Zikhona Mduzulwana
Zikhona Mduzulwana is steadily building a career defined by growth and determination. Since graduating from the International Hotel School in 2019, she has worked her way up through a variety of hospitality roles — gaining experience across departments and discovering a passion for operations along the way.
“I graduated in 2019, and before completing my studies, I was noticed by the Operations Manager at the hotel where I was doing my Work Integrated Learning (WIL). They invited me to return after graduation to work with them — and I did.
I worked for 4 months in the restaurant as a waiter, then there was an opening at front desk for a receptionist which I applied for and got in permanently. I worked for year and 7 months then I was promoted to Service Manager.
In 2022, I realised that I needed more and wanted a challenge, so I moved around looking for that challenge – from Blaauwberg Beach Hotel as a Service Manager to Neighbourgood as a Host until I found it at The Bay Hotel as a Duty Manager. I worked there for a year, and it was such an amazing experience for me as I gained a lot of experience during that time but had to leave as it was too far to travel to every day. Finally, I got my recent position as Assistant Front Office Manager at the Onomo Cape Town Foreshore hotel.
IHS has equipped me with so much that I’m able to manoeuvre all the departments with ease. I am grateful that I have set a goal for myself that in the next 10 years, I want to be in operations because that is where I feel I excel – in either Rooms Division or Operations Manager. That is the goal I’ll be working towards for the next coming years.”
Now serving as Assistant Front Office Manager at the Onomo Cape Town Foreshore hotel, Zikhona is setting her sights high, with a goal to step into operations leadership in the years ahead. Her journey shows how a strong foundation, a willingness to embrace change and consistent hard work can open doors to exciting new opportunities.
