Monster: What made you want to be a Leadership Development Manager?
Sarah: Having spent time as a Travel Sales Consultant and then a Store Manager for Flight Centre I wanted to pass on some of my knowledge as well as develop my skills. I could have become an Area Leader and become responsible for a number of retail stores, but I wasn’t sure I was ready for it and it made sense to have involvement in training and developing individuals at a higher level so I decided to go for a Leadership Development role.

Here we operate a training store which trains the next generation of business leaders. We operate a mix of off-the-job and on-the-job training and I'm responsible for running the scheme.

What skills and education are essential to your job? 
Flight Centre requires their people to have a good academic background, recent sales experience and have travelled to at least two continents outside Europe. However the real determining factors to your success will be your passion for travel and your ability to communicate enthusiastically and transform your clients’ holiday dreams into reality.

To be a Leadership Development Manager you really need excellent interpersonal skills. You’re coaching the company’s leadership material and you have to deal with lots of questions all the time. You need to be focused and driven as there’s a lot to take in - for example I’ve had to learn all the training modules to make sure I understand them and know how to teach them. 

What advice can you offer someone wanting to become a Leadership Development Manager?
Get the basics of being a Sales Consultant right – hit your targets, that type of thing. As progression is on merit make yourself available to help when needed. For example, I’ve helped Area Leaders by going into struggling stores to help turn sales around and I’ve volunteered to be a mentor for others in the business.

What are the best and worst things about your role?
The best bit about my job is being able to help and see people develop into excellent business leaders - the transition in the three month period is incredible. Job satisfaction for me is having my team happy and for them to be making money and learning new things everyday.

The most frustrating part? As a Travel Sales Consultant and a Store Manager it was always about the money and success of your shop - now its about the success of individuals. It's a big change but I am trying to get used to it!

Are there any perks to the job?
Last year Flight Centre sent something like 200 members of staff on 'educationals' which are basically free holidays. I recently went on an educational to Mauritius which was a seven day, fully funded trip sponsored by one of our preferred airlines.

We were treated like royalty, flying business class both ways, staying in 5 star hotels and enjoying activities like quad biking and catamaran tours - very different to my gap year backpacking around the world! And that’s not to mention the other freebies such as tours and discounts from suppliers and presents from my clients.

What is the end goal in your career? 
My end goal? I'm continuously wanting to move on and have a plan, so I'm thinking about my next step after this as possibly Area Leader. I'm not really sure as it depends on what comes up. Corporate perhaps or something in Head Office - I am open to ideas.

With Flight Centre’s rapid and ongoing expansion there are always opportunities for the right person. I know that I want to give this role at least one to two years to really make a go of it and be a success.

Finish this sentence. "This week I have been mostly..."
"...extremely happy making my team happy and making money!"


Fancy following in Sarah's footsteps? Check out our latest Leadership Development Manager jobs or take a look at all jobs with Flight Centre.