Calvin's Journey in Hospitality and Entrepreneurship

Sep 30, 2024

Notes from Calvin's TEDx Salon Presentation

Introduction

  • Name: Calvin
  • Recent graduate from University of Surrey (6 months ago)
  • Studied Hospitality and Tourism Management
  • Chose this field due to a love for hospitality, food, and tourism
  • Previous residence: Australia

Academic Experience

Course Structure

  • Combination of theory and practical experience
    • Hosted own event at Lakeside Restaurant
    • Learned about marketing, sales, and event promotion
  • Significant learning through hands-on activities rather than just textbook studies

Tourism Theory in Practice Module

  • Took a research trip to Morocco for 8 days
    • Studied local impacts of tourism on businesses, especially income
    • Visited local markets to observe tourist behavior

Involvement in Student Union

  • Served on the Student Union Exec team in second year
    • Elected as international officer (position no longer exists due to structural changes)
    • Encouraged participation in student elections and campaigns
  • Gained leadership experience, organization, and time management skills
  • Weekly meetings to enhance student experience
  • Participated in various societies and clubs
    • Examples: Photoshock, Slack TV, Surf, and Judo
      • Judo was not well-received—"got beat up every week"
    • Committee positions in gospel choir, wine stack magazine, etc.

Benefits of Student Involvement

  • Active participation enhances CV and career prospects
  • Learned valuable skills beyond academic curriculum
  • Encouraged others to get involved due to limited time as a student

Placement Year Experience

  • Worked in various positions to gain practical experience
    • Front office at Langham Place Hotel in Hong Kong
    • Media design company for 3 months
    • Event agency (Uniplan) for another 3 months
  • Emphasized importance of gaining work experience before graduation

Graduation and Launching ShushiLab

  • Graduated in July and opened ShushiLab in October
  • Inspiration for business came from a love for sushi and Japanese culture
  • Planning began in November 2015; focused on finding premises in Guildford
    • Encountered challenges due to limited restaurant spaces
    • Successfully secured a location after several months
  • Opened on October 29, after extensive preparation and promotion

Restaurant Theme and Operations

  • Aimed for a fun, playful, and colorful dining environment
  • Started offering catering and events in addition to regular dining
  • Highlighted the effort and time required to launch the business
    • Experience of sleepless nights and hands-on work leading up to the opening

Conclusion

  • Encouraged audience to follow their passions and learn from experiences
  • Opened the floor for questions
  • Expressed hope that presentation was inspiring to others

These notes summarize key points from Calvin's presentation, including his educational background, involvement in student activities, work experiences, and the journey of starting his business.