Future Game Changers | Elsa de Sain

Elsa de Sain

My name is Elsa de Sain, and I am currently a third-year student at Hotel Management School Maastricht. I am following both minors within the Horizons in Hospitality track. I am originally from Hilversum, and next to being Dutch, I am also half French, which gives me an international perspective.
From a young age, I have had a strong passion for helping others, which is what naturally led me into the world of hospitality. For me, hospitality is not just about service, but about creating meaningful experiences and connections with people.

Elsa's experience

I am currently participating in the HSMAI Career Start Programme 2026, where I follow the Marketing track. Each week, I attend online sessions led by industry professionals, focusing on different marketing topics. These sessions combine theory with real-life examples and allow for interaction with other participants, which makes the learning experience very practical and engaging. Through this programme, I gain insights into how marketing strategies are applied in the hospitality industry and how professionals approach real business challenges.

In addition, I serve on the board of Study Association IRIS as Internationalization & Communication Officer. Within this role, I am responsible for both the online and physical marketing of the association. This includes managing platforms such as Instagram and LinkedIn and ensuring that IRIS is visible and accessible within the school environment. At the same time, my role goes beyond marketing alone. I also focus on making information within the school more accessible and understandable for students, while contributing to building an inclusive and connected community through internationalization.

What I find particularly interesting is how I can directly apply what I learn in the HSMAI programme within my role at IRIS. For example, insights on posting strategies, such as the timing of content and the use of different tones of voice across platforms, help me better reach and engage our target audience. This combination of learning and immediately applying knowledge in a real-life context has significantly strengthened my understanding of marketing and communication. What skills or insights have you developed here at HMSM that you otherwise wouldn’t have had?

During my time at HMSM, I have developed both leadership and communication skills. Due to the amount of group work within the curriculum, I have learned how to clearly express my ideas and collaborate effectively.  
Through my extracurricular activities, I have been able to further strengthen these skills in practice. Additionally, I have learned how important networking is, both within the school environment and in the wider hospitality industry for both personal and professional development.

Elsa's values

The HMSM value that resonates most with me is connection. I believe that within hospitality, creating real connection through empathy and understanding is what truly makes a difference. It is about understanding the person behind the experience and creating a sense of belonging. At the same time, I do believe that all values are interconnected and together form the foundation of what hospitality stands for.

During my first minor, I worked with a real client and their customers. I was able to build a strong connection with both the client and their clients, which helped create trust and openness. This resulted in a better workflow and ultimately a stronger outcome.
Within the Academic Council, I experienced something similar. At the beginning, it was challenging to find my place and voice within an existing group. However, over time I built strong connections with the other members, which improved collaboration and made discussions more open and effective. Another example is during my studies, where building connections with both teachers and fellow students helped me gain additional support, such as extra tutor sessions and different perspectives. This ultimately helped me pass my exams and continue my studies successfully.

Elsa's ambition

At the moment, I am still exploring my exact future path, but I am interested in pursuing a career within Human Resources, people and culture, relationship management, or marketing. What these fields have in common is working closely with people and creating meaningful interactions.

The school supports my growth through the minors I am following, as well as through the strong network and connections I am able to build. The overall curriculum also includes many aspects related to my fields of interest, allowing me to explore different directions and develop relevant skills through teachers, literature and materials used during class. 

In five to ten years, I hope to be in a managerial role within one of my fields of interest. At the same time, I remain open to other opportunities, as I believe that different paths can also lead to valuable experiences and growth.

I hope to inspire others to follow their own path and not be influenced too much by the opinions of others. I believe it is important to do what feels right for you and to stay true to your own goals and ambitions. In addition, I want to show that taking different paths and facing challenges does not prevent you from achieving your goals but can actually help you grow and become stronger. 

Elsa's tips

My advice to other students is to follow what feels right for you and what supports your personal path. Take opportunities, build your network through active participation, and do not be afraid of what others might think. Most importantly, focus on what brings you joy and what you are passionate about, as this will naturally guide you towards the right opportunities!