Thigam Nathoo obtained a Diploma in Hotel Management at the (then) M L Sultan Hotel School graduating top of her class in 1986. She was employed as an Assistant Executive Housekeeper at the Tropicana Hotel, until she resigned to start a family. In 1995 Thigam began her foray into tertiary education and lectured on a part time basis at The M. L. Sultan Hotel School whilst studying toward a degree in education at UNISA.Thigam was promoted to various positions within The International Hotel School, and served as Managing Principal of the South African Campus from 2002, which is when she commenced studying toward a Masters Degree in Education, specializing in Higher Education, at the University of Kwa Zulu Natal.One of her main roles was the planning and coordinating of the annual Academic Conference involving the Academic staff from all the campuses.Thigam missed the student interaction and went back to her first love, lecturing…at the DUT Hotel School on a part time basis from August 2009 until November 2010 where she taught Event Management, Accommodation Management, Hospitality Management and a subject close to her heart…Service Excellence. Thigam is currently Academic Director of the South African Hospitality Institute and handles recruitment, lecturing, workplace learning placements, cooking demonstrations, motivational talks on career choices and studying, as well as student academic support. She firmly believes in service excellence and lives by the personal credo of: Service above self!