Aviationleadership Podcasts

In this episode of the Leadership in Aviation Podcast, René Banglesdorf sits down with Sally Glenn-Lee, a successful aviation leader with over 50 years of experience in her career. Sally talks about her experiences working at Purdue Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Hawaii Express, Regent Air, Transtar Airlines, Branniff Airways, T…

In this episode, René Banglesdorf is joined by Steve Carroll, the Vice President of Operations with DevReady, a company that supplies contract software developers to a wide variety of cliental. Steve discusses working in the Marine Corps Presidential Helicopter and Test squadron during the terrorist attacks on September 11, the importance of suppor…

In this episode of the Leadership in Aviation Podcast, René Banglesdorf, Founder and CEO of The Aviation Collective, sits down with Benoit Defforge, President of Airbus Corporate Jets. Benoit discusses his journey in aviation, leading a diverse team from all over the world, leading by example, the importance of setting a vision with strong values, …

Being a good leader doesn't happen overnight. It takes practice, time, effort, personal mentors, and even failure to see where there's room for growth. On this episode of The Leadership in Aviation Podcast, René Banglesdorf is joined by Mark Schulz, the founder of #DigitalAircraft. They discuss how to grow into the leader you want to be, leading pe…

Carley Walker is the Director of Development of STEM Flights, a national nonprofit that connects students and Pilot Mentors all over the country. She also sits on the Board of Directors for Air Care Alliance, the umbrella organization that supports and advocates for Public Benefit Flying. Carley is passionate about identifying the next generation o…

Curious about careers in aviation beyond being a pilot? You've found the right podcast episode. In this episode of the Leadership in Aviation Podcast, you'll learn more about careers like engineering, planning, ATC, airport management, airport operations, and dispatch. You will hear from Women in Aviation Advisory Board Alumnae Member, Kelly Jost, …

In this episode of the Leadership in Aviation Podcast, René Banglesdorf, Founder and CEO of The Aviation Collective, sits down with Ryan Goertzen, Vice President Maintenance Workforce Development, AAR (NYSE: AIR), a leading aviation services provider to commercial airlines and governments worldwide. They discuss why it's critical to go beyond just …

Want to help others get started in aviation, but not sure how? Watch this Leadership in Aviation Podcast episode to learn about the various pathways to aviation careers. In this episode, you will hear from Women in Aviation Advisory Board Alumnae Member, Bobbi Wells, Vice President, Safety Systems, Efficiency & Compliance at American Airlines, alon…

René Banglesdorf, Founder and CEO of The Aviation Collective, talks about the shortage of workers in the aviation industry, not to mention the shortage of women in the industry. As a member of the FAA's Women in Aviation Advisory Board, René worked alongside 30 women to publish a report that promotes the recruitment, retention and advancement of wo…

Ying McPherson has over 18 years of experience in the financial analysis and data analytics space and oversees the strategy development and execution activities at Unifi. In today's episode, Ying sits down with René Banglesdorf, Founder and CEO of The Aviation Collective, to discuss the power of having a positive mindset and how you can turn obstac…

In this podcast episode, I am joined by my fellow alumnae board members, Rebecca Lutte, Associate Professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Pamela Williams, Director of Academy Services at United Aviate Academy to discuss successful recruitment strategies for drawing women and underrepresented groups into aviation. Samantha Bowyer, Assis…

How in the world did 30 women come to agreement on topics as heated as solutions to discrimination and harassment, pilot training, and maternity leave in just 20 short months, all while handicapped by a pandemic? Hear the behind the scenes in this week’s first town hall with alumnae Women in Aviation Advisory Board members, Trish Gilbert, Executive…

Everyone faces self doubt or personal obstacles that they must overcome. It's no different for leaders and individuals running successful companies. Allison McKay, CEO of Women in Aviation International, opens up about how she tackles her biggest fears in business and how you can work through your self doubt and achieve what you may not have though…

Eric is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Marine Corps. He currently serves as the Commanding Officer of Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401, the Marine Corps’ only Adversary Fighter Squadron. Eric is also a Performance Coach for Full Focus, where he helps leaders at all levels master clear processes to create space and margin at home and …

Do you ever question your worth or value to a company wondering what you bring to the table? Dana Williams is a Former Southwest Airlines Leader and Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach who helps individuals and companies facing disconnection to live in their strengths. Listen to this week's episode of Leadership in Aviation to find your strengths and …

Dana Donati, CEO at United Aviate Academy, discusses the intricacies of leadership in launching a new endeavor. United Aviate Academy is a flight school and major stepping stone to becoming a pilot for United Airlines. Learn more about Dana's journey to getting where she is today and this new and exciting endeavor in today's episode of Leadership i…

