[Applause] culinary teacher and chef when I meet
culinary teacher and chef when I meet
culinary teacher and chef when I meet people they always ask me where you’re
people they always ask me where you’re
people they always ask me where you’re from
from
from so let’s get that out of the way I was
so let’s get that out of the way I was
so let’s get that out of the way I was born in British Hong Kong to America
born in British Hong Kong to America
born in British Hong Kong to America nice family and my family was well-to-do
nice family and my family was well-to-do
nice family and my family was well-to-do so I had a very privileged childhood and
so I had a very privileged childhood and
so I had a very privileged childhood and we had servants in our household as a
we had servants in our household as a
we had servants in our household as a result I never learned to cook in fact I
result I never learned to cook in fact I
result I never learned to cook in fact I was so ignorant of cooking that the
was so ignorant of cooking that the
was so ignorant of cooking that the first time I was asked to warm a can of
first time I was asked to warm a can of
first time I was asked to warm a can of soup this is what I did I took the can I
soup this is what I did I took the can I
soup this is what I did I took the can I ran it on a hot water I very carefully
ran it on a hot water I very carefully
ran it on a hot water I very carefully peeled off the label then I popped the
peeled off the label then I popped the
peeled off the label then I popped the unopened can into a pot of water and I
unopened can into a pot of water and I
unopened can into a pot of water and I stood over it what waiting for it to
stood over it what waiting for it to
stood over it what waiting for it to boil that was the point when I thought
boil that was the point when I thought
boil that was the point when I thought to myself how am I going to know when
to myself how am I going to know when
to myself how am I going to know when the soup is hot well I had to admit
the soup is hot well I had to admit
the soup is hot well I had to admit defeat swallow my pride and ask for help
defeat swallow my pride and ask for help
defeat swallow my pride and ask for help obviously cooking was of no interest to
obviously cooking was of no interest to
obviously cooking was of no interest to me all I wanted to do was have fun and I
me all I wanted to do was have fun and I
me all I wanted to do was have fun and I and I did however I did eventually learn
and I did however I did eventually learn
and I did however I did eventually learn to cook and I loved the challenge of
to cook and I loved the challenge of
to cook and I loved the challenge of cooking however in those days I did
cooking however in those days I did
cooking however in those days I did learn other more valuable lessons when I
learn other more valuable lessons when I
learn other more valuable lessons when I grew up in the 50s in Hong Kong women’s
grew up in the 50s in Hong Kong women’s
grew up in the 50s in Hong Kong women’s expectations were very limited this was
expectations were very limited this was
expectations were very limited this was particularly true in British Hong Kong
particularly true in British Hong Kong
particularly true in British Hong Kong where your ethnic background affected
where your ethnic background affected
where your ethnic background affected your work and pay I never felt limited
your work and pay I never felt limited
your work and pay I never felt limited by my expectations because I was very
by my expectations because I was very
by my expectations because I was very fortunate in the women who influenced my
fortunate in the women who influenced my
fortunate in the women who influenced my thinking the marinol sisters educated me
thinking the marinol sisters educated me
thinking the marinol sisters educated me and these were in my extraordinary they
and these were in my extraordinary they
and these were in my extraordinary they were feminists way way before their time
were feminists way way before their time
were feminists way way before their time they taught me a strong sense of my own
they taught me a strong sense of my own
they taught me a strong sense of my own self and they urged me to aspire to the
self and they urged me to aspire to the
self and they urged me to aspire to the limits to reach for the stars and I did
limits to reach for the stars and I did
limits to reach for the stars and I did I set my standards very high and I never
I set my standards very high and I never
I set my standards very high and I never thought I couldn’t succeed in that
thought I couldn’t succeed in that
thought I couldn’t succeed in that but equally important they taught us
but equally important they taught us
but equally important they taught us about failure if you aspire to high
about failure if you aspire to high
about failure if you aspire to high things
things
things fiercely failure is always there and
fiercely failure is always there and
fiercely failure is always there and fear of change is even more daunting
fear of change is even more daunting
fear of change is even more daunting however if you embrace these fears you
however if you embrace these fears you
