What to know about the Aspiring Leaders Diploma – An Interview with Damien Martin MIH
Following his appointment as the Aspiring Leaders Diploma Chair, Damien Martin MIH reflects on his time on the programme and shares his advice for future applicants.
Why is the Aspiring Leaders Diploma such an important scheme for promising hoteliers?
The Aspiring Leaders Diploma is just the perfect opportunity for those looking to take that next important step in their hotel career.
For me personally, the chance to undertake the programme came at the perfect time for me in my life. I know I wanted to take that next step in my career, but I needed not just the knowledge but also the exposure to the wider industry to help me on that path, which is exactly what the Aspiring Leaders Diploma provides.
It’s one of those programmes that will give you so much confidence in yourself as you progress in your career while also challenging you to look at different ways of doing things and ultimately make you a better hotelier overall.
The networking aspect is also really important, the Aspiring Leaders Diploma is an incredible opportunity to grow your wider network, helping you to make great connections with the many incredible people in our industry, which also helps expose you to new opportunities.
What makes the Aspiring Leaders Diploma different from other educational programmes out there?
The main difference is how the programme is structured. The Aspiring Leaders Diploma is made up of eight different blocks that take place over a year, which for starters gives you much more time not just to absorb what you are learning but to put it into practice too.
The on-site visits to various hotels throughout the year are also one of the main differences from other hospitality courses out there. While some courses may include one or two visits, the Aspiring Leaders Diploma provides visits to eight incredible hotels throughout the year.
These unique opportunities give you a real insight into how some of the most prestigious hotels in the UK are working. That’s a unique look into eight different ways of doing things – eight different check-ins, eight different restaurant services, eight different event spaces etc…
It’s one of the main things I feel that separates the Aspiring Leaders Diploma from other hospitality courses out there and is the one aspect I feel was the most beneficial during my time on the course.
What do you remember the most from your experience studying the Aspiring Leaders Diploma?
It goes without saying that the content produced by Dr Hilary Cooke FIH MI and the other attending lecturers is second to none. The depth you go into on specific topics is great and it’s never just fed to you, it’s always a round table and an open discussion when it comes to the teaching, which is something I really appreciated and remember fondly.
The course itself is structured into eight different blocks, covering topics such as professional development, finance, people management and more, which gives you a rounded overview into what goes into becoming a great hotel manager.
Feedback is also always given back promptly so you also know which areas to focus on and improve, plus the openness with my peers and ease of sharing our experiences and challenges was also something I found very beneficial.
What is one piece of knowledge/advice you took from your studies that you still apply to your work today?
The people management module was the most impactful one for me personally. Every module you undertake on the course comes with its own workbook, and to this day I still carry around my people management workbook due to just how prominent and important the skills are when it comes to working with all different kinds of people.
From speaking to my peers on the course even after all this time, I know I’m not the only one who still refers to their workbooks when needed – it’s truly a great resource you can utilise long after you have completed the programme.
How has the Aspiring Leaders Diploma allowed you to progress in your hotel career?
I sincerely believe that I wouldn't be where I am today without the Aspiring Leaders Diploma. It’s allowed me to progress in my career to my current role as General Manager at The Parkgate Hotel Cardiff, as well as develop an incredibly large support network of hoteliers and other hospitality professionals.
The support network was hugely beneficial when it came to my employability, helping me secure my next few roles as I moved into the managerial role I now have.
The programme’s alumni network was also helpful, providing a welcoming community of individuals who all want to support and help one another in their professional careers even long after the programme is completed. The great network has led me to become the incoming Aspiring Leaders Diploma Chair, which I am looking forward to working as.
What advice would you give someone looking to apply for an Aspiring Leaders Diploma?
Take your time with the application, you don’t want to rush it. What the judges are looking for is the type of person that you are, it’s about you as a person.
Make sure you talk through your application with your leader in your property and really think about what it is you want to get out of the programme, as that way, you’ll be able to reap the benefits far more during the course as well as afterwards.
I would also recommend reaching out to our great group of alumni, all of whom would be more than happy to talk through their experiences and help answer any questions you may have.
There aren’t many opportunities like the Aspiring Leaders Diploma in our industry, so I would urge any young professionals looking to advance their career to apply – it really is the most incredible thing.
As incoming Alumni Chair, what's your vision for the remainder of 2024 and beyond?
I want to build on all the incredible work that the previous chairman, Ewen Thomas MIH has done during his time in the role. I aim to help make our 140-person strong group closer by facilitating important conversations in our industry and focusing on what we as young leaders are doing to support our industry.
We are already planning our next annual conference for spring which we’re looking to make even bigger and better. We are also working closer with our partners and charities to support them and the wider industry, helping to ensure we are making a positive impact where we can.