TIME - Travel Industry Mentor Experience
TIME - Travel Industry Mentor Experience
Taking Flight: Celia Ho's Journey of Growth, Mentorship, and Adventure
Join us for an exciting episode featuring the dynamic Celia Ho, the digital marketing maestro at AAT Kings, as she unpacks her unique career journey. Picture the bustling scenes at Brisbane Airport with our high-spirited guest, Arnaud Michelin, setting the pace. Celia creatively recounts her journey using the metaphor of an airport adventure, with the acronym T-I-M-E serving as her runway to professional growth and transformation. As she shares her hesitations and eventual decision to embark on "Flight 53," Celia's reflections on embracing change and seizing opportunities will resonate with anyone charting their own path.
In our lively discussion, we unravel the profound impact of mentorship and networking on growth. Celia likens her own journey to running a marathon, breaking down immense goals into achievable strides. With tales of inspiring encounters, including a memorable networking moment with industry veteran Rick, the episode unfolds insights into holistic business practices. As the talk turns personal, we venture into Celia's fashion adventures with Marimekko, dispel Autobahn myths, and share endearing stories of organizational quirks at home. This episode promises a vibrant mix of professional insights and personal anecdotes, offering a rich tapestry of inspiration and discovery.
Hello and welcome back from noisy Brisbane Airport to the newest episode of the Time Podcast, today with our absolute, amazing international running superstar, the hope for the win of the city to serve the one, the only, the very fast, arnaud Michelin.
Speaker 2:Yay, I'm going to take Ed Goddard's crown this year. You will, you will. Yes, hey, I'm going to take Ed Goddard's crown this year, not that I think it's you will, you will, yes.
Speaker 1:Well, congratulations, for you know being fit enough, despite your age, to make another 16-kilometer run. You know that's very fantastic. We appreciate your efforts and we also know you put the same efforts into your career and the travel industry. So tell us who is your companion today into your career and the travel industry.
Speaker 2:So tell us who is your companion today. So today we have a wonderful guest who is also an international jet setter. Her name is Celia Ho and she's the digital marketing manager at AAT Kings. Welcome to the podcast, celia. How are you Hi?
Speaker 3:everyone, thanks for having me.
Speaker 2:I think I should have done an intro as like in an airport, because I remember on your graduation you really took us on a journey where you had, like it was very much like that airport kind of you know experience. So maybe I should have prepared, like you know, welcome aboard or something like that.
Speaker 3:But anyway, welcome to the podcast, celia the podcast trying to kind of prepare that for me as well, for going to brisbane airport like 10 hours earlier than his flight, just to prepare that background noise to match that airport vibe. So thank you, timo.
Speaker 1:That's my pleasure and, look, I'm literally one of those people who love to be at the airport very early to enjoy some time in the lounge. Do do my emails, don't have to stress about am I being on time, you know. So, yeah, my pleasure to give you that airport feeling. I actually like that. We started back today with the presentation, so let's actually stick to that for now. Celia, tell me all about your thoughts, about your very well rehearsed and planned and designed and mapped out graduation speech.
Speaker 3:Oh, thank you. So yeah, Arnold mentioned, I actually kind of have an idea of my graduation speech to make it a little bit fun and easy to remember. And then I just suddenly come up with this idea of what about we are all travel lovers in the room, then why not I just welcome everyone on a flight, because time program to me is like a journey. So I just kind of take everyone onto the journey that I have with time program. So actually when I was first planning for my graduation speech I was like, oh, what do I really say? There's so much I can talk about for this time program.
Speaker 3:But kind of a big part of me is I like to be organized. So I feel like maybe people don't really remember everything you say, to be honest, but maybe if you keep it short and keep it to some main point, then help them kind of stay focused. So I first actually tried to start with three key things. But it was hard to kind of trim down the 33 learnings you've got from time program and you can only have three points to say. And then these ideas suddenly come in, say all right, let me frame it to kind of put it into t-i-m-e time, because the time program to me is literally on time and then I just frame it into taking each letter to kind of describe how time meant to me and take everyone on this flight time 53, which is the program I was at in time and then take everyone onto a flight and kind of join my journey.
