Alice Mafaity (IMHI 01) is the General Manager of the HYATT PARIS MADELEINE. She was kind enough to share with us her experience after IMHI.

I  joined IMHI after a master degree in management at La Sorbonne university. I guess hospitality came from our travel throughout France and abroad as a family while growing up. I was not fully clear on what i wanted to aim for when i started IHMI, but i knew it would help me to work abroad., I also decided to pursue it as an apprentice in a consulting firm. As I did not come from a classic hotel background study, the apprenticeship enabled me to enter working life in the industry and to discover all the opportunities in the hotel business would offer. I finally graduated in 2001 knowing that i wanted to continue in operation to become a GM and possibly at some point to bounce back in consulting.

The most I remember and appreciated at IMHI was the diversity of our group with students coming from across the world. That definitely gave some great team projects interaction and for sure it helped me afterwards with culture change in my roles abroad. I also very much enjoyed how all the teacher always pushed us to deep dive in so many topics, it was never enough, and internet research seem to never end. Finally being an apprentice fully added value to the program having to balance projects within IMHI and for the firm that would often add value to one another.

After IMHI I joined Hilton group as a manager in the F&B department. For me Hilton was the opportunity to join an international brand and to quickly move abroad. After 4 years working for them in Paris I then moved to Tokyo as Assistant F&B manager. I joined the Jumeirah group in 2008  as Director F&B and then hotel manager for their property in Shanghai. After 3 years in Hong Kong and over 15 years abroad  I headed back home in Paris to take on soon after my first GM role at the Hyatt Paris Madeleine. As a GM what I mostly enjoy is supporting people to grow in their careers and be as confident as I have learned to do so for myself.

What i am most proud of in my  career is my International experience. Funny enough you only actually realize that its not easy to live abroad when you settle back home. Its been so enriching to discover so many different culture, learning to adapt to others especially when in management positions. I cannot say I have enjoyed one experience better then the other, they have all been amazing and so enriching. I have always moved in my career challenging myself to learn something new professionally or personally and its worked very well so far. All my experiences good and more challenging have given me more strength and confidence to take on more responsibilities. Today I am also very proud of driving our France Women@Hyatt program providing all with the reassurance that we are giving opportunity to all to create a career path that aligns with their desire for professional and personal development, without any restraint or barrier.

My world of advice to IMHI graduate is to fully enjoy every moment as it goes so fast. Its such a great learning experience at every level.  Some days might be challenging but it’s only for the best and unbelievable memories. Network is key to really deep dive  and start your career with full confidence.