however if you embrace these fears you open up a wider fuller life experience
open up a wider fuller life experience
open up a wider fuller life experience during my teenage years my mother a
during my teenage years my mother a
during my teenage years my mother a gentle loving person was forced through
gentle loving person was forced through
gentle loving person was forced through widowhood to provide for her family
widowhood to provide for her family
widowhood to provide for her family she’s 42 in that picture six years after
she’s 42 in that picture six years after
she’s 42 in that picture six years after she was widowed I saw through her
she was widowed I saw through her
she was widowed I saw through her example how she was able to summon up
example how she was able to summon up
example how she was able to summon up the determination to provide for us she
the determination to provide for us she
the determination to provide for us she didn’t let accepted norms of behavior
didn’t let accepted norms of behavior
didn’t let accepted norms of behavior tutor her as a result she instilled in
tutor her as a result she instilled in
tutor her as a result she instilled in her daughters a sense of independence
her daughters a sense of independence
her daughters a sense of independence and the need to think for ourselves she
and the need to think for ourselves she
and the need to think for ourselves she also told us it was very important that
also told us it was very important that
also told us it was very important that we were become self-sufficient and be
we were become self-sufficient and be
we were become self-sufficient and be able to earn our own living in life now
able to earn our own living in life now
able to earn our own living in life now mentors don’t always have to be women
mentors don’t always have to be women
mentors don’t always have to be women when I started cooking I was very
when I started cooking I was very
when I started cooking I was very fortunate to meet Peter come Peter was
fortunate to meet Peter come Peter was
fortunate to meet Peter come Peter was my mentor in all things cooking and in
my mentor in all things cooking and in
my mentor in all things cooking and in the cooking world he was a leading
the cooking world he was a leading
the cooking world he was a leading figure in that world and the moving
figure in that world and the moving
figure in that world and the moving force behind the founding of the Beard
force behind the founding of the Beard
force behind the founding of the Beard Foundation obviously Peter taught me a
Foundation obviously Peter taught me a
Foundation obviously Peter taught me a lot but the most important thing he
lot but the most important thing he
lot but the most important thing he taught me was to value myself and to
taught me was to value myself and to
taught me was to value myself and to evaluate
because people would respect me all the
because people would respect me all the more for that I started cooking
more for that I started cooking
more for that I started cooking professionally very late in life I
professionally very late in life I
professionally very late in life I hadn’t been to cooking school and I was
hadn’t been to cooking school and I was
hadn’t been to cooking school and I was already a mother of two I had spent my
already a mother of two I had spent my
already a mother of two I had spent my working life in the corporate world
working life in the corporate world
working life in the corporate world my first job in Hong Kong was for BOAC
my first job in Hong Kong was for BOAC
my first job in Hong Kong was for BOAC now known as British Airways I started
now known as British Airways I started
now known as British Airways I started as a lowly clock and I worked my way up
as a lowly clock and I worked my way up
as a lowly clock and I worked my way up to being the private secretary to the
to being the private secretary to the
to being the private secretary to the advertising manager for all of them
advertising manager for all of them
advertising manager for all of them Eastern routes this was quite an
Eastern routes this was quite an
Eastern routes this was quite an important job it required a lot of
important job it required a lot of
important job it required a lot of independent thinking and initiative and
independent thinking and initiative and
independent thinking and initiative and I guess I was pretty good at it because
I guess I was pretty good at it because
I guess I was pretty good at it because when I quit to move to England my
when I quit to move to England my
when I quit to move to England my ex-boss was now my superior at the Home
ex-boss was now my superior at the Home
ex-boss was now my superior at the Home Office immediately telex and offered me
Office immediately telex and offered me
Office immediately telex and offered me a job in London well young as I was I
a job in London well young as I was I
a job in London well young as I was I was smart enough to know I had to
was smart enough to know I had to
was smart enough to know I had to negotiate a transfer transfers for local
negotiate a transfer transfers for local
negotiate a transfer transfers for local employee in those days was unheard of
employee in those days was unheard of