Speaker 2:Good time and then take everyone onto a flight and kind of join my journey, good, and look, I think it was a memorable, it was a very creative way of doing your graduation speech and I think a lot of people will remember. You know like you for that using that acronym, and then you know presenting it as a as a journey. You know like as a as a plane journey. Going back to that actually the journey, like how did your time journey actually start? Like where did you hear from it and why did you decide that you wanted to? It was time for you to join.
Speaker 3:Yeah, so I am with the Travel Corporation and Travel Corporation is actually a big advocate of time program. So pretty much six years ago when I joined Travel Corporation TTC, I already heard of the time program and my manager at that time already encouraged me why not you try it out and apply for that and maybe you can take your career to the next high. But at that time I feel like I wasn't ready. My mind wasn't really focused at that point. Yet I feel like at that time I want to focus more in marketing and in digital. So time program didn't really I don't feel like it's the right time.
Speaker 3:And then, pretty much after these few years at the travel corporation and pretty much much more immersed into digital marketing, I suddenly feel like now it's time to kind of look for what's next in my career. I'm hungry for some change and some next steps, but I'm a bit confused at what shall I do. And then time program kind of keep reminding me day to day in TTC. And then then I suddenly realized maybe, yeah, it's time for me to really the time for time. Then I applied for TTC kind of internal sponsorship and then it's really I'm really grateful that the leadership team picked me to join this time program. So that's how, how, that's why I'm in part of the community now and can I ask, what were your um desired outcomes of the program?
Speaker 1:so you said first you thought you weren't ready, which we hear a lot and, um, in general is not true. I think. When you think you're not ready, this is exactly the time when it's maybe great to have a mentor, but okay, we take that on board Flight 53. And so what were your aspirations when you booked your tickets for Flight 53?
Speaker 3:When I booked my ticket for Flight 53, I actually have a few things in mind. The first one is I want to grow beyond marketing, beyond digital, and I want to make sure I have enough to make holistic decision making, because I think that's what's needed in your career. You can't just focus in what you're good at and be the subject matter expert, but also you have to be kind of well-rounded to know actually different bits in commercial, to kind of make yourself well aware of every situation where you need to make a decision. Then that's my first goal to become kind of more all-rounded as a business leader. And then the next step is I also to become kind of more all-rounded as a business leader. And then the next step is I also want to kind of expand my network and establish some industry presence.
Speaker 3:Because actually when I the time when I'm in trouble industry, sometimes I feel I was the only few people who focused more on B2C or even in digital. So sometimes I actually feel a bit isolated and sometimes it might come with me isolating myself to the whole industry. But then I just feel like, oh, I need to expand my professional network now and I want to establish some presence in the travel industry and just kind of keep myself into my circle and limit my thoughts. So that's why I want to join the time program. Book my ticket book your ticket.
Speaker 2:I think it's actually really, really interesting what you're saying, because we've heard that from other other people that say that they feel isolated at some of these events also, because we kind of tend to feel like there's only people in sales that are in all these travel events, right, and then when you are working within the travel industry, but in kind of a side, kind of like you know, I'd say, part of the business, like marketing, marketing or like for me, for example, which is operations, um it um, you kind of feel a little bit excluded because you're not part of these like inner circle of all these sales people, people that really you know, like get together all the time, right, and they're at events all the time. So I do, I do, um, really understand what you're saying and I do relate to that also to a certain extent. And so can you talk to us a little bit about your mentor and how the two of you met for the first time and what was? Yeah, how was that about?
Speaker 3:Yeah, so Birgit was my mentor. She is the regional director of the Rosa River Group. I have to admit, I was quite things before I know who my mentor would be. And then I keep hearing people talking about perfect match when they describe their mentor relationship and I was like, oh my God, do I get anything? But I can definitely relate to that. Perfect match term with my mentor would be good, even just from our first session with my mentor, with Big it, even just from our first session. It's about everything from her expertise that I really want to learn from to our organized working style and you can't believe, even our car model was actually a match, really. Yeah, we actually both have the same car model. So it's kind of like when you choose your car, you kind of reflect how you think and things. So I feel like that's also proof how we were like a perfect match.
Speaker 2:Wow, okay, yeah, what did you think that she was the perfect match for you? What other aspects you know? Did you think that she was the perfect match for you? What, what other aspects you know, did she did you think that she was the perfect match for you?
