Student Stories

Forget about yesterday, don’t bother with tomorrow. Today is the first day of you starting something. – Dylan Tan

Could you share with us your current role as an Assistant Director of Sales (Sentosa) at a hotel group?

As part of the Sales and Marketing team on the Sentosa Cluster, I source and liaise with Multinational Corporations (MNCs) and local agencies to host their Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) events.

Due to the Covid-19, I have also taken on an additional role and perform lateral operational services to ensure a safe and comfortable environment for our guests.

What are the challenges you faced in your current role and how did you overcome them?

While many might think hotel sales refer to the selling of rooms or maximising room occupancy, it is really about the people and how we make them feel.

Ranging from staff who are internal customers and guests of the hotels, every day we deal with people from a diverse range of backgrounds with individual needs and wants. It is not just a challenge but rewarding when we get it done beautifully.

Clear communication is not the only prerequisite, but often we need to do a paradigm shift and see from the perspective of others to understand the what, why and how. Only then can we truly serve what they need.

What motivates you every day when you go to work?

I think keeping your work fresh is a good motivation. Seeing every day as a new day with different sets of tasks prevents you from being trapped by dogma. Repetitive and uninspiring work can lead to complacency and the death of ideas. Every day is a fresh start where yesterday’s mistake doesn’t matter and today is an opportunity to create something new. That really excites me.

What made you take up the Bachelor of Arts Business Management (Top-Up) at PSB Academy? How did this programme add value to your career?  

 I have been in the Sales & Marketing line for almost a decade; when I took up this programme, many said that an additional paper isn’t going to help me close more deals, but I disagreed. As a firm believer in continuous learning, I believe acquiring new skills and knowledge is an ongoing process.

While I have many years of experience as a practitioner, the course honed my analytical skill, which aided me in articulating the market insights to my bosses clearly. This is important when you are in a mid-level leadership role with bosses and teammates to explain and convince.

What do you think are some of the important skills and knowledge to survive in today’s fast-paced economy, and do you think your education with PSB Academy has helped you cultivate them?

Today’s economy is ever-evolving and not just in a linear direction. To thrive in a dynamic marketplace, you need to be equipped with multiple skill sets to add value to any company. With the Covid-19, the job redesign has ensured that having one set of skills or profession is not enough.

What advice would you like to give to students who are interested in taking a similar course?

Like what I had experienced, I think the most common question prospective students might have when considering taking up a course is whether they can complete it.

The answer is yes. Many of us who have various commitments in our lives have come before you and done it. So can you.