employee in those days was unheard of but I stood my ground so I got my
but I stood my ground so I got my
but I stood my ground so I got my transfer and they also threw in a free
transfer and they also threw in a free
transfer and they also threw in a free ticket all the way to London I guess in
ticket all the way to London I guess in
ticket all the way to London I guess in those days I was I had already developed
those days I was I had already developed
those days I was I had already developed a very strong sense of myself over the
a very strong sense of myself over the
a very strong sense of myself over the years I worked in different offices in
years I worked in different offices in
years I worked in different offices in different countries all over Europe I
different countries all over Europe I
different countries all over Europe I even did a short stint teaching English
even did a short stint teaching English
even did a short stint teaching English at Berlitz in Caracas Venezuela I met
at Berlitz in Caracas Venezuela I met
at Berlitz in Caracas Venezuela I met many people that I liked and some of
many people that I liked and some of
many people that I liked and some of them have been remade my friends to this
them have been remade my friends to this
them have been remade my friends to this day but the work that I did didn’t
day but the work that I did didn’t
day but the work that I did didn’t really challenge me so I quit that world
really challenge me so I quit that world
really challenge me so I quit that world and went into cooking and when I did I
and went into cooking and when I did I
and went into cooking and when I did I never thought I couldn’t succeed even
never thought I couldn’t succeed even
never thought I couldn’t succeed even though I never went to cooking school
though I never went to cooking school
though I never went to cooking school but I knew about food and I knew how to
but I knew about food and I knew how to
but I knew about food and I knew how to cook and I knew my food tasted good
cook and I knew my food tasted good
cook and I knew my food tasted good along the way I also knew I wanted to
along the way I also knew I wanted to
along the way I also knew I wanted to achieve something valuable when I began
achieve something valuable when I began
achieve something valuable when I began my career as a chef I thought my life’s
my career as a chef I thought my life’s
my career as a chef I thought my life’s work would be all about cooking and food
work would be all about cooking and food
work would be all about cooking and food and when I opened my restaurant I
and when I opened my restaurant I
and when I opened my restaurant I thought the food would be the star I’m
thought the food would be the star I’m
thought the food would be the star I’m not here today to teach you how to
not here today to teach you how to
not here today to teach you how to julienne a carrot or to talk about my
julienne a carrot or to talk about my
julienne a carrot or to talk about my achievements and food what I want to
achievements and food what I want to
achievements and food what I want to talk about is something that’s very
talk about is something that’s very
talk about is something that’s very close to my heart
close to my heart
close to my heart and I’m very proud of it and that’s the
and I’m very proud of it and that’s the
and I’m very proud of it and that’s the positive influence I was able to bring
positive influence I was able to bring
positive influence I was able to bring to the young people who worked for me I
to the young people who worked for me I
to the young people who worked for me I know I’m blessed on my background and
know I’m blessed on my background and
know I’m blessed on my background and today I’m seeing as a strong and
today I’m seeing as a strong and
today I’m seeing as a strong and powerful woman I’ve watched many changes
powerful woman I’ve watched many changes
powerful woman I’ve watched many changes for women over the years and women have
for women over the years and women have
for women over the years and women have risen to more and more empowerment
risen to more and more empowerment
risen to more and more empowerment however I was struck by the fact that I
however I was struck by the fact that I
however I was struck by the fact that I didn’t see this empowerment in my young
didn’t see this empowerment in my young
didn’t see this empowerment in my young colleagues they didn’t seem to have a
colleagues they didn’t seem to have a
colleagues they didn’t seem to have a strong sense of themselves and this
strong sense of themselves and this
strong sense of themselves and this resulted in low self-esteem I wanted
resulted in low self-esteem I wanted
resulted in low self-esteem I wanted these young people on the threshold of
these young people on the threshold of
these young people on the threshold of life to dream big to realize their
life to dream big to realize their
life to dream big to realize their potential the chance they may never get
potential the chance they may never get
potential the chance they may never get again I wanted them to learn to
again I wanted them to learn to
again I wanted them to learn to recognize the self-worth within them the
