itravel has sponsored a Travel Industry Mentor Experience (TiME) scholarship for the third consecutive year, with Lauren Zanesco of itravel Griffith named the 2026 recipient.<\/strong><\/p>\n Zanesco follows hybrid mobile advisor and Roast & Roam founder Jade Garlick in 2025 and mobile advisor Linda Hogan in 2024.<\/p>\n The six-month program pairs participants with an experienced industry professional for one-on-one mentoring shaped around their goals. itravel invites expressions of interest from across its network each year, and home-based advisors and store owners are eligible to apply.<\/p>\n CEO Steve Labroski and COO Joe Karbo attended Zanesco\u2019s induction evening as she began the program with mentor Sue Graham.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen our members succeed, itravel succeeds. That\u2019s why we invest in opportunities that support their development and help them build stronger businesses,\u201d Labroski said. \u201cTheir growth and success are what drive our network forward.\u201d<\/p>\n The scholarship sits alongside the network\u2019s training and business support offerings for members.<\/p>\n Zanesco said her focus is on working smarter, building industry connections and growing her self-confidence. Since starting the program, she has put more structure into her days at the Griffith store.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing in a shopfront it can be challenging to stick to a plan, but having a clearer structure has helped me stay focused, minimise distractions and make better use of my time,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cKnowing that itravel was investing in me and supporting my development meant a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n Garlick joined the program to strengthen her leadership and strategic thinking and find \u201ca better balance between working in my business and working on my business\u201d. Working with mentor Kelley Wacher, she said she had become more deliberate about how she runs Roast & Roam.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve become more intentional about setting goals, creating boundaries and making decisions that align with the future I want to build, rather than simply reacting to what\u2019s happening around me,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Hogan entered the program in 2024 hoping to manage her time better, and said working with mentor Michael Schischka also gave her a clearer sense of her value.<\/p>\n \u201cTake time to myself, charge a fee and know my worth,\u201d she said of the lessons she has applied. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t have taken the time to do the course myself. I truly valued my time with Michael.\u201d<\/p>\n Across the three years, recipients have represented mobile, hybrid and franchise businesses.<\/p>\n \u201citravel didn\u2019t just invest in my business, they invested in me,\u201d Garlick said.<\/p>\n![\"Jade](\"https:\/\/travelweekly.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Jade-Garlick-takes-to-the-microphone.jpg\"\/)
![\"Jade](\"https:\/\/travelweekly.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Jade-Garlick-takes-to-the-microphone.jpg\")