Sheila Adjetey-Anum, Managing Director of Ridge Royal Hotel in Cape Coast, began her career as a housekeeping attendant despite holding a degree. She shared this detail on Thursday, October 22, during an interview at the iNTTA Expo held at her hotel.
Adjetey-Anum used her own progression within the hospitality industry to challenge expectations among graduates who aim for managerial roles and large salaries immediately after school. “I started as a housekeeping attendant and all that, with a degree. Yes, with a degree,” she said.
With about 20 years in the industry, Adjetey-Anum explained that rising from entry-level jobs to senior management required patience, effort, and continuous learning. Before her current role, she managed several hotels, gaining practical experience along the way.
She criticised the mindset that graduates should start with high salaries and leadership positions straight out of university. “Everybody thinks after the degree, I should start with 5,000 (Cedis). I should start as a manager. But what are you bringing to the table?” she asked.
Adjetey-Anum said career advancement depended on combining education with work experience and proving value to employers through demonstrated capability rather than relying solely on academic qualifications. She advised graduates to be ready to put in hard work and learn on the job.
“You need education plus work experience to be able to earn as much as you want,” she said. She also urged young people to manage their finances carefully and give themselves time to reach their career goals.
“Hard work always pays. They say smart work these days, but also hard work pays,” Adjetey-Anum added.
Her remarks came during the iNTTA Expo, which gathered tourism and hospitality stakeholders, investors, and businesses to discuss investment opportunities and strategies to grow Ghana’s tourism sector. The second day of the expo, themed “From Vision to Transactions,” took place on October 22 and included conversations about tourism, hospitality, energy infrastructure, agribusiness, and health tourism.
Adjetey-Anum’s career path reflects a long-term approach to professional growth, one that contrasts with the impatience she sees among many new graduates.
According to Joy Online.