recognize the self-worth within them the
recognize the self-worth within them the self-confidence that they all had and I
self-confidence that they all had and I
self-confidence that they all had and I wanted them to know that fear of failure
wanted them to know that fear of failure
wanted them to know that fear of failure should not deter them from taking these
should not deter them from taking these
should not deter them from taking these chances because a sense of self would be
chances because a sense of self would be
chances because a sense of self would be the key to their achieving what they
the key to their achieving what they
the key to their achieving what they enjoy doing to their success their
enjoy doing to their success their
enjoy doing to their success their happiness and possibly even their
happiness and possibly even their
happiness and possibly even their ability to change the world the world
ability to change the world the world
ability to change the world the world was there a stir I wanted these kids to
was there a stir I wanted these kids to
was there a stir I wanted these kids to grab that oyster crack it open and
grab that oyster crack it open and
grab that oyster crack it open and swallow it up now this is what I did
swallow it up now this is what I did
swallow it up now this is what I did it’s very difficult to get young people
it’s very difficult to get young people
it’s very difficult to get young people to open up to you I knew I had to gain
to open up to you I knew I had to gain
to open up to you I knew I had to gain their trust and friendship so this is
their trust and friendship so this is
their trust and friendship so this is what I did I listened I empathized and I
what I did I listened I empathized and I
what I did I listened I empathized and I encouraged them to talk to me
encouraged them to talk to me
encouraged them to talk to me so as we became friends obviously this
so as we became friends obviously this
so as we became friends obviously this became easier so they would talk to me
became easier so they would talk to me
became easier so they would talk to me about their dreams their aspirations and
about their dreams their aspirations and
about their dreams their aspirations and most importantly their decisions I
most importantly their decisions I
most importantly their decisions I encouraged them to look inside
encouraged them to look inside
encouraged them to look inside themselves at all the positive qualities
themselves at all the positive qualities
themselves at all the positive qualities they already had the self confidence
they already had the self confidence
they already had the self confidence within them
within them
within them and I wanted them to strive to do
and I wanted them to strive to do
and I wanted them to strive to do what would make them happy because if
what would make them happy because if
what would make them happy because if they did that that would be the key to
they did that that would be the key to
they did that that would be the key to their success the key to their happiness
their success the key to their happiness
their success the key to their happiness even the key to their possibly changing
even the key to their possibly changing
even the key to their possibly changing the world I praised and supported every
the world I praised and supported every
the world I praised and supported every move they made and I didn’t discourage
move they made and I didn’t discourage
move they made and I didn’t discourage them over time I’m happy to say I was
them over time I’m happy to say I was
them over time I’m happy to say I was lucky enough to help a few young people
lucky enough to help a few young people
lucky enough to help a few young people there are a few of them sitting right
there are a few of them sitting right
there are a few of them sitting right here but my example is not someone in
here but my example is not someone in
here but my example is not someone in this audience this was a young woman I
this audience this was a young woman I
this audience this was a young woman I was mentoring through a culinary group
was mentoring through a culinary group
was mentoring through a culinary group she as a young girl she left a home in
she as a young girl she left a home in
she as a young girl she left a home in England and traveled all over the world
England and traveled all over the world
England and traveled all over the world independently and extensively ending up
independently and extensively ending up
independently and extensively ending up in New York where she married and
in New York where she married and
in New York where she married and started a family here was a woman who
started a family here was a woman who
started a family here was a woman who should have been brimming over with
should have been brimming over with
should have been brimming over with self-confidence but there’s always the
self-confidence but there’s always the
self-confidence but there’s always the possibility of the edge of and yourself
possibility of the edge of and yourself
possibility of the edge of and yourself confidence being taken away from years
confidence being taken away from years
confidence being taken away from years of being a homemaker I know this because
