s…
Let’s Talk Womxn National Restaurant Show Exclusive Dinner Experiences 5/19/24
The National Restaurant Show is proud to partner with Let’s Talk Womxn to curate unforgettable dining experiences for you at 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 19th. Join us for gourmet collaborative dinners, each showcasing not one, but two-three Let’s Talk Womxn entrepreneurs and their concepts. Exclusively crafted, these unique dining experiences are open to all…
More Than March
Click Here: Press Release & Participants Ticket link: https://www.exploretock.com/letstalkchicagowomxn “More Than March” is Chicago’s woman-power celebration of the year. Blends unabashed social & cerebral facets. Tasting stations & diva cocktails by 30+ leading Let’s Talk Womxn restaurateurs. DJ, black & bling drag show, dancing, the works. Come in BLACK draped in BLING to revel in…
More Than March Boston
3.07.24 at Boston Harbor Distillery. 7pm. Ticket link: http://tinyurl.com/4wtarnmj
More Than March Cincinnati
3.8.24 at The Grove Event Center. 7-10 pm. Ticket link: http://exploretock.com/letstalkcincinnati Sysco Co-Presenting National Advocate
More Than March Milwaukee
3.8.24 at Denizen MKE. 6-9 pm. Ticket link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lets-talk-womxn-live-out-loud-dinner-tickets-835199272507 Sysco Co-Presenting National Advocate
More Than March Atlanta
3.10.24 at La Panarda. 6-8 pm. Ticket link: https://resy.com/cities/atl/venues/la-panarda/events/lets-talk-womxn-more-than-march-dinner-2024-03-10 Sysco Co-Presenting National Advocate
More Than March Columbus
3.11.24 at Dos Hermanos Easton. 4-8pm. Ticket link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lets-talk-womxn-columbus-more-than-march-bash-tickets-845118170197
More Than March Seattle
3.21.24 Hosted by The Extra Ingredient at Tyee Lake Union. 5-8 pm. Ticket link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/more-than-march-lets-talk-womxn-seattle-tickets-852668222607?aff=oddtdtcreator Sysco Co-Presenting National Advocate
More Than March New York
3.21.24 at Holiday Cocktail Lounge. 6-9 pm. Ticket link: https://www.exploretock.com/lets-talk-womxn-of-greater-ny/event/466824/more-than-march Sysco Co-Presenting National Advocate
Chicago Womxn Hangout. By Let’s Talk Womxn. With Partners United Airlines, Sysco, BCG, McKinsey, Toast, BMO. And WBEZ/Chicago Sun-Times.
Format: 5-8pm. Thursdays. Soapboxes. Food. Drink. Conversation. At Vermilion. Dates & Champions: 11/16 United Airlines, 11/30 Sysco, 12/7 BCG, 12/14 McKinsey & Co., 12/21 Toast, 12/28 BMO Goal: Come together across silos. Create a community for Chicago professional women to meet across all walks and levels. Showcase Chicago’s leading Let’s Talk Womxn restaurateurs and rich cuisine.…
Chicago Womxn Hangout Featured List
Rohini Dey, Vermilion, Indian-Chinese, LTW Founder/Host 11/16 Laurence Noguier – French 11/16 Taylor Mason – Tacos 11/30 Heather Bublick – Soul & Smoke BBQ 11/30 Ashley Ortiz – Antique Taco 12/7 Danielle Kuhn – Scratch Board F2T 12/7 Deann Bayless – Frontera Grill Mexican 12/14 Melanie Casati – Casati’s Italian 12/14 Tigist Reda – Demera…
Social for LTW Women Owners Boston. October 17.
Let’s Talk Womxn Columbus. September 18.
