Meet the Escapers – Secret Escapes Recruitment Hub

Meet the Execs: Charlotte Horne, Group Legal Director

We are thrilled to welcome Charlotte Horne, Group Legal Director, to our Leadership team at Secret Escapes. Charlotte brings with her 11 years of experience within the legal world having previously worked as a corporate and commercial lawyer at a London-based law firm. We sat down to find out a little more about life for Charlotte both inside and outside of SE.

Tell us a little more about your journey at Secret Escapes

I joined in 2018 as the second lawyer in the business. It was quite a broad role covering everything from new products and territories to commercial contracts and customer complaints, plus a few extensive, disruptive new laws that were coming in (including GDPR!). There has been a huge amount of group growth over the years with acquisitions such as EML and Travelbird and as a result, my role grew alongside this.

I was then made Senior Legal Counsel and our team further expanded. I then moved into the role as Head of Legal when my predecessor left in 2022, which was slightly hectic (and unexpected) as I was also three months pregnant at the time. I had to hire my mat leave cover, grow the existing team and prepare for a child all at once – it’s safe to say I was a little overwhelmed!

It’s amazing to have another woman on our Leadership Team. Do you feel there are still any barriers or challenges for women in Senior Leadership roles?

I think the biggest barrier for myself personally is imposter syndrome and I think a lot of women can probably relate. I talk a lot about making your own luck and actively seeking out roles/opportunities to develop and challenge yourself. Being out of your comfort zone is great for development and allows you to see what you’re really capable of.

However, imposter syndrome really is a barrier to that, especially if all you’re seeing is males in that position or role that you’re wanting to step into.

I felt that a lot when I moved into the Head of Legal role. My first reaction to it was questioning whether I was ready for it, focussing so much on what the previous Head of Legal (who was male) was like in that role.

I had a lot of coaching and went through a process to realise that I didn’t need to step into my predecessor’s shoes at all, but recognise why I was the right for it and what I could bring to it instead. I can truthfully say I didn’t feel this doubt moving into Leadership however and I am delighted to be another woman on the team alongside Louise Nolder.

What’s been the biggest challenge in your career to date?

I think it follows on from the above – the transition into Head of Legal was probably the hardest part of my career. My first reply genuinely was ‘but do you know I’m pregnant?’. I just assumed that this would be a barrier. It was also quite challenging finding my mat cover – I literally had candidates asking whether I was planning to come back, whether this would be a permanent role and this really played into my personal fears and imposter syndrome at the time.

I had to hire a new team, get them comfortable with the transition and then prepare the whole team for my mat leave cover and it all felt very daunting. Also, when you invest so much time in creating a team you are really excited about, it then feels so scary having to hand that over to someone else. Thankfully my mat cover did an amazing job and the team is so strong now.

It’s so easy to underestimate what a huge deal it is to step away from a role for a year and then the challenges you face coming back after what feels like so much time off at the time. Not to mention, you are a new mum and facing new challenges outside of work too.

What are you most excited about for this new position?

Our team works across the wider business and has a lot of touch points with so many roles. So I am excited to have the opportunity to be more strategic and bring new ideas and solutions to different areas and teams.

I think I’m really excited about the broader company strategy and how I can bring a different perspective to this too. We have a great, really experienced leadership team that have a wealth of experience and I’m excited to learn more from them all.

How would you describe the culture at SE in 3 words?

Stimulating, supportive, resilient

What’s your favourite travel destination?

Val D’Isere, as this is where I met my husband. In a big cliche fashion I was on holiday with friends and he was one of the chalet managers… we also got engaged there (not on the same trip for the record!)

I have lots of special memories there and although we’re skiing next year, we are actually going to La Plagne. Our daughter will be two and a half and we’ve bought her a unicorn ski suit with wings… we’re yet to know if she can ski, but least she will look cute!

What is life like outside of SE?

A lot crammed in! Especially with Sofia (my 2 year old), mainly all manner of family logistics! As a family, we all love being active so a typical weekend involves me having some downtime and going to CrossFit and then rushing back to take Sofia swimming / soft play / all the activities after that! However, I am also a HUGE fan of soft play as I get to be a big kid and go in with her…it still feels very novel!

We will usually also take a long walk as a family…and by long, I mean in terms of time as it takes her HOURS to do a tiny lap round a pond near home! Followed by a roast with family and friends.

Introducing our Mental Health First Aiders

As part of Secret Escapes’ commitment to promoting positive mental health in the workplace, we’re pleased to introduce a new team of Mental Health First Aiders.