Speaker 3:yeah. So, um, actually, from day one she stressed the importance of setting specific goals. Okay, because when I feel in my expression of interest, joining the time program, booking my ticket, I actually have several goals in mind. But from day one she tried to organize my thought process for me and direct me to kind of setting specific goals to get to where I want to, and she actually reminded me that there are a million ways to get to where I want. But first you would want to define your destination. So that was really cool.
Speaker 3:And then she then guides me to stay focused throughout, because I think when you kind of are on a journey, sometimes you might want to go here and then there, and then one day you wake up you want to go somewhere else as well. But then she has been trying to help me to stay focused, help me to remind me that that is the destination that you are wishing to get to, and then you just need to organize your path to kind of get there, to kind of get there. And one thing that I really love from her is that I was actually quite confused as in what path I need to take to get to my destination, but then she said you don't know what you don't know. I was like, yeah right, I don't know what I don't know. And then, because I said I want to be a well-rounded business professional but I don't know where to start, then she actually got me to shadow different professionals in various business functions.
Speaker 3:So for example, like she asked me, oh, within TTC you could actually try to rotate yourself to sit with different departments. You could go with yield management, you could shadow yourself with sales, reservations and operations. And actually this prompted me to really open my eyes to new perspectives and also meet different people. Say, arnold, if you mentioned you're in operations, I would have been feeling myself quite distant from that because I was like, oh, this is not part of my world, I'm not interested in what other people do. But then, because of the time program and how Big it guided me to do shadowing with different business functions, I then kind of built a closer relationship to different people as well, to understanding what they do, and then I think actually that explain all kind of answers how I want to get to my destination, to be knowing a bit of everything, to really kind of grow that holistic decision-making mindset in inside. So yeah, that was quite transformational.
Speaker 1:Wow, but I really love what you said there and I wanted to touch base on what you said a little bit earlier in the segment when you said your mentor helped you to stay on track and to focus on the destination. Focus on the destination. How did you take that approach into your time after the graduation? Or are you now being distracted, walking from left to right again, or did you kind of manage to establish that as a common theme for you to really focus on where you want to go?
Speaker 3:I think it's actually a really good reminder to keep reminding myself how to achieve a goal. So when I first have some inspiration that come into my mind, sometimes I would feel a bit, oh, that goal is too big of an achievement, I can never really achieve that. I can't really do that. So a lot of negative self-talk would happen. But I think this whole approach in the time program actually reminded me once you set a big goal, then you can try to break it into small steps and try to just stay focused. There could be a lot of things that might get into way to define, to kind of dilute your focus. But once you kind of stay put as your destination, which is the goal that you've set earlier, try to break it into smaller steps and then do it bit by bit.
Speaker 3:Actually, bigit used a cool, kind of cool example.
Speaker 3:It's related to City to Serve as well, but it's kind of like running a marathon she gave me an example is like at first she set herself a target to run, say, 10 kilometres, but she can't even run one kilometre and generally you might feel overwhelmed by looking at your own situation.
Speaker 3:Then you try to break it into smaller steps, small achievable ones, to kind of keep yourself like motivated each time you accomplish something and then kind of, when time passed, you would kind of look back and see you gradually achieve that 10 kilometers that you set for your goal. So I think every time now when I have some stuff in my mind for myself in kind of thinking whether I can achieve the goals that I set, then I kind of go back to this kind of formula in my head like set your eyes on the goals that you want to achieve, break it into smaller achievable outcomes, and then you can kind of do it along the way. Don't get kind of diluted if some challenge come in, so yeah, I think it helps my kind of thinkinguted. Um, if some challenge come in, so yeah, I think it helps my kind of thinking process yeah, yeah, that's great, and you mentioned before that, um, you met a lot of people.
Speaker 1:You know they were interesting to you and helped you to become a more holistic business operator. Um, was there something you learned specifically from someone that you met at a networking event that wasn't your mentor?
Speaker 3:that was quite helpful yeah, um, actually in one of the networking events um, we went on the ncl cruise and it was quite a fun event.
Speaker 3:And then I actually met rick from the industry um, who is not my mentor but it's interestingly.
Speaker 3:We are one of the few asians in the community and I think um, sometimes you feel connected with the cultural background as well, so we had some chat and um, it's really good that um, I learned from him because his background was a really kind of he is very um experienced in the industry, industry and we even kind of like go out for lunch afterwards to kind of like learn a bit more of him kind of his experience in the industry or how he sees things going, trends and stuff.
