PODCAST

The Aerospace Executive Podcast

Craig Picken

How Top Aerospace Executives Set the Vision, Grow Their Business & Develop Talent

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All Episodes

25:34

Win and Learn: Why You Don’t Have to Wait to Fail to...

The Aerospace Executive Podcast ·

2025/04/17

After the Eagles’ Super Bowl LVII loss in 2023, Jalen Hurts said, “You either win or you learn.”It was a powerful reflection on turning setbacks into lessons. Fast forward to 2025, Hurts led the Eagles to a dominant Super Bowl win, exemplifying how learning from past defeats can pave the way to future success. But here's the question: Do we need to wait for failure to start learning? Success can be a comfortable place, but it's also where complacency can creep in. The key is to stay proactive in

13:07

What Do You Do When Your Top Performer Is Dragging...

The Aerospace Executive Podcast ·

2025/04/10

Every business leader dreams of building a team of A-players—but what happens when your top performer can’t seem to collaborate with the rest of the team?When one standout employee clashes with others, it doesn’t just create tension—it can disrupt workflow, derail morale, and impact your entire company culture. And while high performers often drive results, the real question becomes: at what cost? So how do we handle this dilemma? Should we keep the rainmaker and risk losing loyal, dependable team

45:20

New Trade Policy, New Challenges: What Leaders Need...

The Aerospace Executive Podcast ·

2025/04/03

A shift in leadership often brings a shift in economic direction, and with that, a wave of uncertainty for business leaders. Recent changes in trade policy have sparked a great deal of conversation (and concern) around tariffs, trade imbalances, and global supply chains. But what we’re seeing now isn’t the final chapter—it’s part of a broader strategy to reshape the future of international trade and industrial development in the U.S.The goals are ambitious: addressing the national debt, correcting

38:14

"Complacency Creeps In When We Make Hard Things Look...

The Aerospace Executive Podcast ·

2025/03/27

Once again, the aviation industry is in the spotlight, but this time for all the wrong reasons. With the recent accidents and mishaps, safety management systems have become a major topic in mainstream discussions. The problem is, those conversations often turn into a rush to judgment, throwing around blame, prematurely pointing fingers, and ignoring the most important thing - the data. This doesn’t help anyone at all. What the industry does in the aftermath of an accident is critical. Instead of

34:38

Business Aviation’s Fight for Safety, Tech, and Its...

The Aerospace Executive Podcast ·

2025/03/20

Business aviation is a critical part of the U.S. economy, yet it’s often misunderstood as a luxury for the wealthy. While some may criticize the corporate executive boarding a Gulfstream, the reality is that this industry supports jobs, commerce, and economic growth nationwide. But are we, as an industry, doing enough to communicate its true value?Challenges continue to emerge—from regulatory scrutiny and negative public perception to pressing issues like safety, technology modernization, tariffs,

43:08

Tariffs in Aerospace: Will the Market Soar or Stall?...

The Aerospace Executive Podcast ·

2025/02/13

In aerospace and defense, predictability, stability and certainty are the fuel all deals run on. Buyers purchase companies expecting a sure thing that will sustain for decades. What happens when you throw the possibility of unpredictable tariffs into this market? You get buyer and seller uncertainty which slows the market down. No one knows exactly how President Trump’s tariffs will impact the supply chain and the deals that will get done. That doesn’t mean it’s gloom and doom, though. The market

41:10

Spy Tactics for Business Success: Leadership &...

The Aerospace Executive Podcast ·

2025/02/06

The aerospace industry thrives on precision, strategy, and resilience—the same qualities that define elite intelligence operations. But how do the skills developed in espionage translate to executive leadership, negotiation, and business strategy?In this re-run episode of The Aerospace Executive Podcast, we revisit a compelling conversation with Michele Rigby Assad, a former CIA officer and counterterrorism expert. With years of experience in covert operations, Michele shares how the principles

48:44

The Business Jet Market: Challenges, Opportunities &...

The Aerospace Executive Podcast ·

2025/01/30

2024 was a solid year for business aviation, and 2025 looks even better. But let’s be real—owning, operating, and maintaining private jets is more complex (and costly) than ever.We all know about the ongoing pilot shortages and talent retention struggles, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Aircraft acquisition hurdles Rising maintenance costs & longer lead times Increasing regulatory & environmental pressures In today’s market, being a jet broker isn’t enough—you need to be a true

39:38

Great Bosses Can Impact You For Life, Here’s Why w/...

The Aerospace Executive Podcast ·

2025/01/16

If there’s one thing that can propel or stall a career, it’s the boss you work for. A great leader can impact you for a lifetime. They create a winning environment, and allow their people to soak in the skills they need to succeed and become great leaders too. Thinking ahead, taking charge and fixing problems, executing flawlessly and redeeming yourself after an error. These are just a few powerful competencies the right boss can give you - competencies that will make you an A player wherever you

41:06

"We're The Ritz-Carlton for Forgotten Inventory":...

The Aerospace Executive Podcast ·

2025/01/09

In the aircraft parts market, some SKUs fly off the shelves easily, but that’s not the case for every part. Some parts sit in warehouses for years, gathering dust, adding up to hundreds of billions in write-offs. 80% of inventory gets snapped up, but the 20% can’t sell itself. It requires someone to do some in-depth spelunking to breathe new life into these forgotten parts and connect them with buyers. The industry has long been aware of this problem - everyone complains about it but no one has

46:00

Beyond Flight School: How to Train Talent For the...

