Cassie Davison
Speaker | Entrepreneur | Author | Founder of Kith & Kin
A Voice for the People Who Keep Hospitality Going
For more than thirty years, Cassie Davison has lived the reality of independent hospitality. She has opened, built and led award-winning pubs, cafés, fine-dining restaurants and festivals — often from scratch and frequently under pressure. She knows the creativity, responsibility, joy and emotional weight that come with running a business that exists to serve others.
For twenty-five of those years, Cassie worked as an owner-operator, building distinctive, purposeful venues that earned national recognition. Her journey began behind the bar, but her impact now reaches far beyond the floor and the back office — into strategy rooms, lecture halls, national conferences and the wider industry movement she leads today.
Cassie is the Founder of Kith & Kin, a movement built on a clear belief:
Belonging is independent hospitality’s greatest competitive advantage.
Through Kith & Kin, she brings together the people who run hospitality and the people who support it, united by a commitment to doing things differently — with purpose, care and clarity.
She is also a business coach, keynote speaker and the author of Stand Out Hospitality (2025), which introduces the Five Pillars: Set High Standards, Stand Out, Define Your Identity, Build Belonging and Tell a Great Story.
Her leadership style is direct, grounded and shaped by lived experience. Cassie speaks with clarity and compassion because she has stood in every part of the operator’s journey — the highs, the rebuilding phases and the moments that test who you are as a leader.
Recognition & Media
Cassie has received over 25 industry and business awards, celebrating entrepreneurship, design, leadership, food, culture and community impact. Highlights include:
Awards
Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year
Niche Magazine Businesswoman of the Year
Visit England Best Pub
3 AA Rosettes
Which? Good Food Guide Best Newcomer
Midlands Restaurant of the Year
Most Instagrammable Venue
Wish It Was Our Local
Press & Features
National features in The Guardian, The Times, The Telegraph, and the BBC
Trade press coverage in Restaurant Magazine, The Caterer, Olive Magazine, and others
Coverage of her venues and work in both print and digital media across the UK
Speaker & Strategic Roles
Speaker at national and regional hospitality events
Featured on industry podcasts and expert panels
Author of Stand Out Hospitality (2025)
Ambassador for the British Institute of Innkeeping
Strategic Advisor – De Montfort University Business School
Judge – Licensee of the Year Awards
MBA (2010)
Speaking Work
Cassie is a sought-after speaker known for her grounded insight, emotional clarity and ability to connect deeply with audiences. Her talks help leaders see themselves, their teams and their industry differently — with honesty, hope and practical perspective.
The Myth of Rescue
Why waiting for external change keeps industries stuck — and how belonging, agency and clarity build resilience.
Stand Out Hospitality
Based on her book, exploring why identity, belonging and meaning matter more than tactics or trends.
Why Belonging Is a Growth Strategy
How emotional connection drives loyalty, performance and long-term success.
The Emotional Labour of Leadership
The invisible weight owners carry, and how to lead without losing yourself.
What Loyalty Really Looks Like Now
Connection over incentives — and why it works.
The Five Pillars of Stand Out Businesses
Cassie’s signature method for building businesses people love.
Session Formats:
• Keynotes
• Panels
• Private leadership workshops
• Guest webinars
• Podcast interviews
• Supplier & trade body sessions
Want to bring Cassie to your next event?
What Others Say
Here’s what clients, collaborators, and hospitality peers have shared about working with Cassie.
Why Book Cassie Davison
Cassie brings a rare combination of lived experience, strategic clarity and emotional intelligence to every room she enters. With more than three decades at the heart of hospitality and a career shaped by both the triumphs and the pressures of building from scratch, she speaks with authority, empathy and truth.
Her work through Kith & Kin and Stand Out Hospitality is shaping a new narrative for the sector — one that values emotional connection as much as commercial success and reframes resilience in a way that feels human, hopeful and practical.
Cassie’s talks are for leaders who want more than motivation.
They want perspective, clarity and the courage to build businesses that truly stand out.
Get in Touch
Want to book Cassie, collaborate, or request a media kit?