From the classroom to a high-tech marketplace in the Caribbean

Niv’s career is anything but typical. After graduating in global business at BHMS in 2023, he did not choose the expected path. Instead, he discovered an opportunity in a rapidly growing region and turned it into a digital platform that changes how people socialize, shop and do business.

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1. Tell us about your trip from the Caribbean to BHMS – and which route did you take after graduation?

I have always wanted to learn by doing; just sitting in a classroom was never enough for me. When I was looking for hotel schools that really connect theory to practice, I talked to a close friend who was already studying in Switzerland. His experiences, along with my own research, led me to Lucerne and BHMS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Switzerland stood out directly – not only for its reputation in hospitality, but for its discipline, structure and global attitude.

After graduation, it became clear that I did not want to follow a traditional career path. I wanted to build something of my own in the Caribbean, where I saw both opportunities and real gaps in the market. That thought led me to entrepreneurship.

2. What inspired you to become an entrepreneur and launch a secondary platform in the Caribbean?

The inspiration came from practical experience in different industries, where I saw patterns and opportunities across the markets. In the Caribbean there was strong demand in several sectors and a real chance of building a more interconnected marketplace.

It motivated me to launch the Caribbean Caribbean Caribbean Caribbean Caribbean platform, built around accessibility, trust and real user needs – with flexibility to grow beyond a single region.

3. How did your education at BHMS help you build and run your own business?

BHMS gave me much more than hotel knowledge: structure, discipline, customer focus and the ability to work under pressure. Hospitality teaches you to think in systems, lead people, solve problems quickly and always start from the end user.

These skills were translated directly into entrepreneurship – from operation and negotiation to processes and customer expectations. The BHMS provided me with an operational basis that I still rely on every day. On the way, I also built contacts and friendships that are still part of my life, both professionally and privately.

4. What challenges have you faced as a young entrepreneur – and what is your advice to BHMS students who dream of their own business?

The biggest challenge is to learn everything along the way; there is no manual for entrepreneurship. You make decisions with incomplete information, adapt and move forward. Another is patience – building something really takes time, especially when the market is not used to the new.

My advice to BHMS students is simple: don’t wait for the “perfect moment”. Start small, be curious and use your hospitality-think as a strength. You already know how to handle people, pressure and responsibility – that’s a huge advantage.

And if any of you have a good idea and want to explore it, please let me know. At best, we’re building something big together. At least we’ll have a coffee. – Niv Itzhak, [email protected]