Ahead of International Women’s Day on Wednesday, 8 March, DRAM celebrates just a few of Scotland’s inspirational female general managers who are making their mark on the licensed trade.
Today, we speak to Lynda McGaw, General Manager of The Parkville Hotel in Blantyre about how she has worked her way up in Lisini Pub Co, her advice for women looking to do the same and the woman who mosts inspired her.
Name: Lynda McGaw
Role: General Manager, The Parkville Hotel
Location: Blantyre
Age: 39
Lynda McGaw started out in the trade at 15 as a trainee chef but has forged her career outside the kitchen and stepped into her first Front of House management role when she was 25.
She joined Lisini Pub Co after being head-hunted by MD Lisa Wishart 13 years ago to join Angels in Uddingston as ground floor staff, then worked up to Assistant GM before moving to The Parkville Hotel in Blantyre as GM seven years ago.
Lynda manages a team of 55 at the five-bedroom hotel, bar, restaurant and wedding venue and is also Operations Manager for Lisini.
She says it’s refreshing to see more women work their way into on-trade management roles.
Lynda says, “I think it’s a very hard industry to work in. Unfortunately, we probably have to work harder than men just to prove we know what we’re doing but it’s been changing in the last 10 years. When I started with Lisini all the GMs were men, now it’s predominantly women.”
As Operations Manager, Lynda ensures training and high standards are maintained across the Lisini portfolio, from service to menus to marketing.
Her advice for aspiring GMs is, “stick in, listen to what you’ve been told and shown, be confident and you’ll grow into the role.”
Inspirational woman: It has to be Lisa Wishart, because her mind is sharp as a tack and she knows her business inside out.
Drink of choice: I’ve been known to like a little glass of Prosecco now and again!
Star sign: Virgo
Click below to meet more inspirational general managers in the Scottish on-trade
Therese Grethe, Waxy O’Connors, Glasgow
Helen Taylor, The Anchor, Broughty Ferry
Geraldine Murphy, The Pot Still, Glasgow
Babs Steele, The Allison Arms, Glasgow
Gayle Copland, The Wine Press, Dundee
Rozlynn Gavin, The Applebank Inn, Larkhall
Nicola Haslam, The Seven Kings, Dunfermline
Sandy Gourlay, Oran Mor, Glasgow