What can Glenn do?
Give a quick overview of your work experience (jobs, internships, volunteering)?
12 years full time experience in the travel industry covering a wide range of roles and responsibilities across various organisations from retail sales, customer service, technical support and training and development.
Prior to that I had extensive volunteering experience running aid and development programs in schools and universities across NSW, running educational and awareness programs while also achieving fundraising targets for overseas partners.
Do you have a track record of delivering measurable outcomes or KPIs?
While in retail sales I regularly achieved above target results. Once I moved in the Product Manager roles, I was awarded Top Product Manager NSW/ACT in 2018, resulting in going to Flight Centre Global Ball in Berlin.
More recently, after relaunching the Airdesk at the Globus Family of Brands at the start of 2022, 2023 saw the company more than double year on year air revenue.
What technical or industry-specific skills do you bring?
Limited - most of my technical experience is specific to the travel industry. I would mainly be looking to transfer soft skills across to this new industry.
What tools/platforms/software are they proficient in?
Proficient in Microsoft suite of programs and have also had exposure to Dynamics, the Microsoft CRM.
Have previously used CISCO phones system.
Travel industry specific, I'm highly proficient in Sabre and previously used Galileo as well.
What qualifications, certifications, or degrees do you hold?
Grad Cert in Sports Management from Torrens University.
Bachelor of Aviation Management from Griffith University
Cert III in Travel Cert II in Tourism
I'm an analytical thinker keen on making processes simpler and more inclusive and passionate about improving the experience for all stakeholders involved, whether that be a colleague or a customer.
I have over a decade of professional experience working with people at all levels of large organisations, I'm able to cater a message or deliver training to senior executives as effectively as to the new recruit or an external partner. Let me show you how my approachable nature and established people skills can contribute to your teams success.
What steps has Glenn taken to break into the sport industry?
I undertook some studies in Sports Management last year, ultimately culminating in the Graduate Certificate in Sport Management. I've also sought out casual and part time roles to get a foot in the door and I have now secured two separate casual roles at the AFL.
These roles have given me motivation and a foundation to leave my current full time role in travel to pursue something full time and permanent in sports.
Glenn’s interest in sport all started after COVID hit
Covid caused a disruption to the careers of many people in the travel industry and despite having almost 10 years of experience, at the start of 2022 I found myself basically in an entry level role again. I started thinking that if I needed to start from the bottom of the ladder anyway, maybe I could look to do it somewhere more aligned to my passions outside of work. The more that time went on, the more I realised that while I was an expert in my niche of the industry, I was selling a product I didn't really believe in myself and wanted to move somewhere where I can more wholeheartedly believe in the vision of the organisation I work for and want to actively contribute to its success. Being a life long fan of a number of sports, and playing in different teams for most of my life, it seemed like the right move to make.
Where does Glenn want to go?
Next six-12 months | Next 5-10 years |
|---|---|
Over the next 6-12 months, I'm looking to move into a full time role where I can build on the soft skills I've developed so far in my professional career while applying them to a new industry. Roles in either events/logistics or marketing, both of which I've had a little experience in, would provide great opportunities to be able to work with various people within an organisation and gain that wider exposure. | If I had to name what job I want to be doing in 5-10 years, it would be in Player Wellbeing and Engagement at the Swans Academy. The idea of playing a role in helping young players, many of whom will have moved regionally or even interstate to be at the club, and being on the front line of instilling the club culture and helping to nurture their development and try and set them up for success gets me really excited. Anything that aligns with those aspirations, whether it be in a different sport or even a different club, or something at an AFL level, would all be of great interest to me. |
What sporting problem keeps Glenn up at night, and how would they solve it?
Establishing support networks for players and their families when their professional sporting aspirations aren't able to be fulfilled, whether through injury or being released from contracts. EPL club Crystal Palace recently launched a 3-year aftercare package for released players and I think something like that, while being a long way off in Australian sporting contexts, provides a great framework for the type of support clubs can provide to young athletes who may face uncertain circumstances in the reality of professional sport.
What is Glenn like?
What kind of environment do you thrive in?
I've always performed best in roles that have a level of variation in them, not static and repetitive in nature. Being able to move around, work with different people and different projects with supporting managment/colleagues but a strong sense of autonomy - that's where I thrive.
When have you had to show resilience in your life or career?
Covid obviously affected many people in different ways but the lockdowns had significant ramifications for people working in travel. For me specifically, the first lockdowns came mid job-change where I had already left one job but was yet to start at the next one, who then ultimately froze recruitment. This left me without a redundancy or access to Job Keeper from my first job, nor a role with the next.
With uncertainty around how long it would last and what would be on the other side, I decided that the time could be used to accelerate my progression through part time studies and put myself in as good a position to pick things up once the opportunities presented themselves as things began to open back up again.
There were challenges professionally and also personally during these times, but having that determination and drive to continually develop and put myself in the best possible position lead to multiple opportunities presenting themselves once travel recruitment started to open back up again.
What about Glenn’s interests outside of work?
What are your interests outside of work?
My main sport interests are AFL and cricket, but I'm also really into running, mainly trail running and longer distance events.
Before full time work, my casual job was at my local cinema, including as a projectionist, so I still love movies and have also recently gotten back into reading as well, something I did a lot as a kid.
Other than that, I'm a big fan of dogs so will often be at the park or dog beach with my wife and our Cairn Terrier, Chief.
What is your favourite sporting moment?
The best game I've ever been to would be the 2022 Prelim, Swans vs Pies - 1 point win and all the hope of what might happen the following weekend.
If there's a moment in the past that I wish I could have been at, it would be a toss up between the 2005 AFL grand final or Liverpool 4-0 vs Barcelona at Anfield in the Champions League semi final. I think Anfield might just have it.
What’s your ideal holiday?
Roadtrip through the Japanese countryside - lots of downtime, great food, amazing scenery and some hiking/running and then at least a few days in one of the big cities to get some energy back.
If you had 30 minutes to pick the brain of anyone, who would it be and why?
While it would be great to speak with an elite manager like Jurgen Klopp or hear from a sporting idol like Courtney Dauwalter, the name that I can't get out of my head is Gary Ablett Jr. Growing up as the 'son of God', premiership success with Geelong, but then leaving to lead an expansion club and all the pressures and expectations of that and then the decision to come back to Geelong, I find his career fascinating and would love to hear his thoughts on dealing with pressure and expectations, how his definition of success changed and personal motivations.
Additional details
Where in the world are you located, and where are you open to work?
Living in Sydney and aiming to be here for at least a few more years.
What is the most important consideration for you in your next role?
A nurturing team environment with opportunities to learn and develop new skills and understand different aspects of the organisation or industry would be ideal.
What questions does Glenn have for employers?
Are there any gaps or concerns in my experience or application that I can further address?
How collaborative or autonomous is the nature of the team that I would be working in?
How experienced is the team that I would be joining?
Are there any other recent recruits?
What would success in this role look like over the first 6 weeks and 3-6 months?
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