How Top Aerospace Executives Set the Vision, Grow Their Business & Develop Talent
Episodes
Thursday Jun 11, 2020
Thursday Jun 11, 2020
Airlines and Dinosaurs… Fighting off extinction! How does the industry rebuild?
With so much uncertainty, it will be difficult to plan a way forward, but it’s not all doom and gloom – people WILL want to travel again. We just have to figure out how to stay afloat until demand fully returns.
Leasing industry veteran and CEO / Chief Investment Officer at Warbird Capital LLC, Nick Pastushan joins me to discuss the future of aviation in a time of uncertainty.
Think of it like this: COVID-19 is like the asteroid that knocked out the dinosaurs. All parts of our industry’s ecosystem are at risk. -Nick Pastushan
Three Things Nick and I Discuss:
- The aviation industry will take flight, but we have to be prepared for intense restructuring to get us through “to the other side.”
- OEMs should take this time to go into hibernation. Even with all the skills and tools to keep producing, it’s a good idea to put a pause on operations until there’s more clarity in the industry.
- Once borders reopen, consumers may be hesitant to board flights. But, they will still want to see the world!
Learn More About Your Host:
Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior level leadership, sales and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well known aircraft OEM’s, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers.
Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity, and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.
Guest Bio
Nick Pastushan is the Founder, CEO and Chief Investment Officer at Warbird Capital LLC. Prior to this, he was the Chief Investment Officer and Chief Credit Officer at CIT for over 10 years. Nick holds a Bachelor of Science from Rochester Institute of Technology.
To find out more about Nick, visit:
Thursday Jun 04, 2020
Thursday Jun 04, 2020
COVID brought CHAOS! It will also bring out two groups of people – those who will use it as a chance to grow and those who will bury their heads in the sand.
I find it ironic that most of the opportunity comes during times of uncertainty…How many new businesses were started during the great recession? How many millions were minted during the Savings & Loan crisis? How many took advantage of a recent 30% stock market drop? It’s time to navigate the chaos and identify the opportunity. The winners are aggressively doing that now. The losers are those saying “I’m not making calls today…businesses are closed.”
In this episode, I talk about why chaotic times are the best times to roll up our sleeves and dig in.
If you’ve got your head in the sand, hoping for the best is not going to work, you have to be driving forward and getting out of your comfort zone. -Craig Picken
Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode
- Winning or losing is determined by the mindset we find ourselves in.
- Many companies can restructure for the better: Now is the time to hire engineers, A&Ps and pilots – skill sets that were in short supply 12 months ago.
- Use this time to prepare to drive your business and career forward. As businesses shift in the chaos, there will be new opportunities.
Learn More About Your Host:
Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior level leadership, sales and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well known aircraft OEM’s, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers.
Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity, and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.
Thursday May 28, 2020
Thursday May 28, 2020
What makes a Navy SEAL a Navy Seal? Why did 25% of my Officer Candidate School classmates quit training in the first week? Why does your top sales exec produce exponentially better results than your bottom one?
It can be summed up in one word – GRIT! Those who talk about the dream and those who actually accomplish it.
People with grit have the determination to get things done, no matter the circumstance. They don’t quit.
The economy is now challenged and many businesses are fighting for survival. How will grit get us through to the other side?
Great economies create a lot of mediocre behavior. Right now, it’s time for us to roll up our sleeves, get into the trenches and find true grit. If you can produce 5x your salary in value, you’re going to be king forever. -Craig Picken
Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode
- If you don’t feel like you’re in the right job, then start preparing and networking now. It’s time to position ourselves for the mass restructuring that will be coming in the next 24 months.
- The downside of a great economy is that it hid a lot of bad behavior. Now is the time to be evaluating everything and everyone in your business. Are you getting what you need to be successful?
- Challenging times create great opportunities. It’s a great time for reinvention so start planning for a new venture or direction.
Thursday May 21, 2020
Thursday May 21, 2020
In the wake of COVID-19 it is time to look forward and use the pandemic as an opportunity to improve. How can we use AI to take aviation forward and shape the future?
