Pauline Lukale’s love for the hospitality sector is indisputable, and as soon as one listens to her, it is obvious that she strongly wants to make the best out of hospitality.  The Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management student is anxiously waiting to travel to Ireland for an international one-year paid work experience as part of the train-abroad programme offered by the School of Tourism and Hospitality (STH). She is currently working at the Radisson Blu Hotel.

Macheo Beneficiary

She was a beneficiary of the Macheo Programme, an education and mentorship program run by Strathmore University under the Community Service Centre; it empowers secondary school students from disadvantaged backgrounds to excel in their academics, develop character and access opportunities to join university and other tertiary institutions. “When I was in Macheo, we came to Strathmore every Saturday for tuition and mentoring. I always looked forward to joining Strathmore,” she said.

Pauline took part in various extra-curricular activities among them being athletics and football in the annual Sports Day. She was also a member of the Hospitality and Tourism students’ society (HATSS) where her appetite for fun, adventure, exploration and expedition was satiated. HATSS also honed her interpersonal skills through personal development and networking opportunities.

Winners of the 2019 EuroCHRIE challenge

Together with her classmates, Pauline took part in the 2019 EuroCHRIE challenge where they emerged winners. They competed against Modul University (Austria), Stenden University (South Africa), Stenden University (The Netherlands), and Breda University of Applied Sciences (The Netherlands). This was the second time that STH students participated in the competition and won.

Strathmore experience

Studying in Strathmore has been a life changing experience to Pauline. “The exposure that Strathmore offered was of great importance to me,” she remarked. She also attributes her great achievement to her hard work and support from great lecturers who propelled her towards attaining a first class honors. Pauline said that one of her lecturers, Dr. Lucy Gikonyo, the Academic Director and senior lecturer in STH, is her role model. “Dr. Gikonyo is very positive and optimistic. She truly inspires me,” she added.

Speaking on the impact that Strathmore had on her, Pauline said that she learnt the need to be elegant not only in school but in the job environment, “You are addressed according to how you are dressed,” she emphasized. She also noted the need of integrity and proper morals in an individual’s life.

Dean’s list honors

Pauline was determined to go to greater lengths just to succeed. One of the reasons why she was pulling out all the stops, was because she was always aspired to be included in the Dean’s list. “I was a Financial Aid beneficiary, therefore, I had to work hard to maintain the scholarship,” she added.  Pauline also acknowledged the place of God in her life as she always prioritized Him in whatever she undertook.

In her final year project, Pauline wrote about the impact of digital customer experience and hospitality experience on guest satisfaction in hotels. The research had three objectives: To explore the relationship between digital customer experience and hospitality experience; to identify the relationship between holistic customer experience and guest satisfaction, and to establish the perception of guests regarding their digital and hospitality experience. During her spare time, she enjoys trying out new recipes, and reading classical novels.

 

 

This article was written by Odhiambo Obonyo

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