Hearing other people’s experiences can be so useful when you are trying to figure out the best way forward for your career. As a ‘people’ centred industry, we are lucky that the majority of the hospitality professionals I have come across are also ‘people’ champions – and are prepared to offer any help or support to their colleagues. This kind of discussion forms the basis of my business, and I really enjoy how discussions evolve and ideas form from initial conversations about how I began, and where my clients are now.
I thought it would be useful to share some general information on how I got into the industry – maybe you will find it useful for where you are now.
I was always going to go to Medical School and after taking Science A-Levels and attending the scariest interview ever, I was offered a place. This was the culmination of 10 years of saying that I would one day become a Doctor, but in the summer before I was due to go, I suddenly realised that something didn’t feel right about the decision and I decided that I needed to revaluate my future plans. I didn’t have a clue what to do instead, but I knew that I loved being super organised and writing detailed project plans. I also enjoyed the buzz of dealing with people and the idea of creating experiences that other people would remember forever.
While searching for a new Degree course, I came across the Hospitality Management Degree at Oxford Brookes University and something clicked – and so my journey began. Twenty years later and I have experienced so much in the industry. I have worked up from my first entry-level Events Administrator role, mixed in food and beverage operations, trained in Event Health & Safety, spent many years running large Conferences and Exhibitions and have now moved in mentoring and training – driven by a love of inspiring other people to join, or stay, in this amazing industry which offers unparelled (in my opinion) opportunities and such a variety of roles that there really is something to suit everyone.