Monday, 24 September 2018
As Regional Managing Director of Travel Counsellors Australia, Kaylene Shuttlewood has come a long way since graduating from a Brisbane travel college back in 1986. From starting off her career in a ticketing role, to occupying various senior executive positions all over the world, Kaylene’s industry experience makes her someone many people in the travel industry look up to.
Here she shares a few secrets of her success:
1. Get a mentor
As a committee member of TIME (Travel Industry Mentor Experience), Kaylene recognises the incredible impact a mentor can have on your career. “I'm a really big fan of having a mentor to help me through the journey. I've had many over my career. They’ve come and gone at different times of my life, at different locations and different roles,” explains Kaylene. “I believe that finding a mentor who works outside of the company you're working for will give you a more impartial view.”
2. Always put your best foot forward
As someone who builds teams and hires talent regularly, Kaylene knows how important first impressions are. Whether you’re meeting with a potential client or interviewing for a new role, Kaylene believes that being well-prepared and enthusiastic is key. “You only get one chance for a first impression. You have a handshake and a greeting… and nine times out of ten, you can tell within the first ten seconds of meeting someone if they’re going to be a good fit.”
3. Grab onto new opportunities
Many younger travel agents starting out on their career journey second guess themselves and let great opportunities pass them by. While it’s normal to have doubts, Kaylene always pounced on career opportunities that were presented to her, even if it meant getting out of her comfort zone or relocating to a different city. “Whenever I was offered an opportunity, I grabbed it. They were usually quite challenging or they involved relocating, but I always just grabbed the opportunity,” says Kaylene.
4. Try a stint working overseas
If you’re at a stage of your life where working overseas is possible, Kaylene advises trying it. Having worked everywhere from London to New York and now Melbourne, Kaylene sees great value in working overseas. “Those international postings gave me a global perspective. My mind now thinks in different time zones, different currencies. Apart from giving you exposure to new ideas and ways of working, living in other countries makes you realise just how lucky we are to grow up in a place like Australia,” says Kaylene.
5. Become a ‘bleisure’ traveller
A seasoned business traveller, Kaylene is a big believer in ‘bleisure’ travel – that is incorporating leisure into her business trips so she’s able to recharge and get a real feel for the destination. “I still get a kick out of travel and I love trying different products. If you're going somewhere for work, then try and extend your stay to experience that city. Rather than just sitting in a hotel boardroom or conference centre, try and get out and about, sit in a café and watch the world go by.”
6. Find your support system
Although Kaylene has worked hard to achieve success, she recognises that her life would be much harder without a strong support system. “My family and partner are incredibly important. They’re a rock of support and a shoulder to cry on. Your support system is what gets you through your career, especially as you change roles,” says Kaylene. “I've also got a lot of support behind me from the Travel Counsellors head office team in Australia and in the UK. Everyone wants to see us grow and develop, which is invaluable.”
To find out how to create your own success story at Travel Counsellors, get in touch with a member of our Careers team on 1300 889 123, via email to [email protected] or visit the opportunities page.