Recent Collaborations
More Than March – Milwaukee
Ticket: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lets-talk-womxn-more-than-march-dinner-tickets-1247308185359?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios
More Than March – New York
Ticket: https://www.wonderville.nyc/events/more-than-march-2025
More Than March Bash Boston
Kick off Women’s History Month with Let’s Talk Womxn Boston! For one special night on Thursday, March 6th, experience tastings from 18+ of Boston’s top women in food and beverage. You’ll meet LTW Boston members, enjoy their delicious creations, experience fabulous comic relief and celebrate together with a fabulous DJ and so much more to…
More Than March Bash
Join Let’s Talk Womxn Chicago on 3/2 4-8pm at Moe’s Cantina for Chicago’s definitive women power celebration and an unforgettable feast & drinks by 30+ of Chicago’s 130 incredible womxn restaurateurs and F&B entrepreneurs! Shimmer in stylish silver or come as you are to celebrate, feast, drink, dance, connect and just have fun. Packed with action with…
Global Gourmet Dinner
Harvard Business School Women’s Association & Let’s Talk Womxn Oct 2, 6-8PM. At Vermilion. Chicago. We invite all Chicago food aficionados to an epic multi-concept gourmet feast with wine & cocktail pairing Hear “behind the business” restaurant insights Tickets $150 Email: admin@hsbwa.org by 9/27 Vermilion. 10 W. Hubbard St. Chicago, IL Women boosting women in…
Let’s Talk Womxn National Restaurant Show Webinar 4/17/24
Let’s Talk Womxn National Restaurant Show Webinar 4/17/24 Registration free at Maximizing Your Digital Presence for Growth.
Let’s Talk Change. Reinventing Restaurants. Vermilion 5-7pm.
Let’s Talk Change. Reinventing Restaurants. Vermilion 5-7pm. Tickets $60 for gourmet food stations, event & soapboxes by 10 leading nationwide women restaurateurs. Cash bar. Real opinions, insights & revelations with no holy grails by real restaurateurs! A dynamic gourmet evening for ALL who love dining out and restaurants. What’s working with our restaurants today? What’s…
Let’s Talk Womxn National Restaurant Show Exclusive Dinner Experiences 5/19/24
The National Restaurant Show is proud to partner with Let’s Talk Womxn to curate unforgettable dining experiences for you at 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 19th. Join us for gourmet collaborative dinners, each showcasing not one, but two-three Let’s Talk Womxn entrepreneurs and their concepts. Exclusively crafted, these unique dining experiences are open to all…
More Than March
Click Here: Press Release & Participants Ticket link: https://www.exploretock.com/letstalkchicagowomxn “More Than March” is Chicago’s woman-power celebration of the year. Blends unabashed social & cerebral facets. Tasting stations & diva cocktails by 30+ leading Let’s Talk Womxn restaurateurs. DJ, black & bling drag show, dancing, the works. Come in BLACK draped in BLING to revel in…
More Than March Boston
3.07.24 at Boston Harbor Distillery. 7pm. Ticket link: http://tinyurl.com/4wtarnmj
More Than March Cincinnati
3.8.24 at The Grove Event Center. 7-10 pm. Ticket link: http://exploretock.com/letstalkcincinnati Sysco Co-Presenting National Advocate
More Than March Milwaukee
3.8.24 at Denizen MKE. 6-9 pm. Ticket link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lets-talk-womxn-live-out-loud-dinner-tickets-835199272507 Sysco Co-Presenting National Advocate
More Than March Atlanta
3.10.24 at La Panarda. 6-8 pm. Ticket link: https://resy.com/cities/atl/venues/la-panarda/events/lets-talk-womxn-more-than-march-dinner-2024-03-10 Sysco Co-Presenting National Advocate
More Than March Columbus
3.11.24 at Dos Hermanos Easton. 4-8pm. Ticket link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lets-talk-womxn-columbus-more-than-march-bash-tickets-845118170197
More Than March Seattle
3.21.24 Hosted by The Extra Ingredient at Tyee Lake Union. 5-8 pm. Ticket link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/more-than-march-lets-talk-womxn-seattle-tickets-852668222607?aff=oddtdtcreator Sysco Co-Presenting National Advocate
More Than March New York
3.21.24 at Holiday Cocktail Lounge. 6-9 pm. Ticket link: https://www.exploretock.com/lets-talk-womxn-of-greater-ny/event/466824/more-than-march Sysco Co-Presenting National Advocate
Chicago Womxn Hangout. By Let’s Talk Womxn. With Partners United Airlines, Sysco, BCG, McKinsey, Toast, BMO. And WBEZ/Chicago Sun-Times.
