Daan Duijm
Senior Theme Park Attractions & Water Park Manager
LEGOLAND™ Malaysia Resort
Johor - Malaysia
Featured in "World Waterpark Magazine," April 2018
WHAT IS YOUR EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE?
I have an associate and bachelor’s degree in leisure management. My work experience includes time in Malaysia with LEGOLAND™, Dubai with Wild Wadi Waterpark and in the U.S. with Disney Cruise Line.
WHAT CERTIFICATION OR LICENSING DO YOU HAVE?
I am a CPO and a StarGuard Instructor Level 3. I have been an Ellis & Associates Instructor in the past.
WHAT HONORS, AWARDS OR SPECIAL RECOGNITION HAVE YOU ACHIEVED?
I’ve been lucky to have two articles published in
World Waterpark Magazine and to serve on the WWA Safety Committee.
WHAT MADE YOU GO INTO THIS FIELD?
I started my career at Disney Cruise Line as Fitness Director and I loved the dedication and passion for creating magical memories. Leaders in this field have an incredible enthusiasm for what they do and to hear them share their stories makes me excited to continue to make a difference in guests’ lives.
WHAT ASPECT OF THE WATERPARK INDUSTRY DO YOU LIKE BEST?
Having my breakfast at the wave pool while watching in-service training and being a part of the continued development of our lifeguard team. Also I really like the industry events where people share best practices and help our industry grow.
WHO HAS MOST INSPIRED YOU IN YOUR CAREER?
Chris Perry. In 2013, I sent him a request to do my research thesis, which was impossible at the time. Two years later, I sent him a job application after graduating. He not only remembered the first email, but I was able to work with him and the management team at Wild Wadi. In 2017, I was able to present at the same industry conference as Chris, which highlights again that with hard work you can achieve great things.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE GREATEST CHALLENGE IN YOUR WATERPARK CAREER?
The theme park and waterpark industries in Asia are growing tremendously and a continued sharing of best practices in safety and awareness of this vital part of our industry can still be seen as a challenge.
HOW DO YOU KEEP FOCUSED AND MOTIVATED?
I attend conferences and read industry magazines. Most importantly though, the colleagues who I’ve met around the world have become friends and they motivate me daily to keep improving our park and service to our guests.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN WORKING IN THE WATERPARK INDUSTRY?
Learn by doing. Experience everything first. It gives you credibility, allows you to lead by example and will help you understand if this industry is for you. It’s not always easy, which is okay. However, if you’re willing to stick with it, you might find a lifelong career filled with smiles and happy memories.
WHAT BOOKS OR PUBLICATIONS DO YOU RELY ON MOST FOR INSPIRATION OR MOTIVATION?
Outside of industry magazines for practical tips and news, the book,
Sapiens, by Yuval Noah Harari gives amazing insight into the human psyche. Tim Ferris’ podcast is a source of great insight into top performers. Lastly,
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill is a timeless book for anyone who wants to be successful in what they do.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
To see my team grow and develop. In a country where there were only a handful of theme parks few years ago, the development of the staff is a pleasure to watch, as you can see people become better instructors, leaders and colleagues every month.
WHAT CAREER OR BUSINESS WOULD YOU CONSIDER IF YOU WERE STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN?
I would start in this industry again. As young as I am, I love the hospitality industry and amusement and waterparks are some of the best ways to create lifetime memories for our guest.
HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED WITH THE WWA?
After becoming the waterpark manager for LEGOLAND™ Malaysia, I got the opportunity to present about the waterpark industry a few times and found that WWA is a great way to reach other waterpark professionals. I joined the WWA Safety Committee and started sharing my knowledge with even more industry members.
WHAT IS SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT YOU THAT FEW KNOW OR WOULD GUESS?
I’ve lived in 4 different countries on 3 different continents in the last 6 years.