GALS OF NELL'S
We’re proud to have a team filled with strong female energy. From Director to Front of House, you’ll find these gals throughout Nell’s, making the magic happen. For International Womens Day 2025, we had a chat with them about their time in hospitality, and what advice they’d give to the next generation of women.
What’s your favourite thing about working in hospitality?
It has to be the people and the energy – it’s all about the people; working crazy shifts with your team mates, whilst making people happy with top notch drinks and pizza. It gives back incredible life skills. There’s not many industries where you have twenty-somethings in a management role with skills in marketing, HR, finance & operations!
Nell’s… How do you eat yours?!
Ok, here’s how it’s done! Grab a couple of mates. Dough bites to start, 22” half and half cheese and onion pie and original sausage material, side salad, bottle of Sea Change Sauvignon and finish off with a pistachio and white choc ice cream sandwich. Chefs kiss.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given from another woman?
Notice when you apologise in an email and go back and delete it. We apologise too much when it’s not necessary.
Message to share with the next generation:
Women have come a long way in the past generation or two. It’s ace to see the statistics shift, Women make up 50% of our senior leadership team and 3 out of our 5 General Managers. But there’s still progress to be made. Go get it!
Charlotte,
Director
Macy, Sales & Events executive
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given from another woman?
Nothing changes if nothing changes. If there’s something that you’re not happy with, it’s up to you to take the next step.
Message to share with the next generation:
There’s space for everybody… if you feel like you’re in a space where you don’t fit in, there’s nothing wrong with you, you’re just in the wrong environment.
Meg, Deputy Manager
Nell’s… How do you eat yours?!
My favourite slice is the vegan Marinara plus, but take off the olives and add jalapenos. It slaps.
Message to share with the next generation:
I’ve been through a lot with my health, so as a woman… not to give up pushing for your rights. You know how you feel better than anybody else.
Antonia,
Sales & Marketing Lead
What’s your favourite thing about working in hospitality?
The sense of comradery… you go through a lot with your team, and the sense of achievement when you get through a sticky shift, or difficult trading period is a real high. Working in hospitality transformed me as a person – I’m bolder, more confident & live a much richer life.
Nell’s… How do you eat yours?!
Hawaiian, extra pineapple… lace it with Chilli Honey with a pint of Schoffenhoffer on the side. A tropical dream.
Maia, Sales & Events Exec
Nell’s… How do you eat yours?!
My favorite thing on the menu is the Corn Supremecy… but my favorite menu hack is mixing chilli honey and jalapeno crema, It looks gross, but it tastes SO good.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given from another woman?
Trust your instincts always, and also it’s not normal to be in pain and you should push your doctors for answers and do your own research. Oh and not to let anyone make you feel guilty for enjoying stereotypically girly things! Pink is a great color.
Marnie, Chef
What’s your favourite thing about working in hospitality?
It’s such a fast evolving industry that you grow with every single shift.
You have to adapt to survive, so I’ve never learnt more than I have working in hospitality.
Message to share with the next generation:
Be prepared for what’s coming and how hard it’s going to get… and make good friends.
What’s your favourite thing about working in hospitality?
The best thing about working in hospitality is probably everyone that you meet, the different stories that you hear and also the life skills that it gives you! Most people in hospitality can do a lot more than just serving- plumber, electrician, adult babysitter, you name it.
Go hook your family, go spend time with your friends, have a good time, life too short, enjoy yourself, and every possibility that you can just grab it with both hands.
Message to share with the next generation:
Go and hug your family, go spend time with your friends… have a good time! Life’s too short, enjoy yourself, and grab every single opportunity that comes your way with both hands.
Katie,
Training & Development Manager
Susie, General Manager
What’s your favourite thing about working in hospitality?
I’ve been in hospitality since i was young as my parents had a restaurant when i was growing up and I feel like it’s my home. I get to come to work, eat amazing food every day and basically see all my friends all day long for hours on end. I couldn’t imagine seeing in an office I would probably die of boredom!
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given from another woman?
Everyone in the world is faking it, or at least started off by faking it.
If you just pretend like you’re the most confident person that you’ve ever met in your life… eventually somewhere along the line, you’ll realise that that person is now who you are. That’s basically how I got here! Fake it till you make it!
Peggy, Bakery Manager
What’s your favourite thing about working in hospitality?
Even something small that you do in your day can make a big difference to other people… the work that we do brings a lot of enjoyment to other peoples lives and that’s just an amazing feeling!
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given from another woman?
Take every opportunity… you’ll never regret the things that you do, only the things that you don’t. Oh, and my auntie told me to always grab life by the balls!
Neve,
Sales & Events Executive
What’s your favourite thing about working in hospitality?
My favorite thing… I’m gonna be a bit biased here because I’ve only ever worked for Nell’s but it’s the ability to progress really quickly within a small company like this. I was a part time bartender to end a at uni, and now I’m doing the job that I love, working with so many different people. The people are another big reason… you make friends for life. I met my old flatmate working in Common and she’s still my best friend now!
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given from another woman?
Never be afraid to try new things!
Alexa, Front of House
Message to share with the next generation:
So when I thought about this question… I thought about what i’d have loved to have been told when i was younger. And it’s just don’t quit your hobbies because I had so many hobbies that I was so passionate about. And when I got older i stopped making time … I wish I’d stuck with them because I absolutely love them all.
Jas, General Manager
What’s your favourite thing about working in hospitality?
The people! No matter where you work, you create time to family vibe . No matter what are you going through, whenever you come into work it feels like arriving home to your family.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given from another woman?
This advice came from Abigail Hammond, a long-standing friend who’s also a queen in the hospitality industry! She said, always be intentional in the words that you use and what you say because your words become the house that you live in.
Message to share with the next generation
You need to be kind to yourselves! And not to go so fast… life is a roller coaster and all that, make sure you’re enjoying it.
Esther,
People & Culture Manager
Ellie,
General Manager
Nell’s… How do you eat yours?!
I’m going rogue with a drink… and it’s always ordering a spicey Marg from Amy B specifically at The Beagle because she knows how I like it.
What’s your favourite thing about working in hospitality?
The unique set of skills that those who work in hospitality have … particularly soft skills & people skills, it’s completely unique. I love that we can make those quick connections with people, and I get to see it all the time as a General Manager, which is lovely.