Deborah SW Wala
Glasgow
Summary
Skilled in fostering strong relationships, driving strategic initiatives, and adapting quickly to changing environments. Proven track record of problem-solving and streamlining processes to enhance productivity and customer satisfaction. Ready to bring fresh perspective and strong organisational skills to make positive impact.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Duty Manager
The Alchemist
Glasgow
02.2026 - 05.2026
- Oversaw daily operations, including opening and closing procedures, to ensure smooth running of the premises.
- Addressed customer complaints with empathy and efficiency, resolving issues to maintain high satisfaction levels.
- Led by example, demonstrating exceptional customer service and encouraging staff to deliver the same high standards.
- Used proactive problem-solving skills to resolve issues quickly and effectively, minimising operational disruption.
- Oversaw cash handling procedures, including banking and safe management, to ensure financial security.
- Helped improve customer service, quality assurance and service speed by developing and implementing successful solutions.
- Led by example in delivering first-class service, uplifting overall team performance in customer satisfaction surveys.
- Directed teams handling various operations in fast-paced environments.
Brasserie Manager
The Corinthian Club (Scotsman Hospitality)
Glasgow
10.2025 - 01.2026
- Oversaw front of house and kitchen operations to ensure smooth service delivery.
- Organising bookings and walk-in guests for the brasserie.
- Weekly rotas, as well as daily task delegation, are adjusted according to the business forecast and altered accordingly.
- Ensure that drinks and dishes are sent in a timely manner, as well as effective shift management.
- I maintained the cleanliness of the restaurant by delegation, as well as doing my part to help out.
- Conducted daily inspections of dishes from the kitchen for presentation and temperature accuracy.
- Prepare the brasserie to be ready for opening, as well as helping to close down at the end of the night, and cashing up.
General Manager
Rosa’s Thai
03.2024 - 09.2025
- Oversaw daily operations of the restaurant, managing staff schedules, inventory levels, and supplier relationships.
- Attention to detail ensured that we were running smoothly for daily operations, as well as that all aspects of the premises were ready for any inspection.
- I developed ideas to increase footfall to the business, which was relatively new to Glasgow at the time.
- Administered paperwork each week to send to our Financial Department, ensuring documents and certificates are up to date.
- Give a helping hand on the restaurant floor when it gets busy.
- Ensure that all guests who come to our establishment are given a great and lasting experience, as it not only helps the business, but also ensures that the guests feel well looked after and are given a memorable experience.
- Training the new team members for FOH to ensure they are trained to company standards.
- I am the type of person who makes sure everyone around me is happy and enjoys working with us.
Manager/Administration
COSMO Restaurant
Glasgow
01.2022 - 02.2024
- Transferred to the new branch opening in the city centre.
- Able to help open a new branch of COSMO, I was trained in how things work when starting from the beginning of opening a new restaurant.
- As I had previously been trained in working in the office for the administration side, I was able to confidently continue this role more at the St Enoch branch.
- Assisting the General Manager with any correspondence we receive daily from our Head Office, as well as from suppliers and contractors.
- My other daily tasks consisted of typing up the daily sales, making sure all cash and credit card payments were balanced, and ensuring all sales totals were keyed into the system.
- I also handled the banking of the cash sales weekly and calculated all other cash-related affairs (i.e. cash tips and cash suppliers.
Assistant Manager/Cashier/Administration
COSMO Restaurant
Glasgow
03.2015 - 01.2022
- Monitoring the front of the house during opening hours, making sure all staff are working accordingly to have everything in working order, as well as ensuring everything is hygienically clean and tidy.
- Customer care and service are always the number one priority, so not only must customers be happy during their dining experience, but they should always leave happy as well.
- Due diligence, supply orders, and record-keeping paperwork are updated weekly.
- As a cashier, I oversaw payments from customers and cashing up at the end of the night to ensure all payments, both cash and card, were correct and balanced.
- Ensure that drinks and the number of covers were input correctly into the till system, as it was important to know how the business was performing daily.
