I studied at the Swiss Hotel School in 2000–2001. I didn’t realise then how much the education, culture and values from Kuno Tschumi and Jörg Vontobel would shape my career. My inspiration at the time was the late Sol Kerzner.
For my final practical, I worked as a Commis Chef in Schaffhausen, north of Zurich, at Die Fischerzunft under Chef Andre Jaeger. It pushed me harder than anything before. The Swiss demand precision and discipline — it sets my standard for work and life.
After graduating, I joined the Palace of the Lost City in Sun City, where I eventually managed the Crystal Court and moved into senior F&B roles. I then opened a resort in Egypt as Director of F&B. While there, a Swiss contact approached me about a pre-opening role at Atlantis The Palm in Dubai, owned by Sol Kerzner. I opened six Michelin-level celebrity restaurants as Director of F&B and worked closely with Sol himself on concepts and trends. Every skill and lesson from SHS mattered there.
From Dubai, I became Hotel Manager at One&Only in the Bahamas, then spent six years with Shangri-La across Shanghai, Dubai, Oman, Doha, Colombo and Bangkok.
I’m grateful to SHS and to Kuno and Jörg for believing in me and sending a Durban student to Switzerland. Whatever path you choose in hospitality, remember “mise en place.” When opportunity arrives, you must be ready.
