Staff Spotlight: Callum Bonfield

Callum joined Pave in 2017 as a Business Development & Marketing Executive. He is an avid traveler and complete foodie, and has taken part in many of Pave's experiences. Callum has extensive knowledge of India through his various trips, and his favorite place is Jaipur, The Red City.

My favorite travel memory has to be traveling across North India. India always amazes me how no one place is ever the same no matter the distance. Everywhere is starkly unique whether it’s the food, the culture, the language, or general norms – there’s a reason why India is known to be so diverse, colorful, and vibrant!

From zip-lining across the Red Fort to seeing first-hand the sheer beauty of the Taj Mahal (along with some amazing Instagram photos for my profile), India is quite literally ‘something else’.

With a company set on creating life-long learning and life-changing experiences, it comes as no surprise that my learning has evolved each and every day. You simply cannot stop learning in an environment where everyone is pushing each other to continually develop personally and professionally. I have learnt so much since joining the company, and I think that’s down to the fact that as the business evolves, I evolve with it.

We deal with a number of individuals across the world, from fellow students and universities to CEOs of various organizations. Learning to approach each situation differently has been eye-opening, if not a little daunting, as you are naturally pushed outside of your comfort zone at times.

This is only the beginning of my journey, and I hope to inspire more participants within the organization to also expand their horizons and look for international internships and experiences that will set them apart.

I’m not sure I can settle on one best story as I have so many to share. However, excusing my cheesiness here, but the best stories are definitely the ones where you take satisfaction from knowing that your hard work sees positive results.

One morning, I received an unexpected call from one of our past interns to let me know that he was offered a job with one of London’s premier publishing firms from over 500 applications. Moreover, his interviewer told him that he stood out from the crowd due to his Pave Internship in India!

Hard choice. If I have to say one, then it would be the Professional Immersion Experience. It is unique, and there is nowhere else where you can gain so much professional and personal exposure in such a short amount of time. Living in Metropolis Mumbai for 10 days is super exciting in itself, but to be able to meet and interact with so many different people and organizations from all walks of life is truly special.

To be able to live and work there through a guided program is extremely beneficial and distinctly insightful. It is, in my humble opinion, the only way to really appreciate and understand another culture.

The answer to this question lies in the same reasoning as to why I joined the organization in the first place. It comes down to the sheer passion that is placed on giving life-changing experiences and learning. It is an honor to be part of a driven team and to witness first-hand the care given to every single one of our customers to provide them with opportunities that will see them develop long into their future.

Again, excuse the corniness, but I am constantly proud of this organization. One aspect that I’m particularly proud about is not just what we do well in, but how we continually look to improve, within the organization. For example, we take all feedback seriously especially those which can help us constructively develop our services.

There are many elements that can contribute to the success of a company such as the talent, network, and quality. However, the most important elements are customer experience, service quality, and the knowledge to provide the best outcomes for our customers.

Putting your customer first and ensuring that your product/service suits their needs is vital as well as being flexible to the needs of each individual. Successful organizations are those which can accommodate those varying needs and adapt where applicable.