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Recently, the School of Business (SoB) and School of Global Hospitality and Tourism (SGHT) at Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) hosted an engaging industry talk titled “Your First Business Could Be a Hotel… Without Owning One.”

Led by Ms Cynthia Mala Paul Dorairaj (Lecturer, SoB at APU), the talk provided students with an opportunity to explore entrepreneurship beyond conventional business ownership, while gaining insights into the realities of building, adapting, and growing a business within the hospitality industry, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 4, 8, 9, and 17 (SDG 4, SDG 8, SDG 9, and SDG 17).

The talk featured Ms Debbie Leow, Managing Director of Mana Mana Holdings, who shared her entrepreneurial journey and more than 18 years of experience in the hospitality industry.

Drawing from her background in revenue analysis, sales management, hospitality operations, and business growth, Ms Debbie demonstrated how industry knowledge, strategic thinking, and an entrepreneurial mindset can be transformed into opportunities for business development. 

First Segment: Looking Beyond Traditional Business Models

In the first segment of the talk, Ms Debbie shared how businesses can be built through approaches that extend beyond conventional models of ownership.

She introduced students to how opportunities within the hospitality industry can be developed through property management, strategic partnerships, branding, technology, customer experience, and effective revenue strategies.

The discussion also encouraged students to look beyond traditional business structures and consider how creative business models and the strategic use of resources can create new opportunities for growth.

By exploring how different elements of a business can work together, students gained a broader perspective on how entrepreneurs can create value, respond to market needs, and develop sustainable business opportunities without relying solely on asset ownership. 

Second Segment: Adapting through Challenges

The following segment focused on Ms Debbie’s experience of moving beyond an established corporate career to pursue entrepreneurship; offering students a candid perspective on the challenges involved in starting and growing a business.

Beginning a business during the challenging period of COVID-19 demonstrated that entrepreneurship is rarely a straightforward journey.

Instead, resilience, adaptability, calculated risk-taking, and the ability to recognise opportunities during periods of uncertainty can play an important role in sustaining and growing a business.

Her experiences encouraged students to view challenges not only as obstacles, but also as opportunities to reassess strategies, adapt to changing circumstances, and explore new possibilities; reinforcing the importance of remaining resilient and adaptable throughout the entrepreneurial journey. 

Third Segment: Exploring Entrepreneurship Across Disciplines

The final segment of the talk saw Ms Debbie draw together perspectives from different disciplines, highlighting how diverse areas of expertise can contribute to entrepreneurship and business development.

Students explored how technology and automation can improve business operations, how accounting and financial knowledge can support revenue management, how engineering solutions can contribute to process efficiency, and how business strategy and customer-focused approaches can strengthen hospitality operations.

The interactive discussion encouraged students to consider how knowledge gained through their respective programmes could be applied to entrepreneurial opportunities across different industries; broadening their understanding of how interdisciplinary knowledge can support innovation, problem-solving, and business growth. 

Student Perspectives

A few perspective from students:

1. Lee Sheng Jay: “Ms Debbie’s journey showed me that a rocky start does not mean failure right away, and her courage to pursue entrepreneurship despite the challenges was particularly inspiring.”
2. Guillaume Matheo Montille: “The talk helped me understand that hospitality goes beyond simply delivering a service, as understanding customer expectations and making guests feel recognised and valued are essential to creating a positive experience and building a successful hospitality business.”
3. Vindiya: “The talk gave me a better understanding of how different areas of knowledge can come together to address real-world challenges, while encouraging me to think more creatively about applying what i have learned in practical settings.”
4. Rabii Boudhina: “Learning about Ms Debbie’s journey broadened my perspective on entrepreneurship and the different factors that can contribute to business growth.”
    

Turning Insights into Opportunities

Overall, the talk not only offered students a broader perspective on entrepreneurship, but also encouraged them to translate the insights shared into new ways of thinking about business, innovation, and opportunity.

Prof Dr Kashif Hussain (Senior Head, SoB and SGHT at APU) emphasised the importance of industry exposure in broadening students’ understanding beyond the classroom, particularly by giving them a closer look at the realities of entrepreneurship, business development, and adapting to changing circumstances.

“Such experiences encourage students to apply their academic knowledge to real-world situations, while developing greater confidence in exploring new ideas, identifying opportunities, and approaching challenges with an adaptable and entrepreneurial mindset.”

Ultimately, the talk reinforced that entrepreneurship begins with the ability to recognise opportunities, respond to challenges, and transform ideas into meaningful ventures; encouraging students to approach their academic, professional, and entrepreneurial journeys with greater confidence.