The Power of Social Capital: When we talk about social capital, we’re referring to the practice of creating and maintaining relationships with people that result in diverse social networks willing and able to support and advocate for one another. It’s developing a community of influential and passionate people from a broad range of backgrounds and industries with a common admiration and respect for each other. Like any team, the more varied the specialties and knowledge, the better. The glue of the network is shared values and ethics: the general commitment to excellence and wish to better themselves and their field.
We all appreciate the importance of both having and being a mentor, and the pivotal roles these people play in career journeys. However, investing in the development of your social capital is just as crucial as refining your business skills because having the right network facilitates your career trajectory.
For example, there are many job vacancies that are not published. A good number of positions (and often some of the most coveted ones) are filled through networking and connections. At UAS, we have a lot of experience hiring professionals we’re familiar with as good industry connections. In a highly specialized and niche industry like ours, it’s almost to be expected; people are consistently demonstrating their skills and expertise through their network. For jobseekers out there: you shouldn’t wait until the interview to sell yourself; you should be communicating your passion and expertise on a regular basis.
It could be argued that some have a natural advantage when it comes to their social network – whether they have relatives or university friends that are well connected in their chosen field. However, you can create a personal advantage and distinguish yourself by making connections and networking to enhance your social capital.
Take this to the next level by adding value for people in your network. This can be done in a variety of different ways whether you help them develop in some way, give them support when they need it, or advocate on their behalf. Helping people without having an agenda or an outcome in mind- helping them because you admire them and want the best for them- is the utmost expression of the true power of social capital.
By growing a network of interesting, inspiring, and accomplished people around you, you will always be in the best place to share ideas and insight.
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Mitch Launius
Instructor Pilot for 30 West IP
Mitch is the CEO of 30 West IP where he is also an instructor providing pilot training on international procedures. With an illustrious career of over 34 years in the cockpit, Mitch has acquired over 13,000 hours of flight time flying worldwide, with over 9,000 hours of this in Challenger and Gulfstream aircraft. He is an experienced safety officer and was also an IS-BAO project manager for a fortune 500 flight department. He has presented on Safety and Operations topics at the NBAA International Operators Conference and the Canadian Business Aviation Association Convention and is currently on the NBAA International Operators Committee and serves as the North Atlantic Regional Lead. Mitch is also a member of an FAA working group on General Aviation International Authorizations and Tabletop Exercises (GIATE). He was recently selected to represent IBAC as a member of the ICAO Personal Training and Licensing Panel (PTLP) and was also recently named as a 2020 recipient of the NBAA Tony Kern Professionalism in Aviation Award for his contribution to the business aviation community.
Henry ‘Duke’ LeDuc
Director Of Operations, Americas, UAS International Trip Support
Duke has been a dearly respected member of UAS Americas team and the UAS global family for more than five years. A safety-oriented, FAA-licensed aircraft dispatcher, he oversees all of the operations of the elite UAS Operations Team. With twenty-five years of experience in aviation overall with more than fifteen years of experience in international flight planning and VVIP trip coordination, he is responsible for the development of the dispatch training program and involved in the strategic development of UAS Americas. With a myriad of rich aviation experience behind him, he has extensive experience in worldwide operations with both corporate and charter environments, including seven years as Operations/Dispatch Manager in an industry-leading, Fortune 500, IS-BAO Stage III Certified corporate flight department. Duke is frequently asked shares his knowledge at major industry events and is currently serving on the NBAA’s International Operators Conference (IOC) Planning Committee.
Dudley King
President and Founder, FlightBridge
Dudley is the Founder and President of FlightBridge, which he established in 2011 and has been focused on technology solutions for the private aviation industry since 2006. Since he graduated from Dartmouth in 1988, he has worked with an array of companies listed anywhere from VentureWire to the Fortune 100. A rare blend of executive, entrepreneur, and consultant, Dudley’s executive roles have included acting CIO positions for several companies and tech advisory services to CEOs trying to rebuild their technology organizations or looking for an external, professional point of view. Highly skilled at deeply understanding his customer’s business challenges and drawing from a long and varied experience in information technology services, Dudley excels at designing technology solutions to solve their problems.
Dr. Paulo Alves
Global Medical Director, Aviation Health, Medaire
Paulo has extensive experience in medical advisory in the aviation industry. As a cardiologist, he provides technical guidance and analysis for MedAire’s MedLink medical advisory service and is MedAire’s liaison with civil aviation regulators and industry associations. Paulo worked with Varig Brazilian Airlines for 23 years, 10 of which were spent as General Medical Manager. A member of the MedAire Medical Advisory Board, Paulo is also President of the Ibero-American Aerospace Medical Association, a member of the International Academy of Aerospace Medicine, a member of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Safety Committee, a Fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA), and a Fellow of the Civil Aviation Medical Association. Throughout his illustrious career, Paulo has held industry leadership roles including Chairperson of the AsMA’s Air Transport Medicine Committee, President of the Airlines Medical Directors Association, President of the Brazilian Society of Aerospace Medicine and was a member of the IATA Medical Advisory Group from 2002 to 2006.
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