How Top Aerospace Executives Set the Vision, Grow Their Business & Develop Talent
Episodes
Thursday Jan 12, 2023
Thursday Jan 12, 2023
If you ask most people what it takes to succeed, they’ll come up with an elaborate, overly complicated, multi-step formula, but that’s wholly unnecessary and even detrimental. All it really takes is executing a few simple concepts very well.
Think about Seven Nation Army - it’s basically 7 notes and a steady drum beat, but it works because it’s performed impeccably.
Our careers are exactly the same. A few essentials are enough to move the needle, and the more we perfect them, the better off we’ll be.
In this episode, we talk about the 3 simple levers to a Million Dollar Career.
The simple things in life, executed really well, will take people a long way. -Craig Picken
Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode
- Why text and email are for amateurs
Do we create unnecessary complexity by not doing the simple act of picking up the phone and calling someone? - The problem with having too many steps in your plan
What does Tom Brady teach us about the power of executing a few key things really well? - How to uncomplicate anything
How can we use the 5 Ws formula to make it easier to plan anything?
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 Jan 05, 2023
Thursday Jan 05, 2023
In many organizations, the gap between the generations is a point of conflict and friction but it doesn’t have to be.
Sure, millennials/Gen-Z see work differently to their older coworkers and superiors, but there’s a lot of value in the perspectives each generation have, and that can make for a more resilient organization.
How do we facilitate better communication and collaboration between the generations?
In this episode, executive and transition coach and change strategist, Julie Noonan talks about how leaders can eliminate generational friction and create harmony in the workforce.
Get rid of as many stereotypes as possible because as soon as you put someone in a box, you’ve limited their ability to shine, and that’s for anyone across the board regardless of generation. -Julie Noonan
Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode
- How the conversation around work changed
Did covid actually accelerate generational harmony in the workplace? - Why younger employees aren’t interested in the corner office or titles
How has the younger generation redefined what the pinnacle of success looks like? - The power of two-way mentorship
There are tremendous opportunities for both generations to learn from each other, how can companies facilitate it?
Guest Bio
Julie is an executive and transition coach, change strategist and speaker helping mid- to late-career executive leaders successfully ride the waves of change. Julie has years of executive-level experience in consulting in both the private and public sectors, as well as years of experience as a corporate employee. She has spent her career coaching leaders at all levels in many industries and through many challenges – both professional and personal.
For more information, head to https://www.jnoonanconsulting.com/ and connect with her on LinkedIn.
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 Dec 22, 2022
Thursday Dec 22, 2022
Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter has ignited much debate, discussion and in some cases, ire over how he’s gone about things. There’s no denying that he is the biggest creator of shareholder value in the history of man, and that he has the ability to make any company he touches great, but so many employees aren’t buying into his mission.
Could this breakdown be nothing more than a communication issue? If the message had come out a bit differently, would the takeover have gone more smoothly?
In this episode of Million Dollar Careers, we talk about why leaders have to be able to express what’s in it for the employee in order to get their buy-in.
Communicating the purpose of the business with employees isn’t an event, it’s a continuing process. -Craig Picken
Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode
- The hard truth about building a great company
Turning around a company is no easy feat - why do people in this situation need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable? - Why ‘keeping your job’ isn’t enough to get employee buy-in
How do companies get their employees to support the changes they are implementing to make the business more valuable? - How to make sure the company’s purpose is felt by everyone
It’s one thing to talk about the company’s purpose at the annual Christmas party, but how do we weave it into every aspect of the business?
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 Dec 15, 2022
Thursday Dec 15, 2022
Turning around an ailing company is a challenge most people would run away from, but some executives are actually built for patching up the Titanic. The individuals who can thrive in this situation know how to embrace the chaos, roll up their sleeves and make the hard decisions that set the organization on the right course.
What traits does a turnaround CEO need to have?
In this episode, I’m joined by my producer, Matt Johnson to discuss the challenges and opportunities of being tasked with saving a sinking ship.
A turnaround specialist has to have a management style that gets people to rise to the occasion. -Craig Picken
Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode
- What we can learn from Elon Musk taking over Twitter
Turnaround CEOs are meant to step in, blow things up and build back better, but they don’t win popularity contests. How do they deal with the detractors? - Why some turnarounds fail
What are the 4 ingredients of a successful turnaround? - The best examples of turnaround specialists
How do you know that you have the temperament and skills to turn a struggling company around?
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 Dec 08, 2022
Thursday Dec 08, 2022
If you run a small business, M&As may not be something you pay attention to because they are happening at the big picture level, but they affect the entire landscape of the industry. Whether a company gets snapped up or spun off, these movements create a ripple effect throughout the marketplace.
Even if you’re a smaller operator, the strategic, technical and competitive impacts of company consolidations will be felt by everyone, and the more we keep abreast with it, the better off we’re going to be as leaders.
What purpose does M&A serve to the entire industry? If we’re entertaining merging or being acquired, how do we get things in order? In this episode, aerospace and defense M&A banker Bill Alderman returns to discuss the impact M&A has on the entire industry.
If you’re aware of what’s going on with M&A and the value of your company within its supply chain and customers, you can be a more competitive leader of your business. -Bill Alderman
Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode
- What M&A means for the industry
On a large-scale operational level does M&A really matter? - The political implications of M&A
At what size does an organization get so big it starts to get looked at more closely by the political sphere? - The truth about many major operators
Why are so many major OEMs struggling?