Format: 5-8pm. Thursdays. Soapboxes. Food. Drink. Conversation. At Vermilion. Dates & Champions: 11/16 United Airlines, 11/30 Sysco, 12/7 BCG, 12/14 McKinsey & Co., 12/21 Toast, 12/28 BMO Goal: Come together across silos. Create a community for Chicago professional women to meet across all walks and levels. Showcase Chicago’s leading Let’s Talk Womxn restaurateurs and rich cuisine.…
Chicago Womxn Hangout Featured List
Rohini Dey, Vermilion, Indian-Chinese, LTW Founder/Host 11/16 Laurence Noguier – French 11/16 Taylor Mason – Tacos 11/30 Heather Bublick – Soul & Smoke BBQ 11/30 Ashley Ortiz – Antique Taco 12/7 Danielle Kuhn – Scratch Board F2T 12/7 Deann Bayless – Frontera Grill Mexican 12/14 Melanie Casati – Casati’s Italian 12/14 Tigist Reda – Demera…
Social for LTW Women Owners Boston. October 17.
Let’s Talk Womxn Columbus. September 18.
City Cohosts
Anne Quatrano
Kate Taylor Martin
Thy Mitchell
Denise Taylor
Melissa Guzman
Josie Smith
Lindsey & Lisa Rusch
Elizabeth Almeida
Doriana Isufi
Yasmin Curtis
Kavita Kumar
Molly Matelski
Josalyn Holmes
Jessica Perjes
ShaVonne McCants
Michelle Allen
Lisa Gutierrez
Liz Joy
Nicki Laborie
Deborah Van Trece
Rosa Thurnher
Jen Ziskin
Nancy Cushman
Nancy Matheson-Burns
Rohini Dey, Ph.D.
Carla Chalkley
Joby Bowman
Terri Graber
Paula Haines
Alli Jarrett
Sharon Haynes
Ouita Michel
Anomalous Campbell
Dana Spandet
Marilupe Moreno
Desta Maree Klein
Barbara Sibley
May Fridel
Naama Tamir
Kat Cirar
MacKenzie DeVito
Jacqueline Nicosia
Angela Lawrence
Some News
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
Let’s Talk Chicago! With Katharine Ann founder @katherineanneconfections confectionista of phenomenal truffles and more, retailer of two locations, event venue, wholesaler, collaborator, daily biker, kindness exuder & many accolades winner (Fodors & USA Today top confections)! Katharine talks to @deyrohini to shares her passion for all things Chicago, avid biking, her love for the Chicago outdoors (beaches, LSD, and those North Shore trails!!), her Logan Square neighborhood, and counsel for how Chicago can help our small businesses succeed. And her 1994 Dairy Goat Show Person win! She sums up @letstalkwomxn best - “family without the toxicity” - with kind honesty to each other as we support our women owned businesses. Here’s wishing Katharine every success and much biking! Chicago is enriched to have you.
#letstalkwomxn #letstalkwomxnchi #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #knowyourworth #strongertogether
Let’s Talk Chicago! Lan Ho @iamlanho founder @fatmiilk talks to @deyrohini about her unique path brewing dreams. A passionate ambassador for her Vietnamese culture, and refugee parents, with her unique Vietnamese Robusta coffee, Lan’s caliber wholesale and stunning retail reflect her carefully crafted vision. A proud finalist in @gordongram #GordonRamsayFoodStars, Lan shares her pride in Chicago, the Uptown neighborhood, love of golf, her zen spot and much more! From one doctorate (Lan in pharmacy, Dey in economics) to another who’ve morphed careers, hear what @letstalkwomxn and our women boosting women in business model means to Lan. Wishing her every success in her global aspirations!
