GBTA Ladders Mentorship Program Drives Industry Transformation

The GBTA Ladders – Season 9 brought together the best industry talent for mentorship, education and connection to inspire and shape next-generation industry leaders. This season’s project topic – Get Inspired: Looking Beyond Travel to Drive Change – was led by keynote speakers Barbara Rose and Kessie Bratko at the 2023 GBTA Ladders Summit in New Orleans, LA, last month.

After months of relentless research, collaboration and ideation, the program culminated at the GBTA Ladders Summit, where the four finalist teams presented their vision for business travel. This year, the Ladders program overall had a total of 18 teams comprised of 170 program participants across 16 countries. Ladders participants onsite selected the winning team live at the Summit.

Congratulations to Team Anja, also known as Team Travel Change, on winning the 2022-23 GBTA Ladders 9th Season. The team will present their project during an education session at the GBTA Convention in Dallas, August 13-15.

Join us in recognizing the remarkable achievements of the four finalist teams along with all the program participants:

• Team Anja Turner-Schulz: Travel Change
• Team Beth Crimmins: Re(Crew)tment
• Team Dan Humby & Katie Virtue: TAG – You’re It 
• Team Mike Daly: Catalysts Start the Spark

A special thanks to the great volunteers of the Ladders program, recognized for their excellent contribution at Ladders Summit:

• Outstanding Contribution: Abby Pharr
• Mentor(s) of the Year: Dan Humby and Katie Virtue
• Mentee of the Year: Sarah Whiting

Co-chaired this season by Ali Prejean Smith, Grace Morrisey and Lindsay Straub, GBTA Ladders is a unique team-based mentorship program that enables members to expand their professional development within the travel and meetings industry and gain true lifelong colleagues and friends. For more information or to get involved in GBTA Ladders, visit gbtafoundation.org/ladders.