Following the hugely successful launch of its Leadership Series last year, SMU Travel & Hospitality Alumni Group hosted its second instalment on 12 October 2017 with a fireside chat with Dan Lynn, Co-Founder of ZUZU Hospitality Solutions and board member of Swiss-based Movenpick Hotels & Resorts. This event was also done in conjunction with the SMU Office of Alumni Relations, under the Alumni Professional Development Series.
The intimate session attracted alumni professionals coming together to learn about career growth and setting career goals. The attendees were treated to an insightful session as Dan shared his personal career journey and life lessons from being an employee to a successful entrepreneur today. During the session, Dan shared his advice on career planning by setting career objectives as principles, not end points. With many thought-provoking real-life examples, Dan emphasised the importance of understanding one's passion and motivation in order to make progress.
The participants benefited from his very generous, honest and personal sharing. The 90-minute presentation was followed by a fruitful Q&A discussion where participants raised great questions around mid-career planning, switching industries, workplace challenges and many more. The session closed with casual networking and mingling over drinks.
For those who missed the session, here are the 13 key takeaways:
Career Principles
1. Help others succeed
2. Always give your all
3. Pursue new opportunities
4. Nothing stands still
5. Culture is a function of the way you behave every day
6. Make lots of small bets, and understand optionality
7. Enjoy yourself
8. Don't pursue things for the wrong reason
9. Be impeccable with your word
10. Prioritize and iterate
11. Trust others to do what is right
12. Relentlessly focus on how you add value
13. Never stop learning
Article credit: Chng Pei Ying ( BBM 2014), Head of Marketing & Public Relations, SMU Travel & Hospitality Alumni Group
Upcoming in the Alumni Professional Development Series
Professional Development Fireside Chat: Global Megatrends and Innovations for Tomorrow’s Businesses
(16 November 2017, Thursday, 6.30 – 9.30 pm, Function Room 4.1, SMU Administrative Building)
Register here.
For queries, contact jeaninechen@smu.edu.sg