Neil Sahota, author of Own the AI Revolution, returns to the show to share how to rebuild the aviation industry.
The aviation industry as we know it has changed: we have to start changing the way we think about business. -Neil Sahota
Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode
- New metrics that will precisely target flying airline customer
- Use AI to find our customers’ ‘why’. If we know why people were choosing to fly before the pandemic, we’ll be more likely to find ways to win them back.
- How to change mindsets to reshape the industry
Guest Bio
Neil Sahota is a United Nations Artificial Intelligence subject matter expert, IBM Master Inventor and Professor at UC Irvine. He is also a speaker on inspiring innovation, and the author of Own the AI Revolution: Unlock Your Artificial Intelligence Strategy to Disrupt Your Competition. In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, Neil is currently working on artificial empathy technology through the United Nations.
To find out more about Neil, head to:
NeilSahota.com
You can also find his book at:
https://www.amazon.com/Own-I-Revolution-Intelligence-Competition/dp/1260458377
Learn More About Your Host:
Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior level leadership, sales and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well known aircraft OEM’s, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers.
Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity, and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.
Thursday May 14, 2020
Thursday May 14, 2020
What should leaders be doing NOW to ensure the future of aviation? Competing or Cooperating? On this episode, transformational CEO Hooman Yazhari shares how leaders should respond to the looming economic crisis.
Like it or not, people are scared of getting into aircrafts at the moment. We have to work together as an industry to think of how to make them feel reassured. -Hooman Yazhari
Takeaways + Tactics
- To protect the future, we have to protect the now. Liquidity is the key to everything, so go source as many sources of capital as possible.
- Use the current crisis to shape the future. Use the void in certainty as an opportunity to shape destiny.
- Now is the time to collaborate with our competitors to find a way forward and ensure passengers will feel safe on airplanes.
Guest Bio
Hooman Yazhari is a transformational CEO with a vast track record in assisting distressed companies through major transformations. Hooman is a key leader in extensive chain management. He is currently serving as Vice Chairman of the Board at Bristow Group, and has just joined the Board at Speedcast. Hooman is also the Non-Executive Director at Voyager Aviation.
To find out more about Hooman, head to:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hoomanyazhari
https://www.beyondcapitalfund.org/impactinvestmentfund?lightbox=dataItem-jd3bpkbr
Learn More About Your Host:
Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior level leadership, sales and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well known aircraft OEM’s, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers.
Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity, and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.
Thursday May 07, 2020
Thursday May 07, 2020
Leaders must find ways to push their teams through change and chaos to deliver outstanding results, but how do you do so when the world changes in an instant? Brigadier General William C. ‘Bill’ David (US Army ret.) shares how to execute change, lead teams and manage expectations in rapidly changing environments.
Stay calm if you can, talk to your customers and talk to your employees. -Bill David
Takeaways + Tactics
- Don’t be afraid to over communicate with customers. The best way to stay abreast of our customers’ needs is through constant dialogue.
- Evaluate current personnel. Now is the time for leaders to evaluate whether teammates fit company values and make necessary adjustments.
- Be transparent. For businesses to survive the storm means being open with where they are and where they are going.
Learn More About Your Host:
Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior level leadership, sales and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well known aircraft OEM’s, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers.
Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity, and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.
Guest Bio
Brigadier General William C. ‘Bill’ David is the advisor and subject matter expert at Valiant Integrated Services. He is a decorated army veteran, having led the historic “Blackhawk Down” rescue of Task Force Ranger in Somalia. Following his retirement from active duty, Bill worked for 15 years in the private sector in executive management positions in the Aerospace and Defense industry.
To find out more about Bill, head to
Thursday Apr 30, 2020
Thursday Apr 30, 2020
Neil Sohata, author of Own the AI Revolution, discusses this controversial topic and how it will affect Aviation. Will AI ever replace us and should we feel threatened? Listen to Neil’s vision to find out…
There’s no need to feel threatened by AI: it’s meant to enhance our capabilities, not replace them. -Neil Sahota
Takeaways + Tactics
- AI will transform the aircraft manufacturing process
- Airlines and travel companies will AI to revolutionize travel experiences
- Don’t panic … it will ENHANCE human capabilities, not replace them
Thursday Apr 23, 2020
Thursday Apr 23, 2020
Ageing aircraft and engines can present unique challenges for aircraft owners, but massive opportunities for those who can support them cost effectively. Marc Drobny, President of StandardAero Business Aviation, is seeing opportunities to drive his business forward by offering creative solutions to his customers.
