Meet Victoria Jones of Emerging Leaders of Tampa Bay. After five years in the finance industry and banking, the Emerging Leader made a major life decision in 2023 and shared with us how her Mentor in the Emerging Leader's program was part of that pivotal moment in her career! Jones moved to Tampa Bay in 2021 and has been involved in Emerge since 2022, when she was serving as Treasury Management Officer for PNC Bank. This year, she participated in the Mentor Protege program of Emerge and was paired with Chris Minner, Executive Vice President of Tampa International Airport. It was serendipitous, to say the least! Something that's not as uncommon as you'd think because of the attention to detail and the vision of the people behind the Mentor Protege pairings.
Here's how Jones describes the transformation that followed her Mentor Protege Pairing!
When I first met Chris, I was in the midst of a career change from five years in corporate banking to commercial flight school. Chris immediately immersed me in aviation events, meetings, and led airport tours. These experiences throughout the year helped me become acquainted with the business side of the industry. His willingness to invest in my future career aspirations was inspiring. Every time we met, he would share books with me that he believed would help my professional development. Chris shared his own career experiences, placing a very human perspective on experience. While all of our meetings and books have left an impact, what I admire most is his kindness to help and empower everyone around him no matter how busy the day may be. I am so incredibly grateful for this program and wanted to be sure I shared my experience with the team! - Victoria Jones
This past June, Jones earned her private pilot's certificate, taking one step closer to realizing her dream of becoming a commercial pilot! Congratulations Victoria Jones and thank you for sharing your story on the impact of Emerging Leaders of Tampa Bay and its Mentor Protege Program!
Emerge is currently recruiting for Mentors to serve in 2024. New and returning mentors are welcomed! Click here for details regarding the time commitment and criteria for Mentors, as well as program details for Emerge members seeking to participate in the Mentor Protégé pairings in 2024.