Employee Spotlight: Elize De Jager
Role: Team Manager at Corporate Traveller
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa 🇿🇦
Can you tell us about your career journey?
I returned from the UK in 2003, and the first job I applied for at Flight Centre Travel Group was also the first and only response I received. Despite holding two degrees in Information Science, I initially saw it as a short-term role before moving into my ‘real job’. I had no idea it would become the start of a long-term career. Once a Flightie, always a Flightie.
What was your first role at Flight Centre Travel Group, and how has your career evolved?
I began in a newly opened Flight Centre retail store. My first year was challenging, and I spent much of it blaming circumstances and others rather than looking inward. A turning point came when my then-boyfriend helped me complete a SWOT analysis, which changed my perspective entirely. I began listening to my Area Leader and Team Leader, taking ownership of my performance and development. That shift became a core philosophy for me.
From there, everything changed. I flourished, achieved Global Ball status in my second year, and discovered a natural aptitude for leadership that I continue to develop and value today.
What attracted you to the company, and what has kept you here?
What initially drew me to Flight Centre Travel Group was the opportunity to be trained, trusted, and given real responsibility in running a business early in my career. The organisation invests heavily in its people, offering continuous development, support, and insight, while keeping customers at the centre of everything.
What has kept me here is the ability to lead teams, develop talent, and contribute to business growth in a meaningful way. That combination has been both professionally rewarding and personally fulfilling.
What is a day in your role like?
No two days are ever the same, which is one of the aspects I value most. My focus is always on my team and their clients. This can include leadership meetings, client payment follow-ups, coaching conversations, complaint resolution, and reviewing client portfolios to ensure every detail is managed effectively.
A key part of my role is also empowering team members to take ownership of their portfolios and operate with a business-owner mindset, which is incredibly rewarding to see in practice.
What advice would you give someone looking to build a career here?
Apply. Ask questions. Get involved. Volunteer for opportunities. Challenge yourself and stay open to learning. Few organisations offer the breadth of development and opportunity that Flight Centre Travel Group provides.
After more than two decades, I look back with real gratitude for the growth, experiences, and opportunities I’ve had along the way.
What do you like to do outside of work?
Outside of work, I enjoy beach holidays and travelling across Africa with my family. Namibia in 2025 was a particularly memorable experience. I also enjoy puzzles, relaxed afternoons by the pool, good food with friends, and taking time to appreciate life’s simpler moments.
Keen to see where a career at Flight Centre Travel Group can take you?
Find your fit today and explore opportunities at Flight Centre Travel Group.