- Worked as a Front of House team member and was trained in Administration for the company.
- Trained to deal with suppliers and their invoices, update any employee information, and ensure all documentation (i.e. daily sales) were added to the company’s database.
- I was the communication link between our Glasgow restaurant and the head office of the company based in London for anything mentioned above.
Supervisor
Feast World Buffet
11.2013 - 03.2015
- Working as part of a team and supervising others on the restaurant floor as well as in the kitchen if needed (due to staff shortage).
- Waiting on customers, serving drinks and cleaning duties were done.
- In charge of deliveries and stock taking as well as health and hygiene paperwork.
Assistant Manager
China China Group Chinese Buffet restaurant
07.2002 - 10.2013
- Over 10 years of experience and continuous training within the catering industry.
- I had the opportunity to work in different locations, from Edinburgh to Swansea.
- Work as part of a team from different backgrounds.
- As well as playing my part in any manual tasks, I was also a leader supervising all staff, and interacting with customers.
Education
BSc - Product Design and Technology, Stage 1 Mandarin Chinese
Northumbria University of Newcastle Upon Tyne
01-2005
Foundation Art and Design Studies -
Newcastle College of Art
01-2001
Scottish Highers - Graphic Communications, Craft and Design, English, Mathematics, Music
George Heriot’s School
01-2000
Skills
- Customer service
- Employee training
- Financial management
- Staff supervision
- Quality assurance
- Operational planning
- Team building
- Problem solving
- Communication skills
- Conflict resolution
- Time management
- Adaptable leadership
- Team building and training
- Decision-Making authority
- Staff recruitment and retention
- Quality control standards understanding
Languages
English
Chinese (Cantonese)
Chinese (Mandarin)
References
- Michael Thomas (General Manager)
The Corinthian Club
michaelthomas@thecorinthianclub.co.uk
191 Ingram Street, Glasgow, G1 1DA
- Sushil R Pandey (Deputy General Manager)
COSMO St Enoch Glasgow, Unit R4 St Enoch Centre, 55 St Enoch Square, Glasgow,
Scotland, G1 4BW, 0141 298
- Mr T Tang (Restaurant Manager)
Feast World Buffet, 298 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, Scotland, G2 3JA, 0141 332 8120
- Ahmet Aygun, (Regional Manager)
Chinois China China Restaurant, Unit 4 Omni Centre, Greenside Place, Edinburgh,
Scotland, EH1 3AA
- Michael Troffaes (President & Head Trainer)
The Cocktail Factory, Halleweg 1, Zonnegem, Oost-Vlaanderen, B-9520, Belgium
Personal Information
Nationality: British
Additional information
Over 20 years of experience working in a large fast-paced catering business., Supervision of staff on the restaurant floor and in the kitchen., Training staff before and during their contracted work., Providing good customer service and managing queries and complaints., Leading a team and working collaboratively., Cashier duties and cashing up at the end of the night., Bar work including making cocktails and serving customers., High standard organization skills for paperwork and health and safety regulations., Computer literate., Self-taught home baker.
Hobbies and interests
- Baking and home cooking
- travelling
Timeline
Duty Manager
The Alchemist
02.2026 - 05.2026
Brasserie Manager
The Corinthian Club (Scotsman Hospitality)
10.2025 - 01.2026
General Manager
Rosa’s Thai
03.2024 - 09.2025
Manager/Administration
COSMO Restaurant
01.2022 - 02.2024
Assistant Manager/Cashier/Administration
COSMO Restaurant
03.2015 - 01.2022
Supervisor
Feast World Buffet
11.2013 - 03.2015
Assistant Manager
China China Group Chinese Buffet restaurant
07.2002 - 10.2013
BSc - Product Design and Technology, Stage 1 Mandarin Chinese
Northumbria University of Newcastle Upon Tyne
Foundation Art and Design Studies -
Newcastle College of Art
Scottish Highers - Graphic Communications, Craft and Design, English, Mathematics, Music
George Heriot’s School