ITM Announces 2022 Mentoring Programme
25 Jan 2022
The Institute of Travel Management (ITM) has announced the launch of its Mentoring Programme for 2022 with applications now open for the next intake of mentee candidates, who will commence the 12-month framework in March.
The Mentoring Programme provides mentees with unparalleled access to leading industry experts in a one-to-one environment to support their career development and personal growth. The programme is free of charge for ITM ‘Business’ level members.
ITM expects to enrol a further 15 mentees who will be carefully matched with mentors via a comprehensive profile pairing process based on their respective skillsets. This creates opportunities for buyer to buyer, supplier to supplier and buyer to supplier mentoring.
The Mentoring Programme forms part of the ITM Community range of initiatives to provide guidance and education to members in a supportive environment, as well as retain and develop talent within the business travel industry. Demand for places has been exceptional. Since the Mentoring Programme was first launched at ITM’s annual conference in 2019, it has already successfully matched 40 mentees across three intakes who have completed the scheme either over one year, or opted to extend for a second year.
The success and popularity of the Mentoring Programme has led ITM to establishing an inaugural awards ceremony which will take place in London on Friday July 1st, 2022, and will recognise mentees who are graduating this year, as well as excellence across the ITM community. The ceremony will also serve as an opportunity to acknowledge mentors for the invaluable time and contribution they have invested in working with their respective mentees.
“At ITM we are committed to supporting the personal and professional development of our membership community and our Mentoring Programme plays a crucial role in achieving this objective,” said Scott Davies, CEO, ITM. “We are very proud of the high standard, integrity and success of the programme so far, which is due, in no small part, to the bespoke personalised pairing process and the calibre of the mentors who dedicate considerable time to their respective mentee. We are delighted that another intake of mentees will join the framework in 2022 and we are also excited to announce the inaugural ITM awards and graduation ceremony taking place on 1st July.”
In a recent survey 100 per cent of mentees following the 2021 mentoring framework felt that they were well-matched with their respective mentor in regards to their skillset and experience. This was echoed by the 90 per cent that noted the quality of their mentee/mentor pairing as the best part of the programme. Support with return to business travel, increasing industry knowledge, time management, career progression, and confidence building emerged as the key focus areas for mentees.
Current mentees include Katie Garraghy, Head of Sales, Roomzzz Aparthotels, who says: “The ITM Mentoring Programme has been transformative in both my professional and personal life, giving me confidence and the support to fulfil my potential”.
Beejal Ruparelia, Country Meet & Travel Leader, IKEA Ltd, also a mentee comments: “My mentor has truly given me an opportunity to grow and develop in way that I never thought I could. We are all living in challenging times and to have been collaborating with my mentor during this pandemic has taught me a lot of new lessons that in return I have been able to use back into my daily business.”
Steve Proud, EMEA Travel Manager, Citi and a mentor on the programme comments: “Being a mentor in the ITM Mentoring programme has been an inspirational experience allowing us, as mentors, to share the knowledge we have gained throughout our careers in a positive way. It gives us the ability to provide guidance, motivation, goal setting and networking opportunities, as well as providing the mentees the opportunity to challenge the norm and their day-to-day approach to life and business. I’m a strong advocate of both career and personal development, and this is the perfect platform to do so.”
ITM Buyer and Supplier members who have supported the programme as mentors to date:
- Leanne Fowler, Director of Account Management, Agiito
- Emma Jones, Director Global Client Group, Amex GBT
- Julie Murphy, Country Sales Manager UK & Ireland, ANA
- Kate Watson, Head of Consulting, Areka Consultancy
- Audrey Muir, Corporate Travel & Workplace Experience Manager, Baillie Gifford
- Alison Rogan, ITM Chair & Global Head of Travel and Expense, Barclays
- Steve Proud, EMEA Travel Manager & Global Airline Program Manager, Citi
- Jon Bolger, Head of Travel, Deloitte UK
- Chris Crowley, SVP Global Sales, Duetto
- Helia Lotzfeldt, Group Director of Sales, edyn Group
- Natalie Gardner, Senior Global Travel Manager, Electronic Arts
- Karen Hutchings, Global Head of Travel, Meetings & Events, EY
- Ian Spearing, Global Innovation & Technology Leader, EY
- Jason Dunderdale, Head of Sales UK, Free Now
- Tanya Clifford, Vice President, Hilton Worldwide Sales, EMEA
- Scott Davies, CEO, ITM
- Imelda Aspinall, Travel Manager, EMEA APAC, ITV
- Samantha McKnight, Commercial Lead - Business Sales, LNER
- Julia Fidler, Senior Sustainability Program Manager � Procurement, Microsoft
- Imogen Furness, Executive Director - EMEA Travel Manager, Morgan Stanley
- Gemma King, Director Corporate Travel - EMEA APAC, Omnicom
- Will Hasler, Business Travel Manager, PwC
- Paul Dear, Senior Director - Supplier Management (EMEA), SAP Concur
- Cristina Chimenti, Senior Group Procurement Partner � Global Travel Manager, Sky
- Clare Barrie, VP Sales, EMEA & APAC, Synergy Global Housing
- Richard Tams, Director, Tailwind Advisory Ltd
- Simone Buckley, VP Marketing EMEA, TripActions.