Speaker 3:There might not be one specific thing that I can describe for now, but it's a lot of different things that we already talked about that I didn't expect from joining the time program, because when you join the time program it might be more focused into your mentoring relationship. It might be more kind of more one-on-one times with your mentor, with some networking times, but it's really good for these different networking events. You would then kind of meet someone that you didn't expect. Then you kind of like share some common interests, and then you might then kind of continue your conversation that way.
Speaker 2:So it's really interesting yeah, I mean, look, you know, like anything is so much better when you share food with someone that you meet at a time event, right?
Speaker 3:yeah, exactly that was one thing that I end my speech with. Is that, um, the three things? If you kind of forget my, uh, my journey at time, but the three things you don't want to forget? It's about um, the, the coffee, the salt milk. I pair with my coffee. I'm a dog lover and then I love Asian food. Good.
Speaker 2:Before the end of the podcast today, you will basically have to tell us a little bit. How is the food and beverage offering on Flight 53? We also want to know if you feel like you were sitting in first class or in business class or in premium or in economy. Is it a low-cost experience? This is more like full service? Uh, we want to know everything. We even want to know how's your line, how's the lounge like in for for your flight 53?
Speaker 3:I think think it's well, it's definitely. It's actually quite fun you ask it in that way. I think it's definitely first class experience. When I first kind of booked my ticket to join flight 53, I didn't think about what class I would be at.
Speaker 3:I might hide myself into the economy class that I'm really used to, um and trying to get to business. But everyone just welcomes you to be on the first class. Um, because I, to be honest, I am a little bit shy in meeting different people, especially in the networking event. And then every time when a networking event comes up I would be a bit nervous. But I remember there was one time when we were at Reddison Hotel and time just flies in that networking event because everyone is so welcoming, people would grab you into conversation and introduce you to one another, kind of break. That little um shininess from me to kind of keep introducing me and to new people that I might be too shine to me, um. And then definitely there are wine and different beautiful food pair with that. So it was really great, um.
Speaker 3:And even you have workshops, um, like before the networking event as well. Um, there was one workshop that, um, we were prone to think about our passion. Um, we were prone to kind of learn more about sustainable travel as well. So it's actually really eye-opening to kind of know about. Time program isn't just about that one-on-one mentorship, but it's also about staying connected with different people in the travel industry. That would be working in different fields and then different companies, and then you also get workshop. Either they would be online or they be face-to-face, even like meeting other mentor mentees as well. A lot I can't I can't kind of like explain it at all, but I encourage everyone to join and do it yourself well it's.
Speaker 1:It's definitely an experience. I think we all can agree to that in a positive way. And no need for you to be shy to introduce yourself. You have lots to offer and to talk about, so don't hide behind the column. Out on stage and scream here, I am the golden unicorn.
Speaker 3:Yeah. I think, that is definitely transformation. I didn't think about that when I started, but now I think differently.
Speaker 1:That's great, and I have a little challenge for you. So, now that you are a more holistic person and have you know, um, have not necessarily experience, but have the motivation to be functional in all aspects of life and business, um, if you look at Arnold today, what would be your fashion advice?
Speaker 3:My fashion advice. Well, arnold, you have a great top today and when I joined that podcast, I was like I'm really looking forward to seeing more Mary McIlprint on you, so I would definitely add that to your fashion today. Maybe you need to look it up and refresh your wardrobe and surprise us with your Marimekko 5 next time.
Speaker 2:Okay, Thank you, I appreciate it. You know, like, yeah, for those who don't know what Marimekko? It's a Finnish brand. The thing is that it's a little bit difficult, um to for me to wear marimekko stuff, because this is more a brand which is targeted to women. They have very little, uh, unisex, um fashion, and so I don't necessarily own a lot of items from them. But I do so next time, I promise I will make sure that I will wear something from Marimekko and maybe you can put in your creativity and bring that, create that unisex vibe for yourself.
Speaker 1:I can do that the good thing about Ano is it's also not afraid of using all fashion available, no matter what sex it's designed for. I just want to remind the audience of season three, episode two, when we talked about arno going to get his croissants in the morning. The birth, the birth hour of the croissants. Talk on this on this podcast. Um, from memory it was not necessarily male-owned clothes, but anyhow, that's a different topic, true?
Speaker 2:I you know yeah, from.
