Chikako Shimizu has joined the new Andaz Singapore as its director of operations, moving from Grand Hyatt Singapore where she was executive assistant manager
You started your career in hospitality as a café waitress at Hyatt Regency Osaka, rising far up today as director of operations. What made you stick with this industry for so long?
It was my passion to connect with people and from a young age, I always knew my calling was to be working outside of Japan and travelling the world. I always enjoy interacting with people from all walks of life as I find that a hospitality career experience offers exactly that. I think there aren’t many jobs in the world that would allow me the opportunity to hear incredible personal stories and be part of their memories from all over the world!
You’ve held a variety of roles. How do you think this has helped you in advancing your career in the hospitality industry?
Hyatt is not only a great place to work, it is also a great place to grow, in terms of career advancement. For every role that I have taken on, the training sessions are often carefully curated to ensure that I am equipped with the right knowledge, skills and attitude in order to deliver my best and move on to greater roles as I progress. Hyatt has crafted a career with and for me that’s based on my interests and strengths. Plus, my superiors have always been (and still are) very encouraging and supportive towards me in my journey – they are like my extended family; distant relatives.
Security is among your responsibilities as director of operations. Is this a responsibility new to you?
The security aspect is indeed new to me and fortunately for me here at Andaz Singapore, I have a stellar team of experienced individuals and I rely on them to perform the jobs they are great at. We have a security manager who has more than 40 years of experience, and he has been an integral part in our pre-opening phase and I am learning so much from him.