#fatmiilk #letstalkwomxn #letstalkwomxnchi #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #knowyourworth #strongertogether
From @letstalkwomxn MKE Roshá @stylepopcafe: What’s Up Style Poppers!! So here it is, the finish line!! 🏁 and here’s what it looks like👉🏽👉🏽
Us needing your help! On December 8th, 2024 11:30 am to 1:30pm we’ll be hosting a Silent Auction and Grand Opening Fundraising event!
SPC has operated as a mobile cafe and coffee brand for the past FOUR years and we’re happy to finally make it to this point! We’re calling on you 🫵🏾 our beloved supporters with helping wrapping up a few lasting expenses to help us finally open our doors!
Our silent auction features one of a kind experiences and products from LTW businesses like:
@totsonthestreet
@the_deliciousbites
@sweetlybakedmke
@kellys_greens
@flourgirlandflame
@cocinafilipinamke
@joy_icecream_tosa
@thelittlevillageplaycafe
And many more!!
Here’s how it works! Visit our website and click on the first slide show that says “Help Us Get To Finish Line” get your ticket and we’ll see you on December 8th! Link In Bio👉🏾👉🏾
#stylepopcafe #coffee #grandopening #milwaukee #coffeeshop #letstalkwomxn #letstalkwomxnmke #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #knowyourworth #strongertogether
Proud of our @letstalkwomxn win win symbiosis. Kate Vrijmoet owner @necessary_coffee @necessary_coffee_pr coffee shops retails empanadas by Geri Hernandez owner @savory.crust. A concrete way of our LTW women backing women in business. Here’s to making each other #strongertogether.
#letstalkwomxn #letstalkwomxnchi #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #knowyourworth #strongertogether
Let’s Talk Chicago! @deyrohini talks to the lovely Yasmin Curtis @justyasminc owner of @twofishcrab and her incredibly successful wholesale Two Fish Foods (now in 2000+ grocery stores nationwide). Also cohost @letstalkwomxn Chicago, Yasmin shares her Chicago zen spots, favorite aspects, Bronzeville bias, crushing on @aplusk, her pride in Chicago being a sanctuary city for women, her motto, falling down and getting back up accomplishments, loving dresses (anything that flows!) and what Let’s Talk Womxn means to her.
We are proud to have Yasmin as our @letstalkwomxnchi cohost and ambassador. With 130+ women-owners in food in Chicago and 900+ nationwide. Here’s to making each other and Chicago stronger together as proud employers, innovators and ambassadors.
#letstalkwomxn #letstalkwomxnchi #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #knowyourworth #strongertogether
A wonderful feature by @edibleboston on @letstalkwomxnbos and the @letstalkwomxn movement. “LTW is such a collaboration of women owners, sharing information and resources. Such a group didn’t exist previously, says cohost Cushman. “Rohini is a traiblazer,” says cohost Ziskin of Dey. “She created this real partnership opportunity for us that shines a light on women restaurateurs and women owners.” “In this group, you can hold multiple difficult truths at once and discuss them and learn how other businesses are moving forward, “ says cohost Almeida. “They’re more vulnerable and and up front about what their needs are, and more predisposed to support each other” says cohost Matheson-Burns.
@deyrohini @letstalkwomxn
@jen_ziskin @la_morra_brookline @punchbowl_brookline @fatmoonmushrooms
@woodshillpier4
@thediningdame @doleandbailey
@_o_ya_ @hojokoboston @bianca_chestnuthill @msclucksdeluxe @_gogo_ya_
@rhonda.kallman @bostonharbordistil
@nbcaswell
@alexia_communications
#letstalkwomxn #letstalkwomxnbos #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #knowyourworth #strongertogether
Renown People’s Architect Carol Ross Barney, FAIA @barney_carol created our stunning Chicago River Walk! 2023 AIA gold medal winner (the only Chicago architect to win since Mies Van Der Rohe in 1960!!) and with a litany of awards, Carol is known for crafting urban public civic spaces emphasizing excellent design as a civic right. See her 50 years impact and accomplishments making our city better at @r_barc. She does the architecture profession and all women proud with her grit and commitment to sustainability. Carol soapboxes here on climate change and its vast policy effects on women, on our city, and on the only planet we have. Policy on WHAT WOMEN WANT. FORTIFYING OUR DEMOCRACY. By @letstalkwomxn.