Speaker 3:Time to time, I do wear um, you know, clothing from the other gender yeah, yeah, and actually before this podcast end, I have a question for both of you. Yeah, you are getting interviewed we are super ready.
Speaker 1:Go for it.
Speaker 3:So now we talk about flight, but if we get back to the ground, well, I recently traveled to Europe and actually drive in Germany and I actually want to ask what is both of your seat record in life for now?
Speaker 2:In a car.
Speaker 3:Yeah, in a car.
Speaker 2:Are we talking about in countries where speeding up is legal, or are we talking about speeding up in countries where it's not legal to speed up?
Speaker 3:well, I am thinking in the germany context, um, which is which you get unlimited um, but I won't, you won't ask you the specific, it's really just the speed record so far in your life I think, I think we we do start with the french person, with the french person to answer this um, and obviously only legal aspects of of you know, of life, please um well, you know, I've owned a lot of of German cars and they tend to speed up quite fast.
Speaker 2:So I have been, you know, driving. I've experienced driving personally my car, yeah, quite fast, like above 200 kilometers an hour, maybe above 210. But I was not in Germany, I'll just leave it there. Interesting.
Speaker 3:Yeah, interesting. And how about your own Germany record?
Speaker 1:Look in Germany. First of all, I need to clarify a few stereotypes there. It's not like there's no speed limit in the whole of Germany. There's still some areas on the Autobahn where you can drive as fast as you like, but many, many areas are restricted in these days to 160, 130, whatever it is. School zone is around 150, so that seems appropriate. I'm kidding, it's actually a slower school zone. It's actually like walking pace in Germany, not about even 30 or something. So, yeah, so it's very slow.
Speaker 1:Mine is definitely around the 210 or something like that. I mean, the speedometer sometimes shows you something and you're not sure if that's really accurate. Yeah, so some cars in Germany go up to 230, 240. So if you drive 220, you're probably around 210 or something. So, yeah, so that's roughly where I was at. Definitely not with my first car, which was a Toyota Starlet. That didn't make much more than 160, maybe 170. I know, right Back in the days when I was young and beautiful Today I'm just ant, but no was young and beautiful. Today I'm just aunt, but no. Thank you for that question. I really appreciate that. We also obviously have a question for you, or a few more. What I would like to know from you is obviously. If people get to know you, what are they most surprised to learn about you?
Speaker 3:Most surprised. All right, so at work I am very organized. You would see I organize everything, and even in my speech you can kind of pick it up. But I have my own very unorganized desk, work desk at home, and the little thing, little surprise thing, is that, um, when I get drunk I would organize that desk and it will be very clean. So that is the very little surprise that I bring to you all, to the little secret and organized self on my work desk.
Speaker 2:Okay, that's very interesting.
Speaker 1:So tell us about a moment when you've been the least organized and loosest outside of your desk cleaning hours.
Speaker 3:It could be my bed, then it's my home. It's my home, the side of my home and also it's very funny the side of my home. And also it's very funny it's inside my drawer as well. You can actually, when you pull out two drawers one is my husband's drawer and one is my drawer you can see the difference and know whose drawer is. That. That is a little unorganized me.
Speaker 1:I know you also have a difference in regards to the tidiness of the drawers at your place no, because I'm the one who fill the drawers.
Speaker 2:You fill them. I'm the one who put things in the drawers, regardless whether it's for me or for my partner. I'm the one who organizes all the drawers, so it's up to my standard cool, interesting.
Speaker 1:Well, I um, I think we come to the end of this podcast and apologies again for this very loud I know you do it on purpose to match the theme, so yeah, 100 percent, yeah, um.
Speaker 1:so thank you for appreciating that um, and thanks for sharing your, your um experience with us. That was really interesting and I really like what you said. Again, I just want to encourage you to not be shy. Continue your time journey at the many opportunities after graduation. We haven't spoken much about that today, but there's so much going on, one obviously being on this beautiful podcast with the one and only French person, arnaud, and the very stereotype and average German, timo, you know. So we have a lot of a lot to offer here. So thank you for joining us and sharing that.
Speaker 1:Hopefully see you very soon at the Sydney.
Speaker 3:Time.
Speaker 1:Functions.
Speaker 3:I can't wait In a few weeks.
Speaker 2:Yes, absolutely.
Speaker 1:Alright, happy weekend.
Speaker 2:everyone Thank you Thanks, celia.
Speaker 3:Thank you.
