Our People - Dana Eccles

Dana Eccles
Name: Dana Eccles
Role: Team Leader
Location: FCm’s office in St Kilda Melbourne

With a travel agent father and a childhood of worldly adventures, travel has always been in Dana Eccles’ DNA. Equally so, Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) has always been the employer of choice for this innovative Team Leader from FCM Melbourne.

It was her unforgettable experiences at USA Summer Camp, backpacking in Canada and Europe, and touring Australia working in the box office and dressing room with the Andrew Lloyd Webber CATS production, that led Dana to FCTG. “I just loved travel but it was time for a ‘real job’. That’s when I realised I could turn my passion into a career,” Dana says.

“I never considered any other travel company. I joined the FCTG family 13 years ago and still believe I’ll be with them forever.”

The rise of a young leader

After just six months as a Travel Manager with Student Flights, Dana was promoted to Assistant Team Leader and has not looked back. She has held Travel Manager and Team Leader positions with Campus Travel and FCM Travel Solutions across three states, forging a career that has continuously been championed by FCTG.

As an FCM Team Leader, Dana works closely with some of FCM's key clients in the retail, finance, construction and engineering sectors. She is hands-on in quarterly reviews, assists with new business ‘pitches’ and implementing new clients. “I love that my role is so varied – from account management to finance, making travel bookings, mentoring and training.”

“This is a company that has met my needs through every stage of my life,” Dana says. “FCTG has allowed my career to develop as I’ve matured personally and professionally. They’ve offered me new roles throughout my journey, provided flexibility to work part-time and from home, and delivered whatever leadership training and development I’ve needed. I’m well remunerated and feel valued, and I can’t imagine working for anyone else.”

A driver of innovation

FCTG has also encouraged Dana’s innovation in various initiatives. She was one of the first FCM consultants to be fully dedicated to a large client. “This was a great example of delivering exactly what the client wanted – a dedicated point of contact – rather than maintaining a cookie-cutter approach, and it was hugely successful,” Dana says.

In her current position, Dana has also introduced a flexible approach that allows 50% of her team members to work from home one day a week. “We need to keep finding different ways to make our people happier at work. Providing flexible work conditions that meet individual needs is a great way of making work life more enjoyable and thereby more productive.”

A nurturing approach

Dana’s nurturing leadership style has been key to her success. “I see my team as my family. I focus on learning what makes each person tick and keeps them happy in their jobs, and I love mentoring them and helping them grow,” she says. “I believe a happy and fun team creates happy clients and I encourage my people to take the same caring and empathetic approach with their clients, as that’s the foundation for the strongest and most trusted relationships.”