Aviation View July 2023

7 AVIATION VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 MAKING DEI SUSTAINABLE IN BUSINESS AVIATION For many business aircraft owners, operators and managers, supporting a diverse workplace has become second nature. Those who practice diversity equity and inclusion (DEI) on a daily basis say they’re helping to create a diverse industry that sustains itself by leveraging DEI initiatives across the board. “Diversity fosters new perspectives and ideas, which can lead to better decision-making and problem-solving,” said Jay Boykin, vice president of finance transportation / diversity equity and inclusion at Gogo Business Aviation. “Inclusive and welcoming environments also increase employee engagement, job satisfaction and retention rates. This, in turn, leads to higher productivity, greater innovation and profitability, which are essential for the industry’s growth and sustainability.” VALUING DIFFERENCE Jennifer Pickerel, vice president of Aviation Personnel International (API), suggested thinking about it this way: “Open yourself up to valuing difference in general; understand that the more diverse perspectives brought to the table, the more sound and more successful our solutions are.” When API recently hired a new team member, said Pickerel, “we intentionally sought out someone from a different generation because we knew our internal demographics were homogenous and we wanted to learn from OPENING L INES