Accredited by Mental Health First Aid England, our newly qualified Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAs) are based in London, Berlin and Amsterdam, and are on hand to provide support to anyone who may be experiencing poor mental health or emotional distress.

We’re passionate about boosting employee well-being and maintaining a healthy workplace, and we believe that providing effective support to colleagues experiencing poor mental health is a way of putting the Secret Escapes values into practice. We also know that good quality mental health support can genuinely make a positive difference to well-being at work.

Mental Health First Aiders can:

Act as a point of contact to reassure colleagues in emotional distress or experiencing poor mental health
Listen non-judgmentally and hold supportive conversations (confidentially)
Signpost colleagues to professional help
Identify the signs and symptoms for a range of mental health conditions
Use a five-step action plan to assist someone experiencing poor mental health

Meet our MHFAs

London office

Shianne Stannard – Risk Manager
Elle Kkolos – Senior Content Editor, UK
Dom Pitt – Brand & Marketing Promotions Manager
Hannah Hunter-Reid – Reward & Systems Analyst
Georgie Agnew – Senior Customer Insights Analyst

Berlin office

Efe Mumoglu – Engineering Manager

Amsterdam

Aneta Keliskova – Global Operations Administrative Assistant

It’s also important to note that MHFAs are not qualified to provide counselling, diagnosis or ongoing support, and they can’t be available outside their normal working hours – but colleagues can also access 24/7 confidential advice through the Employee Assistance Programme here, and medical support via Medicash and Vitality healthcare.

You can reach out to any of the MHFAs via G chat, via mhfa@secretescapes.com, or if you see them around the offices (they’re an approachable bunch).

Meet our Apprentices – National Apprenticeship Week 2023

At Secret Escapes we are lucky to have several apprentices in our teams. The theme of this year’s National Apprenticeship Week 2023 was "Skills for Life", so we got together with a few of our talented apprentices to discover what skills they’ve learned and how they are going to use them to excel in their careers.

Get to know Owen Flanagan, our Application Support Engineer

Owen tells us “since joining Secret Escapes as an apprentice 6 years ago, I’ve developed a lot. Doing a Degree Apprenticeship means studying for courses, writing essays and completing exams, but I have had to combine this with my full-time job in the Tech Support team.

So, over the years I’ve improved my ability to organise my work and manage my time, to allow me to handle both. However, one of the biggest differences I’ve found since I first joined Secret Escapes is my confidence and ability to communicate with different people. I remember being nervous and overawed for a lot of my first year but now I feel at home and able to handle whatever comes my way.”

Get to know Kate Donaghy, our Head of Business Technology

Kate has been at Secret Escapes for 5 years and we are so happy to support her development as she completes a ‘Digital and Technology Solutions Professional’ degree apprenticeship.

Kate says “my biggest takeaway so far has been that I knew way more than I thought I did, so it’s been a real confidence boost to get some certifications for it.

It’s also helped me become far more effective with time management. Trying to be diligent with my 20% off-the-job hours, and still being a successful senior manager in the business has been tough, but I seem to have found my rhythm now!”

Kudos to Kate for thriving in her position and using her apprenticeship skills to not only improve her personal development but also to deliver solutions that help the business reach its goals!

Get to know Olivia O’Driscoll, our Talent Administrator

Olivia says “I joined Secret Escapes a year and a half ago after pursuing a career change. Within this time I have developed in more ways than I could have ever expected!

Being able to take what I learn within my apprenticeship and apply it to my work has built up not only my knowledge, but my confidence. I remember being so nervous on my first day, worrying if I had made the right decision or if I was even going to be any good at the role. I can now confidently say that I can’t imagine pursuing any other career path than the one I am on.

I have been so lucky to start my career in such a supportive, encouraging and empowering environment. The skills that I have obtained working here have benefited me in all aspects of my life, personally and professionally.”

Get to know Marek Serzeniewski our Operating Senior Project Manager

Marek has been at Secret Escapes for nearly 9 years and is currently completing a level 6 Project Manager degree apprenticeship.
Marek tells us “when I embarked on my IT Project Manager degree apprenticeship, I slightly underestimated the learning curve I was about to take. Being (ahem) slightly older than the average student, I hadn’t quite realised that being a student required specific skills.

I left higher education some 20 years ago, and since then have acquired professional skills. Skills that help me in the day-to-day business world. They say you can never truly unlearn something. I guess that should extend to include what I call “student skills”. The ability to read reference materials for periods of time without getting distracted, or referencing in a specific way. I think for the first few weeks of my apprenticeship, I spent more time learning how to reference “Harvard” style than I did actually studying the course content itself!

