“From Education Counsellor to Associate Director, Destination Management - my IDP story!” – Rohan Rego

“On 11 May 2011, I entered the IDP Dubai office as an Education Counsellor, marking the beginning of my journey. Today, I serve as Associate Director, Destination Management, a role that I have grown into through my diverse experiences and challenges. 

I am committed to lifelong learning so I can adapt to industry changes and market trends. IDP offers numerous development opportunities to help us grow, including the Maher Emerging Leaders program, which was an amazing learning experience. My initial role as an Education Counsellor honed my ability to assist our customers effectively. Now in my current position, I have developed the skills to lead Regional Destination Management and country teams, drive training, client engagement, and identify strategic business opportunities. I thrive on the challenges and opportunities I face in this role. 

In addition to my dedication to learning and development, here’s what helped me grow through my journey at IDP:  

• By embracing possibility thinking, I was able to unlock doors to new opportunities and reshape my thought process. 

• Cultivating a growth mindset and focusing on the big picture helped me push through challenging and uncertain times. 

• Building the resilience muscle to persevere and grow stronger. 

• Reminding myself of why we do what we do each day and knowing how much of a difference we make in our customers’ lives.   

 And for those aspiring to grow in your journey, here are a few pointers to help:   

• Start with clear, specific goals to lay a foundation and stay focused on skill development. 

• Develop a time-bound action plan to prioritise goals for personal and professional advancement. 

• Cultivate the competency to focus and be present amid disruptions, a key skill for sustainable success. 

• Embrace lifelong learning to expand horizons and seize new opportunities. 

• Foster self-belief through deliberate practice and mastery of your field. 

• Learn from failures; they are valuable lessons to help shape your future success. A favourite quote of mine: 'Success is something you attract by the person you become'.

Looking ahead, I envision continued growth and expansion for IDP, driven by investments in high-growth markets and a steadfast commitment to our customer-first approach.  

I can’t wait to see what lies ahead for the team and I, as we journey forward!

If you would also like to be part of the IDP story, you can start by having a look at some of the opportunities we have. “– Rohan Rego, Associate Director, Destination Management