How have your habits changed over the last few years? Being out of the office has definitely changed our workplace culture and personal relationships with co-workers. Listen as Dan Drohan, the CEO of Solairus Aviation, speaks on finding a happy medium in communication, compromise, and compensation to navigate workplace culture issues and find new h…

Jo Damato, the Senior Vice President of Education, Training and Workforce Development for NBAA, talks about the need for leadership development in aviation. She also serves on the Youth in Aviation Task Force and is passionate about helping individuals thrive from the beginning of their career to the end through leadership development. Check out th…

Everyone influences the culture of an organization, no matter your job title or role. Because of this, it's important to recognize how you can uplift your company culture. In this podcast, René Banglesdorf, Founder and CEO of The Aviation Collective, a Workplace Culture Consulting Agency, talks about how you can shape workplace culture as an employ…

Want better company culture but not sure where to start? Listen to our free training, Four Forces That Balance Workplace Culture, hosted by René Banglesdorf, a high-performance business coach and long-time aviation executive. This training is filled with aviation-specific tools designed to shift your workplace culture from turbulent to smooth skies…

René Banglesdorf dives deep into workplace culture based on The Aviation Collective's findings from the survey, focus groups, and resulting report. This episode focuses on leaders in aviation, how they shape workplace culture, and three areas that they can work on to improve workplace culture at their organization. Watch the Podcast on our YouTube …

Everyone in an organization influences its culture, but as leaders, we set the tone. When thinking about your people, products, profitability, and productivity, is something in your experience prohibiting your team or organization from growing in a healthy manner? In this episode, René Banglesdorf, the Founder and Coach of The Aviation Collective, …

Dr. Rebecca (Becky) Lutte is an Associate Professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha Aviation Institute. Dr. Lutte is a commercial pilot, CFII, MEI, experimental aircraft owner, and active in the general aviation community. She was appointed by the Secretary of the DOT to the FAA Women in Aviation Advisory Board and serves as chair of the sub…

Kate Fraser is NetJets Director of Safety Assurance where she oversees the implementation of the Safety Management System (SMS), aviation emergency response plan, internal auditing, and drug and alcohol program. Prior to joining NetJets, Fraser spent nearly three years in the emerging market of Advance Aerial Mobility (AAM) as Joby Aviation’s Head …

Anna Winningham is a former Special Agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). During her 13-year tenure with the FBI she served as a case agent and a Supervisory Special Agent, overseeing multiple long-term, complex investigations including organized crime, drug, counter-terrorism, kidnapping and extortion investigations. Following her c…

Therese Allison is a self-made success story, mom, mentor and Best-Selling and Award-Winning Author of “Playing for Keeps – How a 21st century businesswoman beat the boys” (self-help memoir.) To help others succeed, Allison openly shares how she became financially independent at age 38 when her company (McKenna & Associates) was sold to AON, and re…

Sheryl Clarke had an extensive career in aviation from military to commercial to private aviation. She then took her skills in a new direction and transitioned to the oil and gas industry where she is currently the Head of HSE Learning and Operations Management System program management for British Petroleum-North America. Hear more about the discr…

Jessica Webster is a mother, partner, and career pilot residing in New Hampshire. She is a private executive jet captain with 20 years in the aviation industry. Driven by value creation through cultural transformation and continuous improvement, Jessica is the Founder and President of Hera Aviation Group; a non-profit organization and coaching and …

Anna Diaz is a Partner & Principal at Dowling & Yahnke Wealth Advisors which is an independent wealth management firm, managing over $5B in assets. D&Y is Ranked as a Top Advisor by Barron’s and other national publications. They provide investment, tax and financial planning services to over 1,300 clients across 36 different states. Hear more about…

Retired Vice Admiral Mary Jackson has over three decades of service in the United States Navy. She currently contributes as an independent advisor, serves as a board member for the Greater Jacksonville Area USO and the Surface Navy Association, and is pursuing for-profit board roles. Hear more about how Vice Admiral Jackson's unconventional journey…

Stacey Rudser is Maintenance Supervisor for Breeze Airways, specializing in Airbus A320 family maintenance. She was the first woman to graduate from the Aviation Institute of Maintenance, Orlando and earned her A&P in 2009. Passionate about diversity in aviation, Stacey serves on the national Board of Directors for the Association for Women in Avia…

María Jimenez is the General Manager of WeShipBox in Costa Rica, a logistics company that provides courier and other services. María is a serial entrepreneur and also serves as co-owner and Board VP of 360 Fitness and 7 Dent Development. She also serves on the board and volunteers for numerous for and nonprofit organizations including the Costa Ric…

