Mentee of the Year Award Winner – Situ

Congratulations on winning Mentee of the Year! What does this recognition mean to you?

Winning Mentee of the Year genuinely means so much to me. It wasn’t something I ever expected, so hearing my name called was a really proud moment.

Over the past year, I’ve pushed myself outside of my comfort zone, taken on a new role and focused on developing both personally and professionally. Having that recognised by ITM is incredibly special.

More than anything, it reflects the impact that mentoring can have. I’ve been so lucky to have Carol as my mentor. She’s challenged me, encouraged me to think differently and introduced me to an amazing network of people across the industry. It’s given me so much more confidence in myself and where I want my career to go.

What encouraged you to join the ITM Mentoring Programme?

When I joined the programme, I was relatively new to my Account Management role and wanted to learn from someone who had already experienced some of the challenges I was facing. I saw it as an opportunity to gain a different perspective, build my confidence and continue developing my career.

The travel industry has such a fantastic community, and I wanted to make the most of learning from people outside of my own business. I went into the programme with an open mind, hoping to learn something new, and it’s exceeded every expectation I had.

How has mentoring influenced your personal or professional development?

The biggest change has been my confidence. Carol has helped me recognise my strengths, challenge the way I think and trust myself more when making decisions.

Professionally, I’ve become much more strategic in how I approach my clients and my career. I’ve learned that success isn’t just about doing your job well; it’s about building relationships, being curious and continually looking for opportunities to improve.

Personally, mentoring has reminded me that growth happens when you step outside your comfort zone. It’s encouraged me to say yes to opportunities I might previously have talked myself out of, and that’s opened doors I never expected.

The connections, advice and encouragement I’ve received through the programme will stay with me throughout my career. I truly believe everyone, no matter what stage they’re at, can benefit from having a mentor.

What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a mentee?

My advice would be to absolutely go for it.

You get out of the programme what you put into it, so be open, be honest and don’t be afraid to ask questions or admit when you don’t know something. That’s where the biggest growth happens.

Go in with an open mind too. I originally thought mentoring would be about career advice, but it became so much more than that. It gave me confidence, challenged my way of thinking, introduced me to an incredible network of people and helped me grow both professionally and personally.

If you’re lucky enough to be matched with a great mentor, make the most of every conversation. It’s one of the best investments you can make in yourself and your career.

If you could take a trip anywhere in the world, with no limits on budget or agenda, where would you go and why?

Costa Rica would be my dream destination. Not only is it consistently ranked as one of the happiest countries in the world, but everything about it really appeals to me.

The incredible wildlife, lush rainforests, beautiful beaches and slower pace of life feel like the perfect combination. I love being outdoors, exploring nature and trying new activities, so it seems like a place where I could completely switch off, reconnect with the world around me and embrace the ‘Pura Vida’ way of life.

Inspired by Vicky’s mentoring journey?

The ITM Mentoring Programme connects Business members with experienced professionals from across the business travel community, supporting personal and professional development through one-to-one mentoring.

Interested in getting involved? Contact mentoring@itm.org.uk to find out more.