Fast Forward 15, the award-winning mentoring programme founded by Fay Sharpe, has announced its new intake for the next 12-month mentorship scheme, following the largest number of applications received to date.
The programme helps nurture female talent in the events and travel industries by developing individual’s competencies and broadening their skills. Fast Forward 15 is recognised as Europe’s pre-eminent programme for personal progression for women at every level in their career.
Following the application process and rigorous interviews, 15 mentees have been chosen for their ambition, passion and development needs. Over the next year, they will be individually mentored while also being assigned group tasks to contribute to their growth and personal impact.
Mentees are drawn from the broad spectrum that makes up the travel and events sector and includes people from the luxury lifestyle, concierge, corporate, apartment services and ancillary event suppliers sector.
The 15 participants for the fourth year of the scheme are:
Alison Makosz         Habicus
Charlotte Boaden      Tribal Group
Jennifer Cohen        LSO St Luke’s
Emma Thomas        BCD M&E
Annette Morgan        EY
Connie Linfield        BCD M&E
Dominika Zaton       Abbott
Elizabeth Bristow      Davis Tanner
Ivona Grgan          Croatian National Tourist Board
Blanche Savereux      GL Events
Jennifer Davidson      Sleek Events
Jade Ball            Top Banana
Francesca Knight      Pinpoint Events
Fiona Bool           Quintessentially
Kerry Moore          Aztec
Class of 2018 mentee, Connie Linfield, comments ‘I feel incredibly honoured to be selected as one of the mentees for the 2018 class of the Fast Forward 15 Program. To have the opportunity to meet and spend time alongside some of the biggest and most influential people in the MICE industry is invaluable. I am very much looking forward to sharing this truly incredible experience with the fellow Fast Forward 15 mentee’s and working with my mentor John Kelly, in setting goals to progress my career to the next level.’
Fellow mentee Charlotte Boaden, added ‘To be in a room with so many inspirational women makes me feel truly honoured. Hearing from last year’s 15 mentees has been extremely motivational and I am now even more excited to be in the programme. I can’t wait to see what the next 12 months will bring. Andrew Winterburn, my mentor, has been really helpful so far and I look forward to learning new skills and gaining invaluable experience from Andrew and the Fast Forward 15 family. Bring it on!’
Fay Sharpe, Fast Forward 15 Founder said, ‘Once again we have an amazing contingent of females who want to challenge the norm. As the demand to be on the programme increases year on year, each person has gone through quite a process to secure their spot. All 15 mentees have been tailor matched to a mentor who can help them up-skill and network while being a support to their individual needs. 2018 is going to be a very exciting time for these mentees, and we look forward to their continued successes, both professional and personal’.
Author: Adam Parry
Adam is the co-founder and editor of www.eventindustrynews.com Adam, a technology evangelist also organises Event Tech Live, Europe’s only show dedicated to event technology and the Event Technology Awards. Both events take place in November, London.
