Women in WACS Questionnaire - Shonita Kayla Raui

Women in WACS Questionnaire

Name: 

Shonita Kayla Raui

Age: 

20 years

Home Town/Country: 

Rarotonga Cook Islands

1. What kind of formal education do you have (include apprenticeships)?

City & Guilds Culinary Arts Diploma

2. What made you decide to enter the culinary profession?

To become a pastry chef

3. Culinary childhood memories (e.g. Who did the cooking at home? Did you watch or participate? Favorite dishes that you still occasionally prepare?)

My parents did the cooking at home, I did participate at times

4. At what age did you first enter the food service industry? What was your first job?

At 19 years of age

5. Did you or do you have a mentor? (Who is that person? How has s/he helped you?)

Yes, Sam Timoko, he is my cookery tutor training and teaching me all the core skills that are involved in the hospitality industry as far as culinary Arts

6. What is the male/female ratio in your current job? 

1 female to 8 males

7. Describe your current work conditions (including average hours per day spent on the job; do you work weekends/holidays? do you have changing shifts?)

Working at Tumunu restaurant about 4 to 5 hours per day, working 4 to 5 nights per week and 1 day at the weekend 

8. Are you single, married or in a partnership?

Single

9. Do you have children? What age are they?

No

10. What is your advice to young women entering your specific field?

Prepare yourself as much as you can by gaining as much knowledge and experience. In the kitchen, be respectful, confident, strong and take no prisoners, you can do a better job than the person next to you! 

11. What are your interests outside the culinary field?

Shopping, swimming and reading Cook books

12. Do you manage to integrate those interests in your life?

I try to as much as I can, it’s good to have a balanced work/ life!

13. What are personal and professional interests that you would like to pursue within the next 5 years?

Further education in patiserie, open my own cake/patisiere shop or business

14. Would you be willing to be a mentor to other women in WACS? (If yes, indicate by what means: via email/SKYPE/a stage at your business if the woman seeking help provides for her own travel expenses, board)

Yes, I’d like to promote younger woman in our industry. I believe that it is important to have a balance of female/male Chefs in the Kitchen, I know there are more now than in previous decades however, this will increase in years to come. 

Email: shaunee_kayla@live.com