OW Spotlight! Mollie-Jo Green

Earlier on in the year, we had the pleasure of catching up with OW Mollie-Jo Green on her incredible career journey as Assistant Partnerships Manager for Panache cruises and her time at Westholme.

How would you describe your Westholme experience?

My Westholme experience was truly amazing! From joining the Westholme family at three years old to leaving at eighteen, I loved every moment. It really was a home from home, in fact, with all the activities I took part in, I think I actually spent more time at school than at home!

Without a doubt, my time at Westholme revolved around sport, both in and out of the classroom. I first picked up a hockey stick in Year 3, when I was just seven years old, and I have never looked back. At some point during my school life I captained the netball, hockey and swimming teams. As soon as I could, I chose to study PE for GCSE and then at A Level too. My school life literally revolved around sport and being competitive and I loved every minute. Miss P was without a doubt the best coach we could have asked for and she made my teams very successful senior school hockey careers even better… even on freezing cold Saturday mornings.

Towards the end of Sixth Form, I also discovered a love for English Literature, despite having battled with the subject throughout my A Levels. One of my proudest moments to date was opening my results and seeing a big, shining A, something I never thought I would achieve. That success would never have been possible without Mrs Corrigan and Mrs Cowan, who were my real-life superwomen. I will always be grateful for their support during my A Levels and never letting me give up.

Being given the responsibility of Deputy Head Girl in Year 13 was a real privileged too and the best end to my Westholme journey.

What have you been up to since leaving Westholme?

As soon as I finished my A Levels, I jumped straight into a degree apprenticeship with Panache Cruises. I started out in the Partnerships team, which has been a great way to get stuck into the business while also working towards a degree and chartership in Business Management. I have just gone into my third year now, so only about 18 months left until I graduate, it’s gone so quickly!

One of the best parts of the role has been the travel. I have been really lucky over the past couple of years to visit some amazing places that I never thought I would get to see so early in my career including Antarctica, the Arctic and Monaco, just to name a few. Alongside that, I am often down in London or heading around the UK for award ceremonies and events with suppliers, which has been a lot of fun and a brilliant way to meet people across the industry.

All in all, it has been a really exciting couple of years, and I have learned so much already. It’s been a busy mix of studying, working and travelling, but I feel very lucky to be doing something I enjoy so much.

What is a ‘day in the life’ like at Panache and what have your highlights been?

A day in the life at Panache is never really the same, which is one of the things I love most about it. Some days I am based in the office, working on projects with the Partnerships team, catching up with suppliers or planning upcoming campaigns. Other days I might be down in London for meetings or events or even travelling abroad if there is an opportunity to visit one of our cruise partners. The mix keeps things really interesting and means I am always learning something new.

As for highlights, there have been quite a few already! The first was winning Apprentice of the Year in December 2023, just six months into my role. My prize was the most incredible trip to Buenos Aires and Antarctica which was a truly life-changing experience.

Another highlight would be more recently as I had the honour of speaking at the ATAS Conference in front of 400 delegates, alongside some of the biggest names in the travel industry. Being the youngest person on stage and trusted with that opportunity was a very proud moment for me.

Other highlights include attending awards ceremonies and industry events, including the Agent Achievement Awards 2025 to pick up the ‘Best Workplace’ award. It’s always exciting to represent Panache, and it has given me the chance to meet so many inspiring people in the travel industry.

Could you tell us about your hobbies outside of work? And your upcoming fundraising challenges?

Outside of work, I am always on the go! My main hobby is still hockey, a passion that began back in Year 3 at Westholme. I currently captain the Clitheroe and Blackburn Northern Ladies 1st Team for the 2025/26 season. We have recently been promoted, so it is set to be a really exciting and gritty season ahead.

In June this year, I took on my biggest challenge to date with twelve colleagues from Panache. Together, we set out to raise over £50,000 for our chosen charity, Reuben’s Retreat, by summiting Mount Kilimanjaro; the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. After six days of rainforest, desert and sub-zero temperatures at the peak (plus 24 hours of climbing on summit night/day), I made it! It was an unforgettable experience, and I couldn’t have been prouder of the Panache team. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done but also one of my proudest ever moments. So far we have raised over £60,000 and aim to now raise £75,000 before the end of the year.

Just three weeks after returning, on the hottest day of the year, I ran my second ultra-marathon in Oxford, again in support of Reuben’s Retreat. The exhaustion of Kili and the affects of altitude were very much still hanging around making running over 32 miles even harder! The charity’s mission was the only thing that kept my legs moving through the pain!

Next up, I am competing in my first solo Hyrox competition in Nice in February, followed by running the London Marathon in April for the charity Mind, which is a cause very close to my heart.

What are your aspirations for the future? What are you most looking forward to?

Looking ahead, my aspiration is to continue building my career in the travel industry while taking on bigger responsibilities and challenges along the way. I am passionate about developing strong partnerships and being part of an organisation that makes a real impact, both in the industry and in the wider community.

Later next year I also aim to finish university and my Chartership with a 1st class honours degree and a distinction in my end point assessment through my hard work both in and out of the lecture theatre whilst balancing a full-time corporate role.

On a personal level, I want to keep pushing myself outside my comfort zone, whether that’s through new adventures, fundraising challenges, or stepping up to leadership opportunities. I’m most looking forward to seeing where my journey with Panache takes me and to continuing to combine my love of travel with meaningful work.

Any advice for current students at Westholme?

My advice would be to take every opportunity that comes your way, even the ones that scare you or the ones that you think maybe aren’t for you. Westholme gives you the foundation to try new things, make mistakes and grow from them. Don’t be afraid to push yourself outside of your comfort zone; some of the proudest moments in my life have come from challenges I once thought I couldn’t achieve.

Most importantly, appreciate the incredible support network you have at Westholme. Your teachers genuinely want the best for you; trust them, learn from them and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Those relationships will make a huge difference, not just to your results, but to your confidence and future too.