#letstalkwomxn #letstalkwomxnchi #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #knowyourworth #strongertogether #womeninarchitecture #aia
Let’s Talk Chicago! @deyrohini talks to Angela Barnes @2olivesbombay and @nobodysdarlingbar co-owner with @renaudariddle to share their iconic women centric and queer friendly bar that earned them a @beardfoundation nomination off the bat. Angela shares her perfect Chicago, her pride in Chicago being a sanctuary city, Lipstick Lover, Golf passion, and going back to her roots with a South Side expansion of Nobody’s Darling. She also shares what @letstalkwomxn means to her. Enriching Chicago and LTW with their business and our ethos of #strongertogether.
#letstalkwomxn #letstalkwomxnchi #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #knowyourworth
Intrepid @jillwinebanks has been at the forefront of US legal policy and civil rights since being the only woman prosecutor as #TheWatergateGirl. Now @msnbc legal analyst, politics podcaster with @sistersinlaw.podcast a lauded author, former General Counsel @usarmy (!!) and a ton of accomplishments behind her, Jill is far from done. Here she soapboxes on why enshrining the #EqualRightsAmendment in US constitutiton is a must for women in the US, and the economic implications of holding back the #ERA #womensrights #genderequality for our women for over a century. WHAT WOMEN WANT. FORTIFYING OUR DEMOCRACY. By @letstalkwomxn.
#letstalkwomxn #letstalkwomxnchi #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #knowyourworth #strongertogether
Lori Seay owner @soulveg talks to @deyrohini about her iconic 40 year Chicago south side vegan soul food destination, well ahead of its time and a cherished family legacy. Making Chicago better is their primary ethos. Lori shares her favorites on Chicago, her indulgence, influence, mantra, alternative career choice, pride in Chicago being a sanctuary city and what @letstalkwomxn means to her. We’re proud of Lori and her all in support for our LTW community.
#letstalkwomxn #letstalkwomxnchi #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #knowyourworth #strongertogether
Let’s Talk Chicago! @deyrohini talks to @brownsugarbakeries owner Stephanie Hart @stephanieprenuer about her retail, wholesale, online, factory, baking, chocolate, and confectionery empire. The only black woman to own a baking factory, Stephanie is a fashionista, crushes on Seal and Mick Jagger, believes in failing fast and in discipline over passion, is proud of Chicago being a sanctuary city and elevating home style baking. She shares her favorite Chicago haunts and why she’s proud of our city. A @letstalkwomxn member, Stephanie shares how LTW helped her overcome isolation and fortified her. Stephanie’s divine caramel cake has graced the cover of @chicagomag as the best dish and had the @vp @kamalaharris stop over too!
#letstalkwomxn #letstalkwomxnchi #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #knowyourworth #strongertogether
Fashionista, accountant, Dorri McWhorter @chiccpa CEO of @ymcachicago a socially conscious business leader talks about implementing childcare or earth before a man cave and on Mars. Dorri leads YMCA to touch over 200,000 clients a year with neighborhood centers, early education & childcare sites and camps touching the lives of the youth meaningfully to strengthen our communities. Here Dorri soapboxes on the vital importance of universal child care support for women in the US. The absence of this is holding back the careers of women, participation in the work force, perpetuating the gender pay gap, entrapping single mothers in a vicious poverty cycle, and stopping the US from being the best she can be. Apart from stunting economic growth. She offers solutions. WHAT WOMEN WANT. FORTIFYING OUR DEMOCRACY. Policy series by @letstalkwomxn.
