Hajah Mohideen, now in his 60s, has devoted more than 40 years to building his career in the hospitality industry—a journey born from challenging circumstances that ultimately led him to discover his true passion.

Things were not always smooth sailing in his teenage years, as financial difficulties at home compelled him to halt his education and start working to support himself. Armed with little more than grit and an unwavering determination to learn and grow, he began his career taking on entry-level roles in hotel operations, including concierge and admin assistant.

From the very beginning, Hajah recognised that upskilling was key to advancing his career and standing out as a Stewarding Manager in the hospitality industry. Over the years, he honed his skills through on-the-job experience and training programmes. As the industry evolved, he saw the growing importance of sustainability in hotel operations and decided to enrol in the Zero Waste Manager course at NTUC LearningHub to stay relevant and continue adding value at work.

Through the programme, Hajah built a strong foundation in sustainability principles that he could apply to his daily work. The course deepened his understanding of practices that help organisations meet Singapore’s environmental and waste management requirements and standards, including embedding the 3R principles of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle into everyday operations. Beyond acquiring technical knowledge and clarifying concepts with industry-expert trainers, Hajah especially valued the opportunity to engage with fellow coursemates from diverse professional backgrounds during peer-sharing sessions, gaining fresh insights and perspectives along the way.

Building on what he learned from the course, Hajah now brings a sharper focus on sustainability to his workplace. He applies his skills across kitchen operations, waste management, and hygiene by introducing new initiatives to drive greater efficiency and environmental responsibility. For example, he helped his team find better ways to handle and reduce food waste. Hajah also encourages them to think about sustainability in their everyday work, creating a more mindful and responsible workplace. His upskilling journey has boosted his confidence and inspired greater sustainability awareness across his team. 

Forging ahead, Hajah remains committed to lifelong learning and growth. He hopes to broaden his understanding of sustainability and stay attuned to emerging trends channelling this knowledge into his passion for giving back to the community through initiatives that create lasting impact.

For Hajah, the lesson is simple: “Learning doesn’t stop because of age—it’s what keeps you young at heart and ready for new challenges”.