The Aerospace Executive Podcast ·

2025/01/02

An aviation education can turn into an incredible career with countless opportunities to put passion and talent to work. But that requires training programs that open people’s eyes to the different ways they can leverage their expertise. The industry is evolving, and so the career paths within it have to shift too. From regulatory roles and jet pilots to aviation-trained business leaders, there are many ways to leverage the skills you gain at flight school. For years, aviation education has been

27:04

A Year of Innovation: Highlights from Aerospace...

The Aerospace Executive Podcast ·

2024/12/26

In the aerospace industry, growth and innovation aren’t just buzzwords—they're vital for survival in one of the most competitive sectors in the world. This year, I had the privilege of sitting down with some of the most forward-thinking leaders, companies that have not only weathered the turbulence of today’s challenges but have come out stronger on the other side. From supply chain crises to strategic turnarounds, these conversations offer a deep dive into what it takes to succeed in aerospace

21:19

Honoring Ben Baldanza: A Legacy of Leadership and...

The Aerospace Executive Podcast ·

2024/12/12

The airline industry is renowned for its safety, but the pandemic threw a curveball into the mix. The world was forced to grapple with new realities of travel, and even though it was a challenge, it also presented new opportunities that the industry can go after.Fleet flexibility, operational efficiency, and paying attention to demographic shifts—these are some ways the industry can adapt and pivot. Airlines have been forced to reimagine their models and rethink how they deliver value to customers,

24:36

Happy Mechanics, Better Results: The Jets MRO Story...

The Aerospace Executive Podcast ·

2024/12/05

The business jet maintenance industry faces a persistent challenge: getting aircraft out on time and on budget seems nearly impossible. At the core of this issue? Labor shortages, high turnover, and a lack of skilled talent.Hiring new mechanics is costly, the learning curve is steep, and customers ultimately bear the financial burden. While many have tried to solve these issues, Jets MRO took a bold, innovative approach that’s transforming the game. What if the secret to better bizjet MRO

35:01

Unlocking India’s Potential: How Jeh Aerospace is...

The Aerospace Executive Podcast ·

2024/11/14

As the aerospace and defense industry continues to face supply resiliency issues coupled with talent shortages, India has emerged as a solution. Many marquee OEMs have been able to harness the full capabilities that can be found in India and gain all the benefits of manufacturing there. Jeh Aerospace is helping US companies unlock the talent pool, manufacturing and state of the art technology that has flourished in India, and they are just getting started. A rising tide lifts all ships, so the

34:31

Recognition Fuels Performance: How to Lead From the...

The Aerospace Executive Podcast ·

2024/11/07

Many people think military leadership is as simple as giving orders and people just blindly following them. They couldn’t be more mistaken. While people will do what they’re told, this “sir, yes, sir” style of leadership doesn’t lead to high performance. It leads to a workforce that begrudgingly follows orders and passive aggressively does the bare minimum. Getting people to take pride in their work and do it joyfully is a completely different ball game. It starts with a leadership style that’s

39:05

Secrets of Elite Teams: How the Blue Angels Achieve...

The Aerospace Executive Podcast ·

2024/10/31

Whether you’re in the Blue Angels, on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier or an elite athlete, being on a high performing team isn’t about you. Your success depends on working together, sacrificing, covering for each other and collaborating. In order to do this right, everyone on the team has to hold up their end of the bargain. The leader has to be willing to hold up a mirror to their own performance and be the basis of all the values they want the team to have. The team member has to carry

50:03

The Evolving MRO Industry: West Star Aviation's...

The Aerospace Executive Podcast ·

2024/10/24

Airplanes aren’t retiring the way they used to. They are more sophisticated than ever before. They are staying around longer and they are getting larger with each generation. This creates a challenge and a lot of complexity for MRO but also a massive opportunity. How do you run an organization with the capacity, talent and sheer size to support all of this growth? That’s something West Star Aviation has figured out at a really high level. As a 77-year old company, the business has a storied

35:20

3 Strikes, Market Out? The State of Aerospace M&A w/...

The Aerospace Executive Podcast ·

2024/10/17

With the recent Boeing and Textron strikes, it seems the business of manufacturing new planes just can’t catch a break. These labor woes are just another challenge clobbering the production and availability of new aircraft, and we have to brace for a challenging few weeks (or months). Unfortunately, this could be the tip of the iceberg that can trickle down, but it’s not all bad news for the whole industry. There is a glimmer of hope - the aftermarket. Since the pandemic, this side of the

38:18

Unlocking Innovation in Business Jet Interiors: How...

The Aerospace Executive Podcast ·

2024/10/10

In the highly competitive and specialized world of business jet interiors, standing out with something truly unique is no small feat. The challenge of innovation is compounded by the complex certification processes involved, making it difficult for most companies in this space to create disruptive designs. Interestingly, some of the most significant innovations often come from outside the aviation interior industry. A prime example is RCO Engineering, a company originally focused on automotive

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The Aerospace Executive Podcast

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