#letstalkwomxn #letstalkwomxnchi #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #knowyourworth #strongertogether
Chicago has an incredible array of talent to be proud of including its rich literary scene. @nytimes besteller, @pulitzerprizes finalist, @nationalbookfoundation award finalist and successful author Rebecca Makkai @rebeccamakkai soapboxes to warn us on the terrifying trend of censorship and books bans underway in the US. The first step on the road to autocracy. With many countries rewriting history under authoritarian regimes, this is a terrifying phenomenon she never thought she’d see here. Includes banning Shakespeare - Romeo & Juliet - in our schools. Rebecca also lends her talent to @storystudio_chicago and teaching writing at @northwesternu WHAT WOMEN WANT. FORTIFYING OUR DEMOCRACY. By @letstalkwomxn.
#letstalkwomxn #letstalkwomxnchi #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #knowyourworth #strongertogether #democracy #soapbox #speakers
Rohini Dey, PhD soapboxes on policy - what women want and what women do not want - as a proud immigrant, mother and citizen. @deyrohini is a former @worldbank economist, @mckinseyco management consultant, women’s zealot, founder @beardfoundation women’s leadership program, founder @letstalkwomxn and entrepreneur @vermilionchicago. FORTIFYING OUR DEMOCRACY. By @letstalkwomxn.
WHAT WOMEN DON’T WANT
1. US reverting to a theocracy. Abandoning secularity. Reproductive handcuffs.
2. A male protector, like it or not! Character in leaders a minimal ask.
3. A plutocracy. Dominated by wealthy, lobbyists, special interests.
4. Supreme Court that is illegimate, unchecked, conflicted, political.
5. US vilifying immigrants. Its best competitive weapon.
WHAT WOMEN WANT
1. A woman President. 235+ years overdue.
2. The Equal Rights Amendment. Second class citizens no more.
3. Eliminate the propagation tax on women. Mandate child care support.
4. Restore voting rights. Maximize voting. Stop suppression.
5. Triple the pathetic 14% loan financing. Unleash women entrepreneurs.
#letstalkwomxn #letstalkwomxnchi #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #knowyourworth #strongertogether
Let’s Talk Chicago! @deyrohini with Jessica Perjes of @tacotlantacos whose business embodies uplifting family, proudly sharing her Mexican roots, building community, AND the best birria in Chicago. Jessica shares why she’s proud of being a Chicagoan, her favorite spots, being a social media maven naturally, and what @letstalkwomxn means to her. Brimming with positivity, Jessica embodies the collaborative spirit, creativity and essence of @letstalkwomxn Chicago. We are 130 women restaurateurs & makers in Chicago, all innovators and employers. Open to all women-owners in food/drink. #letstalkwomxn #letstalkwomxnchi #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #knowyourworth #strongertogether #tacotlan
Mayor Lori Lightfoot @lorilightfootforchi broke molds for Chicago as our first black, queer, woman Mayor true to her lifelong renegade leadership. Hear her soapbox on the importance of collaboration to build power, especially for women. Come together, open doors. She helmed Chicago during the toughest of times (during Covid 2019-2023) championing the development of our West/South sides with public-private partnerships. And remains an activist committed to the causes of championing equity and democracy. WHAT WOMEN WANT. POLICY TO FORTIFY OUR DEMOCRACY. Especially essential now. By @letstalkwomxn.
The Mayor’s message resonates as the essence of our Let’s Talk Womxn action movement. 900+ women restaurateurs and makers, all women-owners bolstering each other and our cities together.