Long-term, Covid-19 is going to be a stimulus for business aviation. This will change people’s minds about commercial flying. -Marc Drobny
3 Things We Learned From Marc Drobny
- Reduced flying demand during the Covid-19 pandemic is providing opportunities for aircraft owners to get off-tempo work done with minimal impact to flight schedules.
- The effect of COVID-19 and a parallel reduction of airline demand will impact the nature of technical recruiting and hiring in business aviation.
- Ageing aircraft are creating new business and aircraft support opportunities. StandardAero’s engine exchange program is just one of them.
Guest Bio
Marc Drobny is the President of Business Aviation at StandardAero. He is responsible for leading the achievement of performance objectives, customer satisfaction and business development activities of the Business Aviation Sector, which is dedicated to the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of non-commercial, business aviation aircraft. Drobny reports directly to the CEO of StandardAero and is a member of the company’s Executive Leadership Team. For more information visit http://www.standardaero.com/.
Learn More About Your Host:
Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior level leadership, sales and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well known aircraft OEM’s, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers.
Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity, and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.
Thursday Apr 16, 2020
Thursday Apr 16, 2020
Urban Air Mobility is the hot topic in aviation. But what will it entail?
On this episode, Peter Schmidt, Co-Founder of Transcend Air Corporation, and Mark Ozenick, CEO of Rotorcraft Newco, discuss what will define Urban Mobility, the technologies required and how Transcend’s Vy400 aircraft design will change market dynamics.
The right aircraft lets us break through the barriers of congestions choking the growth of transportation, by moving the transportation resource closer to the demand. -Peter Schmidt
Takeaways + Tactics
The conventional mode of air travel conflicts with what future markets will need. Peter Schmidt and Mark Ozenick share what the next evolution of air travel is and how it meets this demand.
Listen to the full episode to learn about:
- The technology and performance features that have set the Vy400 up for success
- Why urban air mobility works well for travelers and operators alike
How the waves of economic innovation have developed in urban mobility
Guest Bios
Peter Schmidt is the COO & Co-Founder at Transcend Air Corporation
Mark is the Chairman and CEO of Rotorcraft NewCo, Inc.
For more information visit https://www.transcend.aero/.
For more about the Vy400 https://vy400.com/.
Learn More About Your Host:
Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior level leadership, sales and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well known aircraft OEM’s, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers.
Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity, and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.
Thursday Apr 16, 2020
Thursday Apr 16, 2020
Urban Air Mobility is the hot topic in aviation. But what will it entail?
On this episode, Peter Schmidt, Co-Founder of Transcend Air Corporation, and Mark Ozenick, CEO of Rotorcraft Newco, discuss what will define Urban Mobility, the technologies required and how Transcend’s Vy400 aircraft design will change market dynamics.
The right aircraft lets us break through the barriers of congestions choking the growth of transportation, by moving the transportation resource closer to the demand. -Peter Schmidt
Takeaways + Tactics
The conventional mode of air travel conflicts with what future markets will need. Peter Schmidt and Mark Ozenick share what the next evolution of air travel is and how it meets this demand.
Listen to the full episode to learn about:
- The technology and performance features that have set the Vy400 up for success
- Why urban air mobility works well for travelers and operators alike
How the waves of economic innovation have developed in urban mobility
Guest Bios
Peter Schmidt is the COO & Co-Founder at Transcend Air Corporation
Mark is the Chairman and CEO of Rotorcraft NewCo, Inc.
For more information visit https://www.transcend.aero/.
For more about the Vy400 https://vy400.com/.
Learn More About Your Host:
Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior level leadership, sales and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well known aircraft OEM’s, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers.
Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity, and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.