• Sydney’s TIME community re-connected recently at the Four Seasons Hotel to celebrate the graduation of intake 31, and welcome group 33 to the renowned mentoring program.
  • Special guest speaker was Libby Roy, Managing Director of PayPal Australia.
  • TIME’s next intake sets sail on 10 April 2019.

The event at Four Seasons Sydney was typical of a TIME gathering, with program graduates, mentors, mentees, sponsors and members of the TIME Board and Committee rubbing shoulders, networking and enjoying the collegiality the program is famous for.

Grads and Mentors of TIME’s 31st program intake in Sydney.

“Our graduation events are always uplifting”, said TIME program founder, Penny Spencer.
“We celebrate the individual journeys taken through TIME’s tailored six-month program. The stories told by the graduates themselves are fascinating, funny and often emotional. It reminds us all about the value of the program and that no two experiences through it are the same”, adds Penny.

TIME Grad Oso Adinugroho relates his experience of the mentoring program.

Special guest speaker on the night was Libby Roy, Managing Director of TIME scholarship sponsor, PayPal Australia. In her role, Libby sits on the Australian board and serves as an executive committee member of the PayPal Core Markets leadership team.

PayPal’s Libby Roy addresses the TIME gathering at Four Seasons Hotel, Sydney.

“It was fabulous to see the travel industry and senior executives from the sector giving their time and energy to help develop the next generation of leaders. A great example that many industries could learn something from”, said Libby.

Lauren Wardle and Nicole Black networking at TIME’s Sydney event.

Libby reminded the TIME crowd that every experience in your career is valuable, and that it’s important to focus on what learning and development you can take from your current role rather than worrying too much about the ‘destination’.

Holly Nation and TIME Mentor, Bernadette Dennis, at the pre-event professional development workshop.

“Mentoring is incredibly valuable and people should have a number of mentors that can help in different areas. At the same time, it is important to realise that engaging with a mentor is a ‘two-way street’ and you need to come prepared with the areas you are grappling with and be prepared to listen to the feedback – even if it is not what you want to hear”, noted Libby.

Belinda Montgomery at TIME’s pre-event workshop, Four Seasons Hotel Sydney

Penny Spencer agrees.

“Our Mentors role hold their Mentees accountable, offer challenging ideas and inspiration, new ways of thinking, as well as building Mentee self-confidence through encouragement and constructive feedback”, says Penny.

TIME’s inaugural PayPal scholar, Stephanie Cowdroy, with Emily Soden, Breeanna Perez and Emma Rebello.

PayPal’s inaugural TIME scholar, Stephanie Cowdroy, took her place in TIME’s 32nd intake and will graduate on 10 April. TIME’s 34th group enters the program on that same date, and leading Australian travel insurance provider, Cover-More, has generously committed to fully-fund a placement in it.

Fiona Watson and Kevin Headings catch up at TIME’s Sydney event.

Travel-tourism-hospitality professionals are encouraged to follow TIME on Facebook and LinkedIn to keep up to date with what’s going on inside the industry’s premier career accelerator.

For more information about becoming a TIME Mentee, CLICK HERE or contact TIME Program Manager, Marie Allom at time@travelindustrymentor.com.au