Accelerating Action with Female Leaders at Nestlé Professional

This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is ‘Accelerate Action,’ a reminder that we need to take decisive steps to strive towards a gender equal world without bias, where difference is valued and celebrated.

At Nestlé Professional, we’re proud to foster a culture that empowers strong female leaders. We recently spoke to Brooke Smith (Head of Sales at Nestlé Professional) and Elke Travers (Nestlé Professional Executive Chef) to learn more about their inspiring journeys to becoming leaders in their respective fields.

You’ve had an incredible career at Nestlé so far, joining in 2015 as Customer Business Manager for Purina, to broadening your expertise by leading the Customer Facing Supply Chain & Customer Solutions team for Nestlé Oceania and now as Head of Sales for Nestlé Professional. What are some of the challenges you have faced during your journey to becoming a leader and how did you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges I faced was turning around the Woolworths account during my time as Customer Business Manager. We were facing a significant decline, but by bringing fresh perspective and working closely with my team, we managed to shift this to growth within six months. This taught me the importance of bold thinking and staying resilient. I believe success comes from embracing challenges as opportunities for innovation and growth. For instance, during COVID, I led our field team through unprecedented circumstances, and they went on to win Purina Team of the Year 2021. It's about staying adaptable and keeping your team engaged, even in tough times.

Have you seen the sentiment towards female leaders change over the years you have been in the workforce?

I've witnessed an incredible evolution in how female leaders are perceived and supported in the workplace. What's exciting is seeing the emphasis shift toward diverse leadership styles and the recognition that different perspectives drive better business outcomes. The conversation has moved beyond gender to focus on capabilities, results, and the unique value each leader brings. As a mother and leader, I'm particularly passionate about how the workplace has progressed in understanding that having a family and a successful career aren't mutually exclusive. You can be present for your family while driving business growth and nurturing high-performing teams - it's about finding your rhythm and having the confidence to lead authentically. This shift in mindset has opened doors for so many talented women to step into leadership roles while embracing both their professional and personal lives.

How does it feel to have joined a senior leadership team with such strong female representation at Nestlé Professional?

It's incredibly energising to be part of a leadership team that creates space for driving meaningful change. What excites me most is the opportunity to shape our strategic direction while building a strong, positive culture where everyone can thrive. I'm passionate about creating high-performing teams and seeing the magic that happens when we bring together diverse perspectives and strengths. It's not just about gender representation - it's about how we collectively leverage our unique capabilities to drive innovation and deliver exceptional results for our business and customers. When you have a leadership team that values individual contributions while working towards shared goals, that's when you see real transformation happen.

What is one piece of advice you would give to fellow aspiring women in leadership roles?

My advice would be to stay curious and never stop learning. Throughout my career, I've found that being adaptable and taking on challenges outside my comfort zone has led to the most growth. Focus on building strong teams and nurturing talent around you - when your team succeeds, you succeed. Most importantly, don't be afraid to bring your authentic leadership style to the table. As my experience shows, being bold, strategic, and putting people first creates lasting impact.

While we’ve seen progress over the years, the hospitality industry in Australia remains a male-dominated field, with only 28% of chefs in Australia identifying as female.

What are some of the challenges you have faced throughout your career and how did you overcome them?

As a female chef in my first kitchen, I was placed on cold larder and pastry and I really had to fight to move to the pans and grill. This was a common theme - the very male dominated team thought we could not handle the heat.

I overcame this by mastering cold larder and pastry and even studied an extra trade on my days off to become a Qualified Chef, Pastry Chef and Baker. I was eventually moved to grill, pans and hot kitchen. Having run very busy kitchens at a very young age, I was able to master the hot kitchen by remaining calm, and encouraging smooth, amazing teamwork with my chefs.

You’ve been at Nestlé Professional for over 2 years now, as the Executive Chef. How have you found working with a team and also leaders that are predominantly female?

It's been awesome and a real privilege working alongside such a talented and diverse group of professionals. I really love excelling with my team and I feel supported and encouraged to aim high - I think we are all like-minded high achievers!

Throughout your time at Nestlé Professional, you’ve had the opportunity to work with seasoned chefs, including those from our customers, the Australian Culinary Federation and NZChefs, as well as young and upcoming apprentice chefs during the Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Award. Are there any memorable positive and empowering experiences with female chefs that stand out?

Yes, I would like to call out Sarah Jones, a 6-time national finalist for the Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Award. What a strong determined young woman, with endless passion for culinary competitions and a wonderful ambassador for Golden Chef’s in particular. I’ve truly loved watching Sarah not only compete and plate up some amazing dishes, but also be a supportive mentor to her peers throughout the competition. In particular, last year she was incredibly willing to bring first-time competitors under her wing and was the well-deserved winner of the BUONDI All-Rounder Award at the Grand Finals.

What is one piece of advice you would give to fellow aspiring female chefs? 

Surround yourself with likeminded people, empower yourself with knowledge and skill, and most importantly, enjoy what you do. Take time to reflect on your journey and your experiences, set a goal and go for it! 

For more resources and to learn more about International Women’s Day 2025, visit here.