What I did learn, and am in a constant state of self-development in, is the “student skills” that support me, that add credit to the work that I am doing. The ability to communicate more clearly, and more confidently than before. I have learnt a better, more structured way of working and managing components of my work, studies and day-to-day life. This may sound like an exaggeration, but what I think it boils down to is my mindset. I have developed my mindset around continuously improving aspects of myself.”

Get to know Shianne Stannard, our Risk Manager

Shianne has been at Secret Escapes for over 3 years and is about to start a level 6 Senior Risk and Compliance Specialist degree apprenticeship.

Shianne says “I’m starting my apprenticeship at BPP at the end of this month and I’m so ready to get stuck in.

I’m looking forward to updating my knowledge bank and especially keen for the ESG & External Environment and Cyber Security masterclasses as these weren’t as widely considered in the Risk Management realm when I did my MSc or when I started my career.”

A massive thank you to all of our apprentices who took part in our posts this week, it’s been great to hear how they have been developing their skills and knowledge in their chosen career paths.

If you’d like to find out more about our apprenticeship schemes, please get in touch!

60 seconds with Tech: Tolly Von Der Heyde, Business Analyst

As we continue to grow our Tech team, we'd like to introduce you to some of the fantastic talent we already have on board. In our '60 seconds with Tech' series we'll introduce you to various people within the department and take a closer look at their role and some of the projects they're working on.

What first attracted you to SE?

I have family within the hospitality industry and my new role is focused on analytics and project management which is my skill base. Also, the interview process was really friendly!

What does a typical day at SE look like for you?

Reasonably varied between supporting the team as the first line of support and moving forward the core project of the quarter.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

The team I work with are very welcoming and supportive of each other.

Your favourite holiday destination and why?

The Alps (specifically the three valleys) because I love to ski!

What 3 items would you take with you to a deserted island?

A book, a flare and a towel, you should never go anywhere without your towel.

Any interesting talents or hobbies to share?

I love sport! Rugby, surfing, skiing and skeleton luge are some of my favourites.

Why would you recommend SE as the place to be to others?

I would absolutely recommend SE as a place to work! The combination of an incredible group of people all with a positive attitude towards work has made it an awesome first month!

If you’re interested in applying for a role in Tech, discover your next opportunity here.

60 seconds with Tech: Mahrukh Tariq, Salesforce Business Analyst

What first attracted you to SE?

The work culture. Love the vibrant holiday vibe going on while getting work done!

What does a typical day at SE look like for you?

Identifying where we can help our revenue and operation teams to boost our sales through salesforce. Looking at how we can provide solutions to keep the salesforce processes aligned with our business and analysing salesforce data to figure out where we can improve.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

Exploring what the business is about and how we can make it better.

Your favourite holiday destination and why?

Japan. For their culture, history and cherry blossom trees.

What 3 items would you take with you to a deserted island?

A word search book, a good pair of shoes, a good camera.

Any interesting talents or hobbies to share?

Taking pictures of sunsets, exploring new music and going to the cinema.

Why would you recommend SE as the place to be to others?

For the vibrant work culture, free food and discounts on travelling.

If you’re interested in applying for a role in Tech, discover your next opportunity here.

60 seconds with Tech: Product Analyst, Darshana Sridhar

What first attracted you to SE?

How supportive the atmosphere seemed, and how lovely everyone was to talk to even in the early recruitment stages!

What does a typical day at SE look like for you?

No two days are the same, which is great! Typically, I’d have some meetings to understand stakeholder requirements for a piece of analysis, followed by speaking to the data team to source the data needed for this – and then the fun bit, which is actually carrying out the analysis and putting it into a digestible format for end users.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

I love how much creativity I can use in helping to solve important business problems. I also love that there is continuous growth and learning potential, both when it comes to useful technical skills as well as more about the business and the travel industry as a whole – I learn something new every day.

Your favourite holiday destination and why?

I would have to say Italy – the food is incredible, the history is so rich and the weather is almost always amazing!

What 3 items would you take with you to a deserted island?

My crockpot, my kindle and hair straighteners…a lack of electricity and internet might be an issue though!

Any interesting talents or hobbies to share?

I love cooking and trying out new recipes, but I’m an absolutely rubbish baker!

Why would you recommend SE as the place to be to others?

There is so much support and encouragement from across the team when it comes to onboarding and longer-term career and skills development. We hear it a lot, but the team is incredible – everyone is genuinely so kind and patient.