#letstalkwomxn #letstalkwomxnchi #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #knowyourworth #strongertogether
Let’s Talk Chicago! @deyrohini’s candid chat with icon Deann Bayless. Shaping Chicago’s culinary scene since 1987, @deannbayless alongside Chef @rick_bayless have shared the gospel of Mexican cuisine with us at @fronteragrill @topolochicago @xocochicago @barsotanochi @tortas.frontera @tortazo__ & many more. Here Deann shares with @deyrohini why she’s so proud to be a Chicagoan, her favorite Chicago spots, teams, personas, how Chicago has made her stronger and vice versa, her philosophy on creativity, biggest success and failure, mantra, indulgence, crush (!!), favorite dish in their empire & what Let’s Talk Womxn means to her.
We are proud to have Deann as our @letstalkwomxn member and mentor since inception. With 130+ women-owners in food in Chicago and 900+ nationwide. Here’s to making each other and Chicago stronger together as proud employers, innovators and ambassadors.
#letstalkwomxn #letstalkwomxnchi #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #knowyourworth #strongertogether
Who doesn’t admire U.S. Senator Tammi Duckworth @senduckworth? Veteran, Black Hawk pilot, Lt. Col, mother of two girls, senator, champion of women, activist for reproductive rights and so much more. Hear Tammy soapbox on IVF, what it’s meant to her personally, and why it’s so key to preserve IVF as a reproductive right. Without the legal hurdles and restrictions women and families are increasingly facing. Including servicemen/women off to combat! WHAT WOMEN WANT. POLICY TO FORTIFY OUR DEMOCRACY. Especially essential now.
#letstalkwomxn #letstalkwomxnchi #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #knowyourworth #strongertogether
Why Let’s Talk Womxn with @deyrohini featuring Lori Seay @mrsosv owner of @soulveg sharing the power and difference women owners have in creating a movement. #letstalkwomxn #letstalkwomxnchi #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #knowyourworth #strongertogether
A recap of our powerful LTW @letstalkwomxn evening with Senator Duckworth and incredible women leaders. On policy women want (and don’t want) to fortify our democracy. Spanning the ERA, voting rights, child care, climate change, IVF, Supreme Court, book bans, boosting each other and more. Stay tuned for all our soapboxes by @tammyforil @senduckworth @deyrohini @chiccpa @jillwinebanks @barney_carol @lightfootforchi @rebeccamakkai. With Democracy/Freedom fare and a stunning cake by our six amazing restaurants @vermilionchicago @mollyscupcakeschicago @demerachicago @brownsugarbakeries @twofishcrab @tacotlantacos
#letstalkwomxn #letstalkwomxnchi #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #knowyourworth #strongertogether
Let’s Talk Womxn & U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth invite you to join us tomorrow. “The choices in this election are extraordinary. These will affect not only our democracy, but our planet.” Thank you @cbschicago for sharing our event. Sunday 11/3 5-8pm at Vermilion. Hear 7 incredible women leaders soapbox on policy. Feast on fantastic Democracy/Freedom/Kamala fare by @letstalkwomxn restaurateurs.
Register on www.letstalkwomxn.com to attend. $100 donation to Harris Victory Fund. Rally votes, rally policy, rally funds!
Speakers
@tammyforil
@lightfootforchi
@chiccpa
@rebeccamakkai
@barney_carol
@jillwinebanks
@deyrohini
LTW Restaurants
@vermilionchicago
@brownsugarbakeries
@demerachicago
@twofishcrab
@taylorstacoschicago
@mollyscupcakeschicago
@tacotlantacos
#letstalkwomxn #letstalkwomxnchi #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #knowyourworth #strongertogether
Why Let’s Talk Womxn with @deyrohini featuring Stephanie Hart @stephanieprenuer member of @letstalkwomxnchi and owner of @brownsugarbakeries putting an explanation mark on one of our core briefs: we are stronger together!!
#letstalkwomxn #letstalkwomxnchi #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #knowyourworth #strongertogether
Why Let’s Talk Womxn with @deyrohini featuring Angela Barnes @2olivesbombay member or @letstalkwomxnchi and owner of @nobodysdarlingbar highlighting that centering a movement based on women is unstoppable!
