As the owner of a start-up that focuses on elevating the service level of the hospitality industry through training and motivational events, all her work essentially stopped and Elizabeth had to make sure she kept her company agile during the crisis to ensure sustained operations. She had to make the tough decision whether to terminate or delay current projects and events, some which had taken a lot of resources and time to prepare. To quickly adapt to the new environment, Elizabeth leveraged her entrepreneurial skills to seek new opportunities that have arisen. Some clients who were not impacted as severely as others were still in the planning stages seeking for hospitality services; other opportunities, such as elderly care facilities looking for hospitality components also arose. Elizabeth’s team also set up a mentorship program through WeChat, where GMs and senior leaders from the hospitality community mentored over 60 people virtually. This was a great way to raise awareness of their platform and improve morale of the hospitality community at the same time. As a business owner during times like these, Elizabeth mentioned the importance of taking time to assess the business and situation. It is essential to look at facts and numbers objectively, strategize accordingly, and adapt quickly with the team to the new environment. In her experience, it is important not fixate on something that is out of your control and instead think outside of the box and look for new opportunities.
