Our TIME graduates come from all sectors of the travel industry. Here’s what they have to say about their mentoring experience.

Alana Puschmann

“I don’t think I have been so nervous to sign up to a programme before, and the thought of having to deliver a speech at the end of the programme in front of everyone is honestly my worst nightmare. But, it would have been a living nightmare not to be involved.  I backed myself, I used my own money and joined the TIME programme. To have the opportunity to connect with leaders of industry, network with people outside my own sphere and be part of the TIME community is invaluable. The benefits are immense.  You owe it to yourself and your career development to ‘feel the fear and do it anyway’, as Susan Jeffers says. Now, I am proud to say I am a inaugural mentee of TIME NZ.”

Angela Webber

“The TIME programme has been a fantastic journey; to learn from and be challenged by an incredible mentor, expand my network in this wonderful industry, and to be re-inspired in both my professional and personal life. It’s been a great investment in myself, and my future, and I encourage anyone, at any stage of their career to be part of this program. Your mentor will help you strive towards your goals and will motivate you to be the best version of yourself.”

Ashleigh Boyes

“Reflecting on my journey through the TIME programme, I can honestly say it pushed me out of my comfort zone, which was exactly what I needed. With invaluable guidance from my mentor, Tim, I set ambitious goals for the six-month mentorship. He provided me with the tools and strategies necessary to achieve these goals; accomplishments I doubt I could have reached on my own due to my initial lack of confidence. Being part of the TIME family has been a joy, especially the regular meet-ups with past and present mentees. These gatherings are a chance to support and celebrate each other’s journeys. Participating in this programme has been a fantastic opportunity for personal growth and for contributing positively to our industry.”

Brett Strawbridge

“The TIME experience has been incredibly eye opening and extremely valuable to me in my professional career. My mentor was able to work with me on how leaders manage workload, prioritise opportunities and get the best out of myself and my team. Highly recommended to get ahead in your career.”

Dani McEachen

“The TIME programme has been incredibly rewarding, and I’m truly grateful to be part of the TIME family. I’ve been challenged in countless ways and have grown tremendously. During my time in the programme, I’ve gained valuable tools, I’ve been inspired and made meaningful connections. I truly enjoyed exchanging ideas with my amazing mentor and gaining a fresh perspective. It’s a rewarding experience for both mentees and mentors. I highly recommend it to anyone considering joining.”

Emily Rose

“I cannot advocate for this program enough. This has arguably been one of the best decisions and commitments I’ve made in my career so far. As a deemed ‘outsider’ of the travel industry, having worked in other sectors previously, TIME gave me the opportunity to grow my network in this industry. Not only this, I was very fortunate to be paired with an extremely professional coach and mentor who gave me weekly advice, guidance, tools and frameworks for whatever was top of mind or relevant for me; not to mention many a book and podcast recommendation as homework to elevate me personally and professionally. Since graduating from TIME and developing my executive voice, presence, skills and confidence I have been offered some very exciting career progression opportunities within my company.”

Gabby Oliver

“TIME has stretched me, challenged me to reflect and delve deeper, and discover more about myself throughout the six-month programme. It has encouraged me weekly to think about what I want, to set goals and achieve them. My mentor helped me to work on my strengths and weaknesses, some of which weren’t part of my goals at the beginning of the programme. An added bonus was extending my industry connections and having an ongoing connection with my mentor. These skills have resulted in a huge improvement in self-confidence, personal growth and getting out of my comfort zone which I will take away with me for years to come. I highly recommend the TIME mentorship program to give you that inspiration boost.”

Hayley Dawson

“This experience really pushed me out of my comfort zone which is exactly what I needed! With the help from my mentor I was able to set goals I wanted to achieve throughout the six-month mentorship. I was given the tools and strategies that helped me achieve what I had set out to do, something I know I wouldn’t have achieved by myself as I didn’t have that confidence prior. I really enjoy being part of the TIME whānau and meeting up with past/present mentees every few months and cheering on anyone who takes up the opportunity in taking part in something truly great for your own personal growth but also for our awesome industry.”

James Leslie

“I have found the TIME experience has been invaluable. The timing was perfect to have such a great mentor during a very uncertain time in the industry and my career with lots of changes. The whole programme exceeded my expectations but the ongoing networking I find is so beneficial and a key benefit. I’ve also been really impressed that my mentor still makes himself available for me today for regular catch ups, and in fact I’ve probably leaned on him more in recent times than during the mentorship. I highly recommend anyone considering being a mentee to sign up, it won’t be regretted.”

Jo Inglis

TIME is a valuable venture for anyone, at any stage of their career. As a mentee you’re rewarded with regular mentoring sessions, which afford you the luxury of an impartial voice and a sounding board; someone who can provide guidance, advice, perspective, reflection, alongside a sharing of knowledge and expertise and, of course, development of skills. You also get opportunities to meet and connect with people from all parts of the industry through the networking events and be part of a community who support one another. Don’t question if you should do it – just do it!

Karen McIntosh

“The TIME program has been extremely valuable in my professional and personal development.  I have benefitted from both the one-on-one time with my fantastic mentor, as well as connecting with other industry experts, fellow mentees and graduates.  I highly recommend the TIME programme to anyone who wishes to grow in their career, as well as personally.  Don’t be scared to apply!”

