Emily Deaton's Perspective on Leadership and the Power of Culture.

The 2022 Women in Aviation Advisory Board Report sheds light on the significant challenges and limited progress for women in the aviation industry. Women are notably underrepresented, comprising less than 10% of licensed pilots and a small percentage in maintenance roles. This underrepresentation extends across most aviation occupations, where women have consistently made up less than 20% of the workforce for decades.

A key challenge highlighted in the report is the industry's culture, often leaving women feeling like outsiders. This cultural barrier and economic challenges, such as insufficient financial aid, discourage women from entering and advancing in aviation. The report emphasizes the need for sustained leadership commitment to change this culture and create supportive environments for women.

Culture, Leadership, and the International Perspective

The Harvard Business Review (HBR) article, "A Leader's Guide to Corporate Culture," shares how culture expresses goals through values and beliefs and guides activity through shared assumptions and group norms. The article emphasizes how leaders frequently find themselves perplexed by culture due to its roots in implicit behaviors, attitudes, and social norms. Often, leaders don't pay enough attention to its management or assign it to HR, which tends to become a less prioritized aspect of the business. The article shares how this approach is misguided; when effectively managed, culture can be a powerful tool for facilitating change and developing resilient organizations capable of thriving in challenging circumstances. This point emphasizes the WIAAB recommendation for industry leaders to rethink their company culture and commit to change.

In my research on workplace culture, I came across a second article from the HBR, which discussed How Corporate Culture Differs Around the World. The article discusses the assessment of organizational cultures among Harvard Business Review readers, providing insights into shared organizational behaviors and norms. Key patterns identified from over 12,800 global responses indicate that 'caring' and 'results' are the most prominent cultural attributes, suggesting a collective orientation towards collaboration and achievement. Conversely, 'authority' and 'enjoyment' were deemed less critical, implying that decisiveness and spontaneity are lower priorities.

The analysis also reveals differences across regions. African organizations tend to be flexible, focusing on learning and purpose, while firms in Eastern Europe and the Middle East prioritize stability and safety. Western European and North American firms highlight independence with a strong emphasis on results. In contrast, South American firms value enjoyment, and firms in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand are characterized by interdependence, with a focus on caring and safety.

This is all to say that culture is dynamic and differs by region. Suppose we want to understand and improve the culture around including women and minorities in aviation. In that case, leaders should be encouraged to invest time and resources in their regions and adopt appropriate measures for a more positive cultural change.

Undoubtedly, the aviation industry has talented leaders who foster a positive culture within their companies. Among these leaders is our guest this week, Emily Deaton , Chief Executive Officer of jetAVIVA . Emily is an active member of her community and serves on several industry Boards, including Angel Flight West, the Central Florida Business Aviation Association, the International Aircraft Dealers Association, and the Space Coast Women in Aviation Alliance. Under Deaton's leadership, jetAVIVA employees comprise 50% women, and the company is soaring in pre-owned aircraft sales and acquisitions.

"I don't hide that my style of leadership is focused on enabling people to be successful professionally and personally, which means I want to get to know you. I want a culture of radical candor in our company to where you feel comfortable truly acknowledging how I can help you be better. And that means talking about the hard stuff and the good stuff every single day."

Emily joins us today to share her unexpected journey into the aviation industry. Deaton also discusses her insightful perspectives on leadership, the significance of embracing failure, and balancing work and family life. Additionally, she offers valuable advice for aspiring leaders, particularly women, in the aviation sector. Join us as we explore Emily's inspiring story and glean lessons from her remarkable experiences.

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