FCSI THE AMERICAS CONFERENCE 2026
you are meeting somebody for the first time,” she says. “Our bodies speak four times as loud as our mouths, so focus on comfortably putting your hand out, giving your full name and getting the body language right.” And it is not enough to just be in the room. “Look like you want to be there, be engaged, listen – not just to respond but to stay present and listen for people’s feelings and values; this all really helps when trying to make a business connection,” she says.
RESPECT IS UNIVERSAL
Te foodservice industry is still male-dominant but when it comes to making connections in a corporate setting, gender doesn’t come into it much, according to Cook. “Te core things that we talk about are universal and it is all about professionalism and respectful interactions – respect for the other person and respect for yourself,” she says. But there are also specific
tips for women-only groups. “Tey’re not different things. I might just emphasize body language. I might emphasize finding your voice early, being one of the first people to speak up in a meeting. I might emphasize a strong handshake and strong eye contact,” she says.
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“Our bodies speak four times as loud as our mouths, so focus on comfortably putting your hand out, giving people your full name and getting the body language right"
THE KEY TO FINDING YOUR VOICE
Within FCSI, where everyone’s role is to add value, it is vital to be comfortable asking questions or answering questions. If you don’t, “that silence is not just deafening, it is defeating,” she notes. “It keeps you from growing your influence.” It’s simple, she says. If
you have something to offer, find your voice, get people used to hearing your voice. Be one of the first two to four people to speak up in a meeting – it makes people feel that you are confident. “When they hear you ask
a good question, regardless of your gender, they start to expect good things from you,” she says. “I feel it is important if we want
TOOLS TO IMPROVE YOUR SOFT SKILLS Be aware of your body language – make sure your body is communicating the message that you want to project. Our bodies speak louder than our mouths, so be intentional about the personal brand you represent. Know that our brand is how people describe us when we are not in the room.
Work on your listening skills – listen to understand and assume positive intent of others. This will open new opportunities where people want to work with you. Our social skills play a crucial role in this bigger picture. Cook cites a study by The Carnegie Foundation and Stanford Research Center that says 85% of job success will come from people skills and just 15% from our technical skills. “It’s a pretty big statistic,” she says.
to be successful for people to start expecting us to be a go-to person for something. If we are not speaking up, how do they know?” Te trick is to find that
sweet spot where you are self- promoting but with a purpose. “We all walk a fine line. I believe there’s not a whole lot of times where it’s important or acceptable for us to brag about ourselves in business, but when you’re interviewing for a job, go ahead and brag. Or when you’re getting a performance review in the office, brag about yourself.” Finding your voice – and
knowing when and how to use it – can be the difference between being present and being noticed.
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