Karyn McCutcheon

My experience with TIME has had numerous benefits and has helped me to achieve my goals at a difficult and challenging time in my career. I have grown as a person, employee and manager/leader from the experience, and now look forward to the next phase of my career. Being able to connect with other industry professionals has given me a new perspective on my place and the industry as a whole. It is such a supportive and nurturing program and you know that everyone involved is cheering you on and happy to help. I look forward to many more TIME events to continue to grow professionally and personally in this vibrant and ever-changing industry.

Kenneth Wong

I cannot recommend the TIME program enough to anyone new to the travel industry, or to those with more experience who are ready to further progress their career. I have really benefited from the one-on-one time I have spent with my mentor. He helped me navigate the current changes in my career while guiding me to emerge as a future leader throughout the journey.

Kirsty Latham

The TIME mentorship came at the perfect time for me, re-entering the industry after Covid. I had a vision but limited knowledge of how to put it together. My mentor guided me, providing me with the tools to gain confidence, work through tough decisions as well as re-starting my broker business. Mentoring helped me complete business plans, marketing plans and even family plans. The knowledge and skills I learnt with TIME is truly invaluable and has definitely helped me to grow my business and brand. The TIME mentorship is a really special family to belong to.

Lauren Baclig

“TIME has been an amazing channel to aspiring leaders like me who wish to further develop their career in the industry. I met incredible people and made new connections through my involvement with the program. I was so lucky to have Leanne as my mentor as she was able to help me refocus on my goals during a difficult time in my personal and professional life. I am excited to see how our TIME family in NZ grow as we welcome many more mentees into the program.”

Liz Grossman

“During my mentorship, I learned so much from my mentor. I was challenged, stretched, and guided. At the conclusion of the programme I walked away knowing what direction I was heading in career-wise and had the tools to get me to where I wanted to go. But it didn’t end there! Once my mentorship ended I had the privilege of sitting on the TIME Committee for the next 12 months. This experience was invaluable to me and I soaked up all the knowledge from my tourism committee members. I will be forever grateful for my TIME journey.”

Lorene Bradley

“The TIME program is an incredibly valuable experience and investment in your personal and professional growth. Having one-on-one support from an experienced industry leader will inspire you to stretch outside of your comfort zone, dream big and achieve some epic goals. The networking events are the perfect opportunity to connect with industry leaders, past and present mentees, and other industry super stars – what better way to build your network and personal brand! I recommend the program to everyone looking to supercharge their development.”

Nachelle Shearer

“I am beyond grateful for my time as a mentee and would recommend the programme to anyone who wants to challenge themselves and broaden their horizons.  My mentor shared so much wisdom and sage advice that I will carry with me for the rest of my career.  As a graduate, I feel so lucky to continue to be a part of the TIME community.  It is an incredible group of people with a depth of knowledge and talent that knows no bounds.”

Patricia Xu

As a proud graduate of the 2020 TIME program, I can confidently attest to its profound impact on my career in the travel industry. TIME, along with the invaluable guidance of my mentor, played an instrumental role in helping me navigate the most challenging phase of my professional journey. I wholeheartedly recommend the TIME program to anyone who is serious about excelling in the travel industry. The journey is more fulfilling when shared with like-minded individuals. TIME is the beating heart of the travel industry, a supportive and close-knit ‘Whānau’ where we can truly be ourselves.

Paula Watson

“TIME was like a breath of fresh air for me.  It’s the best step I have taken in a long time to stay excited about the industry I love and my personal career journey!  It allowed me to challenge myself, helped me work through different scenarios, and start the process of setting goals again.  My mentor gave me some excellent tools and guidance, as well as a good laugh along the way, and having the wider network of industry professionals that are part of the TIME whanau, adds so much more to the experience.  If you are thinking about doing the Mentor programme, I say go for it.”

Sarah Wills

“I graduated in 2020 during the pandemic, so having a mentor was crucial. It was a privilege to be chosen for this experience & bounce ideas off a reputable member of the Travel Industry. My mentor was a perfect match! I have grown my network, improved my work/life balance, work  smarter and don’t sweat the small stuff.  With a can-do attitude, I focused on my skills for future roles. I am now a BDM in the F&G insurance industry and still remain close with fellow mentees. I highly recommend this program to help take you to the next step in your career.”

Selese Rowe

“I am so pleased to have been part of this amazing opportunity, to be able to participate in the TIME journey.  I will be forever grateful to my incredible mentor. The networking functions were also a real boost as there are so many inspiring people in one room. This whole experience pushed me out of my comfort zone and to constantly challenge myself but, I was to be rewarded with new ideas and new found energy. I can’t recommend enough that you take the opportunity to participate in the TIME program for yourself. Don’t wait any longer – you certainly won’t regret it!”

Stacey Kerr

“The TIME Mentoring Program continues to be a valuable platform for growth in the way that I work and the connections I make in the industry . Working with my mentor, I was able to develop a better understanding of my own personal values and understanding those values explained a lot about the way I work and the decisions I make in my career. While this is just one of the many valuable learnings I took away from the program, it is something that I continue to revert back to in the months and years since graduating. I would recommend the TIME Mentoring Program to anyone wishing to continue to grow in a professional setting, expand their knowledge and make valuable connections amongst this fantastic network.”