Dr Lisa-Mari Coughlan is a senior lecturer at the Central University of Technology Hotel School. Earlier this year, she received the Faculty of Management Sciences Vice-Chancellors Excellence Award in the category Advanced Career Teaching. “It is an honour to be an award recipient in the Management Faculty with so many inspiring and hardworking colleagues. I am also grateful for having received my third VC’s award during my time at CUT. I have put a lot of effort into my teaching and appreciate the acknowledgement.” We had an e-talk with Dr Coughlan about her success.

Have you always been interested in Hospitality?

As high school learner, I toyed with the idea of becoming a teacher, but the hospitality industry won me over. Fancy restaurants and hotels exuding glamour and style, hosting celebrities and leaders of nations and creating lifelong memories for guests is what I dreamed of being part of.

What is your favourite part of the industry?

Food! Like most people on the planet, I have always enjoyed food and relished studying it, especially through my PhD research. I love the story behind the food on your plate. The passion that went into cultivating every ingredient; the journey the food and its producers have taken; the different cultures you can experience through eating and the memory created by having a unique dish. Eating predominantly plant-based myself has also made me more aware of nourishing your body for optimum health while keeping food intriguing.

What did you wish you knew 10 years ago?

Except maybe for knowing which stocks to invest in, nothing else. I am a firm believer of enjoying every phase of your life and choose to be mindful of today rather than looking back.

What is the best decision you ever made?

Doing my master’s degree full time. This allowed me to focus on propelling my academic career before having to split my attention between studies, work, and raising a family.

What advice would you give to anyone interested in the hospitality industry, especially considering the major impact COVID-19 had on many hospitality businesses?

Persevere. We are a bunch of creatives in the hospitality industry. I have heard some amazing ideas that restaurants and hotels have come up within this time to keep their doors open and their staff employed. Business might look different going forward, but we will serve again!

Dr Coughlan highlights the impact that educators are making in the lives of students. “One encouragement can stick with a student, change their attitude, and alter the course of their future.”