of being a homemaker I know this because
of being a homemaker I know this because I was a homemaker for many years myself
I was a homemaker for many years myself
I was a homemaker for many years myself when I met her she had taken culinary
when I met her she had taken culinary
when I met her she had taken culinary classes and she wanted to be a teacher
classes and she wanted to be a teacher
classes and she wanted to be a teacher in the public school system I had about
in the public school system I had about
in the public school system I had about my doubts about this choice but I helped
my doubts about this choice but I helped
my doubts about this choice but I helped her with networking and I encouraged her
her with networking and I encouraged her
her with networking and I encouraged her and I even arranged an interview for her
and I even arranged an interview for her
and I even arranged an interview for her with someone in the public school system
with someone in the public school system
with someone in the public school system this interview was really enlightening
this interview was really enlightening
this interview was really enlightening she came away knowing just how much work
she came away knowing just how much work
she came away knowing just how much work was expected of her and just how little
was expected of her and just how little
was expected of her and just how little the pay would be talking about money is
the pay would be talking about money is
the pay would be talking about money is always difficult so I had to gain her
always difficult so I had to gain her
always difficult so I had to gain her trust and friendship and over time we
trust and friendship and over time we
trust and friendship and over time we did that at which time I asked her to
did that at which time I asked her to
did that at which time I asked her to evaluate the money monetary rewards she
evaluate the money monetary rewards she
evaluate the money monetary rewards she would get from teaching I learned that
would get from teaching I learned that
would get from teaching I learned that money was not essential to her but it
money was not essential to her but it
money was not essential to her but it was a factor was this a factor in her
was a factor was this a factor in her
was a factor was this a factor in her pleasing
pleasing
pleasing a market value and her self-worth and
a market value and her self-worth and
a market value and her self-worth and was this something she really enjoyed
was this something she really enjoyed
was this something she really enjoyed doing I realized that the money she
doing I realized that the money she
doing I realized that the money she would be able to earn on the marketplace
would be able to earn on the marketplace
would be able to earn on the marketplace would affect the judgement of herself of
would affect the judgement of herself of
would affect the judgement of herself of her own self-worth so with this in mind
her own self-worth so with this in mind
her own self-worth so with this in mind I gave her a present of a gift to spend
I gave her a present of a gift to spend
I gave her a present of a gift to spend the whole day working with a food
the whole day working with a food
the whole day working with a food stylist I didn’t know she had any talent
stylist I didn’t know she had any talent
stylist I didn’t know she had any talent in this field that I thought she might
in this field that I thought she might
in this field that I thought she might enjoy it
enjoy it
enjoy it well she came away inspired and
well she came away inspired and
well she came away inspired and motivated she had found her vocation she
motivated she had found her vocation she
motivated she had found her vocation she realized that being a food stylist was
realized that being a food stylist was
realized that being a food stylist was going to pay her a lot more money this
going to pay her a lot more money this
going to pay her a lot more money this was a lesson that was very valuable
was a lesson that was very valuable
was a lesson that was very valuable because when you set a price on your
because when you set a price on your
because when you set a price on your ability in the marketplace that is very
ability in the marketplace that is very
ability in the marketplace that is very self-assured I’d learnt this myself many
self-assured I’d learnt this myself many
self-assured I’d learnt this myself many years ago today she’s a very successful
years ago today she’s a very successful
years ago today she’s a very successful food stylist she’s loves her work and
food stylist she’s loves her work and
food stylist she’s loves her work and recently I saw her and I couldn’t
recently I saw her and I couldn’t
recently I saw her and I couldn’t believe how she had become this new
believe how she had become this new
believe how she had become this new confident independent woman as you can
confident independent woman as you can
confident independent woman as you can see it doesn’t take much anyone of us
see it doesn’t take much anyone of us
see it doesn’t take much anyone of us can do what we can to influence the
can do what we can to influence the