#letstalkwomxn #letstalkwomxnchi #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #knowyourworth #strongertogether
Why Let’s Talk Womxn with @deyrohini featuring @letstalkwomxnchi ambassador Yasmin Curtis @justyasminc owner of @twofishcrab reminding us how far women have come and the need to step out and join together
#letstalkwomxn #letstalkwomxnchi #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #knowyourworth #strongertogether
Does anyone have a 20 ton silo for flour? Or a 15000 sf production unit? In the heart of NYC?? Go BTB with @deyrohini to meet the lovely Monica member @letstalkwomxngreaternyc founder of @grandaisybakery, who runs an incredible Italian focused bakery, cafe and wholesale bread operation. Stick around to see her vast factory floor, meet her diverse team, hear about her anthropology approach to her business, and watch me dig really deep for a vice - any vice!!! Monica is a ray of sunshine. Go meet her in NYC, all!
#letstalkwomxn #letstalkwomxngreaternyc #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womeninbusiness #womenentrepreneurs #knowyourvalue #strongertogether
Very proud of our Chicago CoHost Molly Matelski @molly_matelski founder @enjoymmmmwines for her leadership in the very first @vinitalyusa Italian Wines Expo, a $2 billion Italian market in the US. With @vinitalyofficial the largest wine trade fair in Italy. @deyrohini got to experience the fair with Molly who helmed its entire programming and partnerships. Also featured on their Women’s Business Roundtable was @letstalkwomxn Atlanta CoHost @sarahpierre1 Founder @3parkswine. Attended by @govpritzker and the Foreign, Trade ministers of Italy. Here’s to expansion for @vinitalyofficial in the US and success to Molly!
#letstalkwomxn #letstalkwomxnchi #letstalkwomxnatl #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #knowyourworth #strongertogether
Join U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, Chicago leaders & proud @letstalkwomxn women-owners for our Policy*Gourmet*Renegade event. Hear crisp 6 minute policy soapboxes by leading Chicago women. Feast on stations by proud LTW restaurateurs & bakers Brown Sugar Bakery, Demera, Vermilion, Molly’s Cupcakes, Tacotlan, Two Fish Crab Shack, Taylor’s Tacos. Meet all of us and attend our interactive, intellectually provocative event to usher in these historic elections. Sunday 11/3 5-8pm at @vermilionchicago. Share, repost, and MAY THE BEST WOMAN WIN!
To attend contribute $100 to the @kamalaharris @vp Harris Victory Fund! Register asap on letstalkwomxn.com. Limited event capacity. 100% ticket proceeds to Harris Victory Fund. #KamalaHarris #womenempowerment #letstalkwomxn
With speakers:
@tammyforil @senduckworth
@jillwinebanks
@lightfootforchi
@rebeccamakkai
@deyrohini @letstalkwomxn
@erin.gallag.her @hypewomenforharris
@chiccpa @ymcachicago
@barney_carol @r_barc
With @letstalkwomxnchi restaurateurs:
@brownsugarbakeries @stephanieprenuer
@twofishcrab @justyasminc
@taylorstacoschicago @themason
@demerachicago @tigistreda
@tacotlantacos @chicagotacogirl
@mollyscupcakeschicago
@vermilionchicago @deyrohini
#letstalkwomxn #letstalkwomxnchi #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #knowyourworth #strongertogether
Behind the Business Greater NY @deyrohini with Joanne Kwong @msjojokwong @pearlrivermart @pearlrivermartfoods @letstalkwomxngreaternyc newest member shares her journey into the Pearl River Mart legacy and the passion for using the space to highlight curated products, tastemakers and creators. An iconic half-century venue for Asian American products, now in both SoHo and Chelsea Market, Joanne is taking this phenomenal legacy business forward with her expansion of locations, into food, as a food incubator and cultural hub for the Asian community in NYC. Also passionate about women boosting women. Welcome aboard @letstalkwomxn, Joanne!
#letstalkwomxn #letstalkwomxngreaternyc #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #knowyourworth #strongertogether
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