Home » Latest Travel News of UK » World Travel Market London’s ITT Future You Summit Urges Students to Persevere and Network in Quest for Career Opportunities Published on
November 7, 2025By: Tuhin SarkarThe World Travel Market London’s ITT Future You Summit highlighted crucial advice for students looking to make their mark in the travel industry. Speakers urged students to persevere with their applications and actively network. In a fast-paced and competitive field, building connections can open doors to endless opportunities. Kate Irwin, EMEA managing director at Skift, shared her personal journey, stressing the importance of resilience in one’s career. She encouraged attendees to embrace mistakes and learn from them. The event offered insights into the importance of young talent entering the travel industry and gaining valuable skills through hard work and networking. The Key Takeaways from WTM London’s ITT Future You SummitAdvertisement At the WTM London’s ITT Future You Summit, young people were encouraged to embrace persistence in their job search and network actively. Kate Irwin, a keynote speaker, shared a personal reflection on her own career journey. She acknowledged that her career path was not linear, often resembling a trip gone wrong. Irwin stressed that the messy chapters of a career are often the most rewarding. Her advice to students was clear: make mistakes, fail loudly, and never stop working hard. Irwin also noted that part-time jobs in her youth had equipped her with valuable skills like negotiation and management, which were crucial for her success in the travel industry. She advocated for continuous curiosity, human connections, and knowing when to walk away from an unsatisfying job. Her message was clear – no career path is without its hurdles, but with perseverance and determination, success is achievable.The Importance of Networking and Perseverance in the Travel IndustryAdvertisementDuring the summit, the importance of networking and perseverance was echoed by a panel of young professionals in the travel sector. Gabriella Hayward shared her personal story of how she landed a placement with the travel safety consultancy Sanderson Phillips. Her secret to success? Sending out approximately 200 applications and putting herself out there on platforms like LinkedIn. Although self-promotion felt intimidating, Hayward advised students to remain open, proactive, curious, and driven. Networking played a critical role in her journey, and she stressed the importance of connecting with people in the industry. Persistence is key, even when faced with setbacks. The message from all the speakers was clear: resilience in the face of rejection is crucial, and perseverance often leads to eventual success. Overcoming Challenges and Finding Your Path in the Travel IndustryAdvertisement Harneet Singh Sachdev, an account executive at Black Diamond, also shared his experience of overcoming challenges on his path to success in the travel industry. His journey was a rollercoaster, starting in the tech sector in India, followed by backpacking after the Covid-19 pa …
