This month, Kostuch Media Limited's (KML) annual Top-30-Under-30 were announced that celebrates top young professionals of Canada's hospitality and foodservice industry.

This year's list of top young professionals featured four alumni from U of G's Gordon S. Lang School of Business & Economics, School of Hospitality, Food & Tourism Management. 

In this Q&A feature, Sarah Douglas, HAFA Co-op '18 and Regional Customer Development Manager, Diageo Canada discusses how Lang/UofG helped her career launch, why she chose to study hospitality/tourism at the U of G and what she loves about the industry.

Find out more about the Top-30-Under-30 and previous winners here [1].

How has your education at the U of G helped you build your skills and experience to become a young leader in the HFTM industry?

The university played a vital role in laying the groundwork for my career development. Its curriculum consisted of courses that not only provided a hospitality-focused perspective but also tackled the latest challenges and trends within the industry. The opportunity to participate in extracurricular clubs and activities allowed for practical application of classroom concepts while working on other essential skills like networking and public speaking. Some of my most memorable experiences took place at the HTCC case competitions and weekly HFTMSA meetings.

Why did you choose to study hospitality/tourism at U of G

Upon realizing that the original science program I was enrolled in at Guelph was not providing me with a sense of fulfillment, I made the decision to explore other educational options that would ignite my excitement for the remainder of my academic journey. My love of food and working with people led me to switch into the HAFA program but also, I was attracted to the valuable opportunity to gain practical work experience through coop.

What is it about working in the hospitality industry that you love?

The combination of meaningful social interactions, the chance to connect with diverse individuals, the range of career opportunities, and the collaborative nature of the industry makes working in hospitality truly fulfilling for me. It allows me to continuously grow, learn, and contribute to creating memorable experiences for others while nurturing a positive and vibrant work environment.

Learn more [2] about the School of Hospitality, Food & Tourism Management at the University of Guelph.