Guest Bio
William ‘Bill’ Alderman is the Founder and President of Alderman & Company who are aerospace and defense M&A bankers. Bill has always had a passion for aviation, and is both a commercial pilot and aircraft owner. Today, he uses his expertise, coupled with his interests to represent Middle Market Sellers in the Aerospace and Defense industry.
To find out more, go to:
https://aldermanco.com/
You can also call or text him on:
9144144070
Or email him at:
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 Dec 01, 2022
Thursday Dec 01, 2022
When people think of what motivates a person to quit their job, money is the first thing that comes to mind, but very often it’s not even at the top of the list.
The reasons people leave an organization go far deeper than monetary gain, there’s usually a lot more they aren’t getting from their company. In fact, we can attribute a career move to 6 reasons. Identifying these reasons as leaders helps us improve our culture so we can keep the best people on our teams.
In this edition of Million Dollar Careers, we talk about retention and what makes people leave.
If you’re exchanging a known for an unknown, there better be a good reason, and it can’t just be money. -Rob Houghton
Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode
- Why money isn’t the key driver for a change
Moving jobs is a highly stressful process, what makes someone willing to go through all that? - How to keep employee boredom at bay
How do you keep the A players who need to constantly be challenged engaged? - Why leaders have to create security for their people
Is high staff turnover due to companies actually quitting on their people?
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 Nov 10, 2022
Thursday Nov 10, 2022
For how much time we spend on our phones, it’s astonishing how afraid people are of picking up the phone and just having a conversation. Progress is made and things come together in conversations that can’t be had via text and email.
Trying to force all communication through text and emails has led to passive aggressive texts, angry emails and other totally avoidable confrontations.
Why are we so afraid of getting on the phone? What are the only acceptable uses of email and text?
In this episode, I’m joined by my producer Matt Johnson for this edition of Million Dollar Careers. We’re talking about why we need to get over the reluctance to pick the phone.
No angry customer was ever made happy via email. -Craig Picken
Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode
- Why delaying bad news is such a fruitless exercise
Are we avoiding tough conversations by communicating via text or delaying and aggravating the inevitable? - How to dissolve a tense situation and avoid a nasty confrontation
What causes our fear of the phone in the first place? - The ONLY times text and email are appropriate
If you’re on the receiving end of passive aggressive text or email, how do we deal with it?
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 OEMs, 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 Nov 03, 2022
Thursday Nov 03, 2022
In nature, the rule of balance reigns supreme - things will always return to an equilibrium, no matter what. In finance, reverting to the mean is a certainty, a swinging pendulum will always return to center.
The employment market is no different - right now everything is irrational, and it’s driving everything from jet pricing to salaries, but eventually the music will stop.
The challenge is keeping your business stable while things rebalance and still being able to play the game at a really high level on handicap mode.
How do you retain the best people when you can’t afford the crazy salaries being driven by this market? In this episode, we talk about the challenges in today’s job market and how to deal with them.
This labor shortage isn’t temporary - it’s structural, it’s demographic and it isn’t going away. -Craig Picken
Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode
- The truth every company must grapple with
Are your expectations realistic for the long-term or are you just making decisions on the sugar high of an irrational market? - Why the pressures on the job market persist
Will the employment market ever return to the normal we knew before, or will it readjust to a whole new normal? - How to eliminate barriers to success on your team
If it’s hard to find talent, how do you make your existing talent more productive?
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 OEMs, 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 Oct 27, 2022
Thursday Oct 27, 2022
Resilience and determination are highly sought after traits, and sometimes that’s what it takes to stay in a challenging job or career. But when the environment becomes too difficult or toxic, we just have to cut our losses and quit.
But how do we know if we've reached the end of the line with our jobs? What can we do to prepare before throwing in the towel?
In this episode of the Million Dollar Career Series, Robert Houghton and I discuss knowing when to fold 'em.
If you’re thinking about folding, understand what it is that you’re looking for. -Craig Picken
Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode
- How to identify a toxic job situation
What can you do to prepare for when you have to quit? - Why you have to know why you’re quitting
How can we avoid contagious quitting? - How having an outside advisor can help you
Why do we need the insight of someone else to know if we’re making the right move?
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 Oct 20, 2022
Thursday Oct 20, 2022
It’s really easy to wreck a great career when you make decisions based on emotions and take action with no real vision, and unfortunately, we’re seeing a lot of that right now.
There are many people making career moves for the sake of it instead of taking a rational approach to make sure the job actually serves them long term.
Just like planes, your career needs a flight plan, measurable milestones and a realistic endpoint.
How do we simplify the decision making process? In this edition of Million Dollar Careers, we talk about the importance of starting with the end in mind.
Before you quit your job and trade a known for an unknown, make sure you know what the end is. -Rob Houghton
Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode
- The cost of jumping ship without thinking it through
Why are many of the people quitting their jobs doomed to end up frustrated again? - Why vision and self-realization are so important
Are you on the path that leads you to your desired end point? If not, how do you change that? - Emotional moves vs. rational decisions
How do you take a measured and vision-informed approach to mapping out your career?
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 OEMs, 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.