ISTAT Jetrader - Autumn 2019 - 12

PERSPECTIVES

Jetrader: What excites you about
where the industry is headed, 10 or
20 years down the road?
PB: Technology is an important part,
but it's more about information and how
we think about information and risk.
For me, people are the most interesting
thing in our industry. As an industry, we
have to make sure that we continue to
bring in not just people who are good
at numbers or aircraft, but also people
who understand information and data
and how to analyze and use it. I think
if we can continue to do that, we can
continue to drive the industry. I think
the challenge is to make sure we're
bringing in the best and most capable
people to our industry, and that's
something we endeavor to do at SMBC
Aviation Capital. We have a very active
graduate program, but we also recruit
a lot of people from other industries
and businesses, and we will continue
to do that to improve the overall mix of

12

* T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F I S TAT

DNA in the company. That's one of the
things I admire about ISTAT is the ISTAT
Foundation in terms of bringing new
ideas and new blood in. Without that,
over time we will atrophy and not be
able to meet our customers' needs.
Gerry Butler, who started his career
with us, is a great example of someone
in our industry who continues to seek out
the next generation. I just came from one
of our focus groups on equality, diversity
and inclusion here in our business, and
I was chatting to my eldest daughter
about this last night. She accompanied
me to ISTAT in Singapore last year, and it
struck her walking across the room that
there were very few women in the room.
If it's that obvious to an 18-year-old, it's
clearly something we need to address.
We need to improve not just the number
of women but the number of women in
leadership positions. It's important to the
industry, and our company and ISTAT
can lead in that regard.

Jetrader: For young people
considering a career in aviation,
what thoughts would you offer?
PB: In business, and in any career,
you've got to work hard. You've got
to build relationships. All business
is about people: your colleagues,
your customers, your competitors,
your suppliers. Working well with
people can make a real difference
in your career. I wish I'd known that
earlier in my career; I'd have made
fewer mistakes.
Jetrader: Anything else?
PB: The key message I would give is
that aircraft leasing is an important
part of the ecosystem of air travel,
which is important in an increasingly
fractured world. The ability to travel
around the world, which we take for
granted, is important. We shouldn't
lose sight of the fact that we're part
of that system.
http://www.cavuaerospace.com
ISTAT Jetrader - Autumn 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ISTAT Jetrader - Autumn 2019
