Meet Vanessa Parish

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Vanessa Parish. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Vanessa, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

I overcome imposter syndrome by remembering that I am in this space for a reason. I know what I am doing, and I’ve accomplished my goals with support. If I am invited into a space, my value has been recognized as part of the conversation. I have to remind myself that I work hard and even downfalls are learning lessons. Mistakes do not reflect my lack of intel but are a new step to improve.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am from North Carolina but I spent the majority of my adulthood in Los Angeles. I went there to improve my skillset as a Pastry Chef. From there, I got into the food media space by working with many online and TV brands. As an extrovert, I love connecting with people. Utilizing referrals from other workspaces, I transitioned out of being an Executive Chef from large kitchen space into more private kitchens and large-scale catering.

During quarantine, the hospitality industry took a huge hit, and a lot of marginalized folks were let go of their jobs. I had colleagues from all over the country who wanted to support others in some way, so we decided to start mutual aid projects. From there, I got invited to join a collaborative mutual aid project. Four years later, it has turned into the Queer Food Foundation. We are a community organization that focuses on amplifying, funding, and protecting queer food spaces. That means if you are a queer worker, owner, or founder of a business, farm, winery, etc., we do our best to connect you and offer resources for support.

I love the work I get to do. I get to meet people from all over, curate experiences, and build connections! My current goal for the Queer Food Foundation is to expand production to be able to have more staffing and grants available to offer year-round. My personal Chef goal is to utilize my skill set to improve menu development for more companies and restaurants.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Knowing your audience helps your journey. Not everyone will perceive you and your ideas the same. It is helpful to have the intel of discernment so you can modify a bit for the best result.

You are your biggest supporter! If you do not believe in yourself and stand tall in that, no one else will come on board. Relectunacy in your craft can show up as seeming unprepared. Learn more and stay confident.

We have one life but many opportunities. Take the ones you want! I have said no or shied away from things I wanted because I would let my inner monologue or others convince me away from it. If you feel good about something, ask for it. The worst will be a no, so at least give yourself a 50/50% chance of yes instead of a 100% result of no.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

I am a huge advocate for mental health and I have as many conversations about it as possible. When I feel overwhelmed (usually about work or school), I walk away and give myself 30 minutes. I try to find something I enjoy to reset and come back. I have to allow myself to take that space or else I will get too frustrated and crumble anyways.

Contact Info:

• Website: vanessaparish.com/ queerfoodfoundation.org
• Instagram: chefvanessaparish/queerfoodfoundation
• Facebook: Vanessa Parish/ Queer Food Foundation
• Linkedin: Vanessa Parish/ Queer Food Foundation

Image Credits

1. Jade Wilson
2. BJ Johnson
3. Amber Robinson
4. Alex Beetham