can do what we can to influence the young people in their lives it doesn’t
young people in their lives it doesn’t
young people in their lives it doesn’t matter whether you what your profession
matter whether you what your profession
matter whether you what your profession is whether you’re a cashier a car
is whether you’re a cashier a car
is whether you’re a cashier a car mechanic or CEO whatever we all have the
mechanic or CEO whatever we all have the
mechanic or CEO whatever we all have the opportunity to influence the young
opportunity to influence the young
opportunity to influence the young people we meet every day these simple
people we meet every day these simple
people we meet every day these simple steps worked for me and I know they will
steps worked for me and I know they will
steps worked for me and I know they will work for you that’s Jill such a good
work for you that’s Jill such a good
work for you that’s Jill such a good example be the strong person you can be
example be the strong person you can be
example be the strong person you can be to inspire other strong people
to inspire other strong people
to inspire other strong people the adage action speaks louder than
the adage action speaks louder than
the adage action speaks louder than words never rang more true pay attention
words never rang more true pay attention
words never rang more true pay attention we don’t pay attention because we all
we don’t pay attention because we all
we don’t pay attention because we all have busy lives and we never really stop
have busy lives and we never really stop
have busy lives and we never really stop and pay attention to the people around
and pay attention to the people around
and pay attention to the people around empathize with their concerns
empathize with their concerns
empathize with their concerns empathy doesn’t have to mean long hours
empathy doesn’t have to mean long hours
empathy doesn’t have to mean long hours talking a smile or nod a little pat can
talking a smile or nod a little pat can
talking a smile or nod a little pat can indicate to someone you know exactly how
indicate to someone you know exactly how
indicate to someone you know exactly how they feel listen really really listen
they feel listen really really listen
they feel listen really really listen when you talk to them people tend not to
when you talk to them people tend not to
when you talk to them people tend not to listen these steps will gain their trust
listen these steps will gain their trust
listen these steps will gain their trust and you can communicate openly as your
and you can communicate openly as your
and you can communicate openly as your relationship grows give them
relationship grows give them
relationship grows give them encouragement urge them to take that
encouragement urge them to take that
encouragement urge them to take that first little speck big ones will follow
first little speck big ones will follow
first little speck big ones will follow that first step is always the hardest
that first step is always the hardest
that first step is always the hardest because fear failure is always lurking
because fear failure is always lurking
because fear failure is always lurking there in the background stress that
there in the background stress that
there in the background stress that failure is okay without failure you’ll
failure is okay without failure you’ll
failure is okay without failure you’ll never try for your dreams acknowledge
never try for your dreams acknowledge
never try for your dreams acknowledge that change is frightening but it can be
that change is frightening but it can be
that change is frightening but it can be very exhilarating praise praise praise
very exhilarating praise praise praise
very exhilarating praise praise praise they can never be enough praise maybe
they can never be enough praise maybe
they can never be enough praise maybe the people I’ve helped won’t remember me
the people I’ve helped won’t remember me
the people I’ve helped won’t remember me as fondly as I remember my mentors but
as fondly as I remember my mentors but
as fondly as I remember my mentors but that doesn’t matter because the
that doesn’t matter because the
that doesn’t matter because the influence you bring on their lives not
influence you bring on their lives not
influence you bring on their lives not only helps them it changes your own life
only helps them it changes your own life
only helps them it changes your own life for the better
for the better
for the better I’ll be happy if I can continue to
I’ll be happy if I can continue to
I’ll be happy if I can continue to influence the one or two young people I
influence the one or two young people I
influence the one or two young people I meet I want them to strive to be the
meet I want them to strive to be the
meet I want them to strive to be the best that they can be and he’ll end by
best that they can be and he’ll end by
best that they can be and he’ll end by quoting queen elizabeth ii the true
quoting queen elizabeth ii the true
quoting queen elizabeth ii the true measure of all our actions is how long
measure of all our actions is how long
measure of all our actions is how long the good in them lasts thank you
”
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