Q+A with Lauren Sosnowsky, Head Bartender at Hobo Hotel, Stockholm
I met Lauren Sosnowsky on my very first day at the Hobo Hotel in Stockholm where she is the Head Bartender. She’s a recent transplant to Stockholm from Canada. Of course, I was immediately intrigued by such an ambitious move.
Her backstory on how she came to hospitality is interesting as well. Growing up, she was a competitive dancer specializing in jazz and ballet. She went on to college to study Kinesiology and Applied Health with the goal of becoming a physiotherapist.
While getting her degree, she worked at a local restaurant. What especially drew her to hospitality was the ability to immediately impact guests’ well-being in so many ways, big and small. The restaurant/bar quickly became her second home and coming to work became her favorite part of the day. Goodbye physiotherapy!
The company she worked for provided growth and opportunities, moving her initially to Miami and then to Boston as a restaurant manager, but she found her passion was for bartending. She moved back to Canada and practiced her craft at one of the first cocktail bars in Vancouver.
It was there that she also met her boyfriend, who had recently moved to Canada from Italy. Not long afterwards, they decided they wanted to expand their horizons and Sweden presented a great opportunity. The rest, as they say is history.
Read on below for Lauren’s Q+A.
What are people most curious about when they see your title?
- There is a lot of confusion over the difference between a bar manager and head bartender. They think it means I am entering lots of bartending competitions when in fact, I’m overseeing bar operations, implementing efficiency systems, and inspiring the team with our drink strategy to create our cocktail menus.
What is something that your friends would consider “so you”?
- Post it notes and notebooks. They’re everywhere.
What are some of your personal “rules” that you never break?
- I always wash my hands before eating. As soon as my food comes to the table, I get up and wash my hands.
What do you wish you knew more about?
- Computer programming. I would love to understand the inner workings of webpages and programs.
What is something you think everyone should do at least once in their lives?
- Skydive. Even if you’re afraid of heights the feeling that you get in suspension is like nothing you have experienced before.
- Also, travel to at least one foreign country. There is only so much people can learn from television and the internet. Not the same as being immersed in another culture, completely out of your comfort zone. Travel may not be for everyone but everyone learns something about themselves when they do travel.
Three people alive or dead that you would like to have dinner with?
- Jim Clemente (FBI profiler), Dave Arnold (Booker and Dax), Ernest Hemingway
What’s your hidden talent?
- I am a really good baker. I take a lot of the leftover fruit home and bake with it (juice pulp, strawberry ends, infused spices that we use for our spirits).
What’s the first career you dreamed of having as a kid?
- I wanted to be a garbage man, the truck was so cool to me, or an employee at Robins Doughnuts (before Tim Hortons was big), so I could get a lifetime supply of doughnuts.
What’s one thing about you that surprises people?
- I am very emotional and sensitive. It has taken me years to learn to separate work and emotion and see facts as facts, but I still have days where I will analyze everything and every conversation to try and not get emotional about a “bad” day.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
- Your personal value is not a direct reflection of your work.
- It’s OK to be happy.
Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your 18-year-old self?
- Work life balance is the key to success. A good work ethic is a natural part of you, but work doesn’t need to be all of you.
If you had to choose only 3 adjectives to describe yourself, which would you choose?
- Passionate, caring, supportive
What did you have to give up to achieve your current level of success?
- Watching my nephew grow up and the countless family and friend moments in the past 5 years. There’s only so much video messaging you can do.
Who are your role models or mentors?
- The beverage director of my old company, Cam Bogue (Corporate Beverage Director, Earls Restaurants) inspired me on every aspect of this industry. His knowledge, passion, creativity, innovation, and outlook on hospitality, is something that has shaped me and I would never be where I am today without knowing, and working, for him. The support – and constantly being pushed to be better – is something for which I will be forever grateful.
- My old general manager, Justin Heyninck, is the perfect balance of confidence, fun, energy, and brilliance. I would not be the same person today without knowing him. He taught me more about myself and how to balance this crazy industry than anyone – and I live those same lessons daily.
What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken?
- I left amazing jobs, and irreplaceable friends in Canada and moved to Sweden with my boyfriend after dating less than 6 months.