Tissa Richards is a bold, trusted, authentic technology founder, speaker and executive coach. She has founded, invested in, and run software companies in Silicon Valley, holds over a dozen software patents, and has won awards for her software products. Today, Tissa works with the world’s largest private equity and investment firms and corporations …

Tanya DiSalvo is president of Criterion in Brook Park, Ohio. While being the third generation to own and manage Criterion, a precision machine shop, making parts for the “No Failure Industries”, Tanya is also Past-President of the Cleveland Chapter of the National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA), and a former board member of WIRE-Net, and …

Sonja Rheaume started her electrical career in 1997. After graduating from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana she moved back to her hometown in Portland, Oregon to work full time at her family company, Oregon Electric Group (OEG). Sonja learned all aspects of the business working her way up from Receptionist to Director of Operations. Sonj…

Laura Benson Jones is a founder and current Chair of the Board of Directors for Flight Club 502, a youth based non-profit in Louisville, Kentucky that focuses on using aerospace and aviation lessons to teach youth the importance of STEM/Next Generation learning, decision making skills, leadership and patriotism. Hear more about this amazing non-pro…

Joey Colleran is the Director of Customer Success for Redbird Flight Simulations, a National Board Member of the University Aviation Association, and Member of the USDOT Youth Access to American Jobs in Aviation Task Force. And, she's also a single-engine land and sea rated private pilot. Hear more about her childhood dream of becoming a pilot and …

Kelly Bond is Vice President of Dealer Development at Brivo. With over 20 years experience in mergers, acquisitions and dealer programs in the electronic security industry, Kelly’s priority at Brivo is to develop and lead programs for their partners that provide additional opportunities for their ongoing growth and success. Hear more about the tech…

From the front desk of a little FBO in Minnesota, to the captain’s seat of a commercial airliner, Erika Armstrong has experienced everything aviation has to offer. Erika is currently the VP of Business Development at Advanced Aircrew Academy, an aviation professor at MSU Denver and author of a Chick in the Cockpit. Hear more about her incredible jo…

Kimberly Perkins is among the 2% of pilots in the United States – a female captain. She's a Captain on a Gulfstream 650 based in Seattle, WA and has piloted jets on six continents. After living in Nigeria for two years, she started a non-profit called Aviation for Humanity. They use the traveling public to bring school supplies to children in under…

Angie Deming is the President of Republic First National Corporation, a national municipal and commercial finance company that focuses on emergency and service vehicles. Listen in as she discusses how she fell into her career in finance and transportation, financing fire trucks among many other things. She also discusses challenges she's faced in h…

Sarah Kalmeta is a strategic leader, coach and educator in the business aviation industry. She has over twelve years of experience working with vendors, service providers and aviation authorities in Asia Pacific and around the globe. In this episode, hear more about how she has adapted to cultural differences working overseas specifically as a woma…

Stormy Bradley is a thirty-year-old lifelong learner. She plays the roles of business owner, mother and wife on a daily basis. Stormy's goals are to run the most efficient construction companies in Texas, to constantly pour into her community by improving on leadership and financial wellness. In this episode, learn more about how she got to where s…

Dr. Karrie Dixon a transformational leader in the University of North Carolina (UNC) System. For over 20 years, she has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to improving the lives of others through higher education. That commitment continues as Chancellor of ECSU. Her focus on increasing enrollment, leveraging resources, enhancing all aspects of the…

Adrienne Larrew, founder of Corner Post Meats sat with René to discuss her business in providing customers with exceptional forest raised pork, grass finished beef, grass-finished lamb, and pastured poultry. Listen in as she discusses her company's "give a damn” philosophy and also how her business shifted in the wake of COVID-19.…

Josefina Hobbs is a Senior Product Marketing Manager at Synopsys, the largest Electronic Design Automation company in the world. Although she followed a traditional engineering education pathway, Josefina is definitely not your typical engineer. She has used her unique blend of technical acumen and interpersonal skills to build relationships with h…

Meet Liubov "Luba" Nickel, co-founder of Jadewolf Marketing, a new kind of remote work digital marketing agency that specializes in luxury travel brands. Inspired by the management philosophy of Brazilian Entrepreneur Ricardo Semler, she is now determined to build up her agency into a great place to work at, that also delivers outstanding results f…

Leading from difficult places requires a more focused skill set than leading in calm waters. This is especially true if the odds were already stacked against you because of your age, experience level or the industry in which you work. Aviation company CEO, business coach, author and podcast host René Banglesdorf speaks from a place of vulnerability…

Tammy Reynolds joined Ohio University in August 2012 after 25 years working in Fortune 500 companies. She began her career at Marathon Oil Company, and most recently worked for Whirlpool Corporation at the company’s world headquarters in Benton Harbor, Michigan where she led the human resources organization for the North American Operations organiz…