Financial Literacy Workshop for Women

January 27-28, 2025

CohnReznick
1301 6th Ave, New York, NY 10019

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This two-day financial fitness workshop aims to provide women and non-binary hospitality entrepreneurs at all stages of their career—from looking to turn idea into operation to growing one’s existing businesses—with the financial literacy training they need to get to their next level. The workshop will take place at CohnReznick.

Day 1 will focus on getting ready to ask for money, from building the right mindset (confidence is key!) and determining how much to ask to identifying funding options and knowing how to ask.

Day 2 will focus on understanding your financial statements, how you can impact them through operations and tech, and future-proofing your business (from building new revenue models to putting the right team in place).

For accommodations, we recommend using a hotel booking site like hotels.com or booking.com to find the best rate, which are plentiful at this time of year, especially if you reserve early. Hotels located in Time Square and Midtown will be a short walk from the CohnReznick office.

Meals will be provided by the following businesses, owned by alumnae of The James Beard Foundation's Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Program:

Schedule

Program and schedule subject to change.

January 27

8:45-9:15 A.M. Registration and Breakfast

9:15-9:30 A.M. Welcome 

9:30-10:00 A.M. Getting Into the Money Mindset Ita Ekpoudom, Partner, GingerBread Capital

10:00-11:15 A.M. The Why, What, and When of Raising Money

Stephanie O'Rourk, CPA, Partner, CohnReznick Global Consulting Solutions
Michael Shemtov, Owner and Founder, Butcher & Bee, The Daily, Redheaded Stranger, and Fancypants

11:15-11:30 A.M. Break 

11:30 A.M.-12:30 P.M. Identifying Funding Sources, Pitching, and Deal Structuring (Operator's Perspectives)

Michael Shemtov, Owner and Founder, Butcher & Bee, The Daily, Redheaded Stranger, and Fancypants
Ellen Yin, Founder and Co-Owner, High Street Hospitality Group

12:30-1:30 P.M. Networking Lunch 

1:30-2:30 P.M. Investor and Deal Maker Perspectives

Greg Golkin, Managing Partner, Kitchen Fund
Lynda Marren, Founder, Just Add Salt
Andy Peskoe, Partner, Golenbock Eiseman Assor Bell & Peskoe

2:30-3:30 P.M. Building Business Longevity

Stephanie O'Rourk, CPA, Partner, CohnReznick Global Consulting Solutions
Allison Ruderman, Vice President, The Elliot Group

3:30-4:15 P.M. Practice Pitching with Confidence

4:15-5:00 P.M. Day 1 "Office Hours" - Deeper Dive with Speakers

5:30-7:30 P.M. Cocktail Party at the Beard House

January 28

8:30-9:00 A.M. Breakfast

9:00-9:15 A.M. Welcome and Takeaways from Day 1 

9:15-10:15 A.M. ABCs of Restaurant Financial Statements

Stephanie O'Rourk, CPA, Partner, CohnReznick Global Consulting Solutions

10:15-11:00 A.M. Impacting Your Financials Through Operations

Kwini Reed, Co-Owner, Poppy & Seed, Poppy + Rose, and Root of All Foods

11:00-11:15 A.M. Break 

11:15 A.M.-12:15 P.M. Optimize Your Tech Stack for Efficiency and Revenue [Peer to Peer Review]

Emma Blecker, Chief of Staff and Director of Business Systems, Boqueria Restaurants

12:15-1:15 P.M. Networking Lunch

1:15-2:45 P.M. Building A Diverse Portfolio of Revenue Sources (From CPG to Real Estate)

Joy Crump, Founding Partner and Executive Chef, Foode
Vanessa Pham, Co-Founder, Omsom
Paulina Lopez, Co Proprietor, Guelaguetza Restaurant and Co-Founder, I Love Micheladas

2:45-3:00 P.M. Break

3:00-3:45 P.M. Day 2 "Office Hours" - Deeper Dive with Speakers

3:45-4:00 P.M. Closing Remarks

Session Descriptions

Getting into The Money Mindset

Confidence is key! Learn how to build the right mindset to be successful in asking for money and communicating about your business.

The Why, What and When of Raising Money

Gain a firm understanding of the different stages and purposes of raising capital and when it’s best to be raising money. Better understand the pros and cons of raising more vs. less money, sooner vs. later. Understand the different types of restaurant funding available and the pros and cons of each.

Identifying Funding Sources, Pitching, and Deal Structuring (Operator Perspectives)

Learn strategies and resources to deepen funding relationships, confidently pitch prospective investors, and strike a deal that makes sense for you and your business from experienced restaurant founders.

Investor & Deal Maker Perspectives

Learn from a panel of seasoned investors and dealmakers on what makes a compelling investment, do’s and don’ts in pitching, and deal structure tips and pitfalls.

Building Business Longevity

Think ahead about what changes you may need to make to your team, structure and processes to profitably reach your growth goals and set yourself up for financial success. Learn from a panel of experts on what to consider regarding reporting and process, legal structuring, and building the right team.

ABCs of Restaurant Financial Statements

Increase your confidence in interpreting financial statements and understand what is most in your control. Learn about some common pitfalls to avoid and what the important metrics are to focus on and why.

Impacting your Financials Through Operations

Hear from experienced operators on how they have implemented tools and processes in day-to-day operations to lead to better financial results.

Optimize Your Tech Stack for Efficiency and Revenue (Peer to Peer Review)

Gain a comprehensive perspective on the different restaurant technology solutions that exist and how you should evaluate what is needed for your business (less is sometimes more!). Better understand how to evaluate the financial return of implementing a new technology. Learn from a seasoned restaurant systems operator and from each other!

Building A Diverse Portfolio of Revenue Sources (from CPG to real estate)

Adopt a mindset of maximizing your restaurant business (and your own!) financial success and sustainability by thinking about ways to grow revenue outside of it. Gain valuable insights on how to launch a CPG business and how to invest in real estate from experienced restaurant founders.