If you’re interested in applying for a role in Tech, discover your next opportunity here.

Iustin Balta Cojocaru Stan, Senior Software Test Engineer

There are a lot a diverse people with different mentalities that are always keen on helping and provide feedback and this coupled with the progressive mindset of the managers makes you feel like sky is just a step towards limitless skull improvement.

What attracted you to working at Secret Escapes?

To find what is the “Secret” behind Secret Escapes (found it out .. not telling). This and also the huge opportunity to learn more about my trade and improve on it with the full backup of the such a diverse and open minded company. And oh boy did it pay out. There are a lot a diverse people with different mentalities that are always keen on helping and provide feedback and this coupled with the progressive mindset of the managers makes you feel like sky is just a step towards limitless skull improvement

What did you want to be when you were younger?

A painter.. and I did try to achieve that but I was striving for perfection so much that I became my worst critic. That made me join the “Critics” side (aka the dark side of art). This turned out to be my best choice since being a QA is … in essence .. criticising other peoples work based on documentation and/or requirements. And apparently I am very good at it.

What was your first week at Secret Escapes like?

A bit stiff with the after taste of “corporation” but after the first 2 days of getting setup and socialising with the rest of the tech team, that faded away and was replaced by a the family vibe that is still going strong and makes you feel like you belong.Of course there is the stress of achieving goals (for me was and still is setting up the QA for the tech team) this was never imposed by the team (I stressed myself out). The entire team is very understanding and willing to help you achieve that goal in any way possible.

How did you find the recruitment process at Secret Escapes?

I would say that was the most hectic part. It started with using an app that allowed me to be in touch (video and message-wise) with the secret escapes team which was fine but I was also in a conversation with the Secret escapes recruiter and the dedicated application agent at the same time which were not using the app but were calling me directly. At a point I lost a bit track. The rest of the process was smooth as butter, with fast responses and feedback.

What makes Secret Escapes different to where you have worked before?

The dedication and camaraderie. Secret Escapes is a family and much more than that. They will accept you with open arms and never give up on you, they will never let you down, never turn around or desert you. There is always something happening be it work related or a social event that you can join and feel as part of. You will never get bored.

What has been your favourite holiday destination and why?

Real mind churning question since there are so many awesome place but by by a small margin I would have to say the road tripe I took on “Cinque terre” – which is a string of 5 old cities dotted along the western cost of Italy. It has it all, small coastal road, buildings on big rocks, delicious sea food and surreal views. You will drive above the clouds and at some points bellow the sea level, from huge 6 lanes highways to 1 lane narrower than your car meant for 2 vehicles and from clean straights of road to almost 45˚ ramps and slopes on serpentine mountain roads. You name it they got it.

Abigail Tresadern, Management Accountant

I've always associated Secret Escapes with offering the dreamiest of travel opportunities, then once I was able to take a glimpse of the office environment and culture, my thoughts soon escalated to - 'I NEED to work here!'

What attracted you to working at Secret Escapes?

I’ve always associated Secret Escapes with offering the dreamiest of travel opportunities, then once I was able to take a glimpse of the office environment and culture, my thoughts soon escalated to – ‘I NEED to work here!’

What did you want to be when you were younger?

I would love to say I’ve wanted to be an accountant my whole life but it’s just not believable, is it?! I’m going to go with the more realistic option of Zookeeper.

What was your first week at Secret Escapes like?

A complete whirlwind of introductions and knowledge which now seems like a distant memory, but the friendliness and welcoming feeling from the team is what I remember most.

How did you find the recruitment process at Secret Escapes?

This was my first experience partaking in a video interview which seemed daunting at first, however, I knew it was my first chance to give Secret Escapes an insight to me as a person and therefore decided to embrace the opportunity (fortunately this clearly worked in my favour)! Overall I found the process refreshingly modern, from the video interview via an app to booking my interview slot as a ‘trip’, I felt the process to be smooth and swift whilst always keeping on travel theme – very clever!

What makes Secret Escapes different to where you have worked before?

I’m approaching my 4th month at Secret Escapes which is a relatively short period of time in comparison with the knowledge and experience I have gained. I find myself confidently speaking up with new ideas and initiatives because I know they will be encouraged and not disregarded and look forward to presenting new projects to my team because I’ll always receive positive recognition for my hard work. All of these things make Secret Escapes a completely different workplace, and the one that I’ve always been looking for!

What has been your favourite holiday destination and why?

Thailand is a destination which holds the most memories for me. Whether it was spending NYE at the craziest full moon party or a long awaited emotional reunion with my travelling sister, Thailand will always be a destination close to my heart.

