CTM Career Pathways: Natalie Currie

From Trainee to Specialist 

Meet Natalie Currie, one of our shining stars who has built a long and successful career in travel. Natalie started as a Trainee Travel Consultant, and quickly worked her way up the ladder, putting her hand up for new challenges along the way.

With hard work and determination, she landed her dream job in the Fares & Ticketing team and has enjoyed opportunities to travel the world and collaborate with global peers along the way. The world is truly her oyster, and the same could be true for you.

Natalie’s Career Pathway – Snapshot

• 2011 – Trainee Business Travel Consultant
• 2011 – Billback Specialist
• 2013 – Business Travel Consultant
• 2015 – Lead Agent
• 2016 – Fares Specialist
• 2022 – Ticketing Specialist

Where did you desire to work in travel all begin?

‘Come fly with me, let’s fly, let’s fly away…’ (chime in the music). I always dreamed of becoming a Flight Attendant. As a child traveling with my family, it always looked so glamorous and I wanted to be a part of it all, and it was a desire that I never grew out of. However, my studies at college opened my eyes to a smorgasbord of opportunities that exist in the travel industry.

Tell us a little about your entrance into the travel industry and joining CTM.

I was a college student and we were just coming out of a recession and I was struggling to get my foot into the travel industry. It was through my college studies that I discovered my interest in corporate travel and was especially interested in the area of fares and ticketing.

Perhaps it was fate that I happened to be attending a course and was speaking to a person whose brother worked for CTM. They shared my details with them and the rest is history. It was the best chance meeting I have had. I started at CTM in 2011 and have been here ever since!

What do you enjoy most about the CTM culture and why?

CTM feels like family to me. All senior management are supportive and approachable, ensuring employees feel valued and listened to. This is such an important thing to me. After all, you spend so much of your life at work, and you want to be at a place that supports you and your career growth aspirations.

What has been your most valuable learning experience at CTM and why?

The training I received in fares has certainly been most valuable. I would have never discovered this niche skill or learned that I could become a part of a Fares & Ticketing team.

What opportunities have you been provided that significantly impacted your career progression at CTM?

As a Business Travel Consultant, I took the initiative to pursue my passion for the industry by seeking out opportunities to grow within the company. Despite my lack of experience, I approached the Fares Manager with confidence and a willingness to learn. Looking back, I am grateful for their trust in me, which has enabled me to flourish in my role today. It’s been almost 7 years since then, and I am now in the same role that he was in when I originally approached him, and I couldn’t be happier. If it weren’t for his support, I might not be in this position.

Have you had the opportunity to travel in your roles at CTM? What has been the highlight?

Although I’ve had the pleasure of traveling to a few places, I must say that my favorite destination so far has to be Tokyo during the CTM All Stars trip in 2019. The city is a stunning combination of natural beauty and vibrant culture, with so many exciting activities and experiences to offer. From the delicious food to the bustling streets and colorful lights, it was truly a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Another memorable one was a familiarization trip to India, which opened my eyes to a whole new world of sights, sounds, and flavors. It was an enriching experience that broadened my perspective and left me with a newfound appreciation for the diversity and richness of different cultures.

Have you been involved in any CTM employee initiatives during your CTM journey, such as CTM All Star Awards, CTM Star Awards, HiPo?

I feel incredibly fortunate to have won the CTM All Stars award not just once, but twice – in 2018 and again in 2022. It was an unforgettable experience to visit Tokyo with colleagues from all over the world, including some of the people I work closely with on inter-office ticketing. Meeting face-to-face and building connections with colleagues from different offices was truly inspiring and motivating. It’s amazing to work for a company that values and rewards hard work and dedication in such a meaningful way. These incentives not only recognize our efforts but also encourage us to strive for excellence and go above and beyond in our roles.

As a 2022/2023 High Potential (HiPo) program participant, I am thrilled to be a part of this workgroup and have already gained so much knowledge in just a few months. The HiPo program has allowed me to learn about other regions and areas of the business that I might not have had the opportunity to explore otherwise. I’ve enjoyed meeting colleagues from diverse backgrounds and departments, and it’s been inspiring to see how they approach their work and contribute to the company’s success. What’s more, I appreciate the access we have to a wide range of courses on the learning portal, which enables us to continue our personal and professional development. I’m excited to see where this program takes me and how I can leverage the skills and knowledge I gain to make a meaningful impact at CTM.

What advice would you give to others considering joining CTM, or considering a change of career direction?

I can speak from personal experience when I say that you should take the leap and pursue your career goals with CTM. From the moment I joined the company, I was impressed by their commitment to promoting from within and supporting employees who want to explore new career paths. CTM offers a diverse range of departments and roles to choose from, which means you have the opportunity to broaden your horizons and develop new skills. I can confidently say that my career progression at CTM has been incredibly rewarding, and I’m excited to see where my journey with the company takes me next.

In no more than 5 words, how would you describe your CTM employee experience?

• Exciting
• Engaging
• Sociable
• Educational