Alex Cruden, Internal Communications Executive

I’d wanted to work in a tech environment for a while, after working in lots of quite traditional, rigid workplaces. I saw the advert for this job, checked out the Secret Escapes careers page and was really taken by the friendly, relaxed atmosphere that I saw. It seemed like a place that would be really rewarding to work in, and the specifics of the job ad felt like they were written for me.

What did you want to be when you were younger?
A primary school teacher. I had a great teacher in year 3 who was loads of fun and I wanted to be like him. But as I got older, I realised that it might not be as fun as he made it look, and I kind of lost interest. I also wanted to be a novelist, which is still achievable, I suppose!

What attracted you to working at Secret Escapes?
I’d wanted to work in a tech environment for a while, after working in lots of quite traditional, rigid workplaces. I saw the advert for this job, checked out the Secret Escapes careers page and was really taken by the friendly, relaxed atmosphere that I saw. It seemed like a place that would be really rewarding to work in, and the specifics of the job ad felt like they were written for me.

What was your first week at Secret Escapes like?
It was great! Everyone was so welcoming and encouraging. There was a heck of a lot of information to take in about the structure of the business and how it all works, but everyone was very supportive and reassured me that they didn’t expect me to remember everything instantly. We had lunches together and a couple of beers at the end of the week, which gave me a chance to get to know my team a bit better.

How did you find the recruitment process at Secret Escapes?
I had to do a video interview, which was quite daunting, but actually not too bad in the end. Then a couple of face-to-face interviews, in which I initially felt nervous but was made to feel very comfortable and welcome. The team were quick to get back to me at each stage, so there wasn’t much anxious waiting.

What makes Secret Escapes different to where you have worked before?
I feel really supported and trusted with the work I’m doing, which motivates me to do even better work. I already feel like my ideas and input are valued and that I actually want to be here. Plus the benefits are unlike anywhere else I’ve experienced – lots of free food, a fridge full of fizzy drinks and a quiet space with bean bags make the office a nice place to be.

What has been your favourite holiday destination and why?
Oh man, don’t make me choose! I had a really wonderful time in Iceland last year. The scenery is like another planet, and it felt like a million miles away from the craziness of London. Aside from the Golden Circle – which is so, so beautiful – my two big recommendations are the Blue Lagoon (pricey, but well worth it) and a free walking tour of Reykjavik. We didn’t see the northern lights, unfortunately, but that didn’t take away from the trip.

Lana Yatsyuk, Agile Delivery Manager

I think it is my personal passion for travel, tech and e-commerce as well as a strong connection to the travel industry. As well culture, people and an agile environment matter! What could be better than working in technology in the travel industry, alongside likeminded people?

What did you want to be when you were younger?
It took me some time to figure out what I want to do. Before graduating from University, I needed to make a choice between the creative and business sides of my personality. I tried my hand at photography and make-up while studying business and management, and I worked for a tour
operating company. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be in the business world. I think I have finally managed to find that balance, being an Agile Delivery Manager and having travel and portrait photography as a hobby.

What attracted you to working at Secret Escapes?
Lots of things! I think it is my personal passion for travel, tech and e-commerce as well as a strong connection to the travel industry. As well culture, people and an agile environment matter! What could be better than working in technology in the travel industry, alongside likeminded people?

What was your first week at Secret Escapes like?
It has been busy; full of events and opportunities to meet new people! There has been a lot of new information. I have been involved in the process from the day 1 – lots of meetings within our vibrant Technology department and time to observe how things work here.

How did you find the recruitment process at Secret Escapes?
Luckily it wasn’t overly complicated; I made an application via the website, and someone from the Talent team contacted to me and we arranged a phone interview. After that I had a second phone interview with the CTO, and then a final stage face to face interview. I really enjoyed the last stage,
it was a mix of conversation and scenario-based questions and at the end I met one of the development teams.

What makes Secret Escapes different to where you have worked before?
It is all about culture, people and environment. The company induction is probably the best I have ever had! It was fun and super useful for a new starter.

What has been your favourite holiday destination and why?
It is difficult to pick one! Well, Milos island. It is a true hidden Mediterranean gem. I love the combination of blue and white; snow-white Rocks of Sarakiniko beach plus the endless blue of sea and sky, I can spend hours there! The diversity of landscapes is unbelievable! Along with sun, food, ancient sites and a copy of Venus de Milo – which was originally found on the island and is now displayed in Louvre Museum in Paris, this is a great destination.