Most leadership roles in business aviation aren’t earned; they’re inherited.
The best pilot becomes the chief pilot. The strongest technician becomes the manager.
And suddenly, someone trained to execute is expected to lead.
But leadership isn’t an extension of technical skill. It’s a completely different discipline.
As flight departments evolve into true business units, accountable for performance, talent, and strategic value, the cracks in that assumption are starting to show.
Teams are harder to manage, expectations are higher, and the cost of weak leadership is no longer just internal friction; it’s turnover, inefficiency, and lost credibility at the executive level.
In this conversation, Matt Gray and Jamie Stember, both contributors to The Business Aviation Book, where they authored the chapter on management theories, break down why management theory still matters and what most leaders misunderstand about their role.
Leadership and management are completely different skill sets from being in maintenance, scheduling, dispatching, and flying. You could be the best at those other things, but the minute you step into leadership, it’s a completely different field. -Matt Gray
What You’ll Discover in This Episode
- Why leadership and management are fundamentally different disciplines, and why confusing them creates hidden failure points
- The real reason technical experts struggle when promoted into leadership roles
- How modern flight departments are shifting from “luxury function” to accountable business units, and what that demands from leaders
- Why one-size-fits-all leadership fails, and how effective leaders adapt to individual motivations inside the same team
- The overlooked role of incentives – what people say they want vs. what actually drives their behavior
- The real driver behind talent loss (it’s not compensation)
- Why self-awareness and feedback are the foundation of effective leadership
Guest Bio
Matt Gray is the Assistant Chief Pilot at The Hershey Company, where he brings decades of experience across business aviation operations and leadership. With a career spanning nearly 30 years in aviation, including time in airline, charter, and corporate environments, Matt has built a reputation for bridging technical expertise with people-focused leadership. He currently serves as Chair of the NBAA Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) Governing Board and is a CAM Fellow, reflecting his deep commitment to advancing leadership standards within the industry.
Jamie Stember is a seasoned business aviation leader, pilot, and asset manager with more than three decades of experience in the industry. A former Director of Aviation, Jamie spent 20 years leading an in-house flight department, overseeing aircraft operations, team development, budgeting, and strategic transportation solutions. Today, he is part of the team at Eagle Aircraft and Transportation Management, where he helps deliver tailored aviation solutions for ultra-high-net-worth clients. Jamie is a Fellow of the NBAA Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) program and has served in leadership roles at the industry level, including as Chair of the CAM Governing Board.
About Your Host
Dr. Chris Broyhill is the industry’s most respected authority on business aviation compensation. An industry veteran with over 43 years of aviation experience, Dr. Broyhill has led several scientific research projects on personnel retention, compensation, and leadership for the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) since 2017.
Dr. Chris holds a Ph.D. in Aviation and has published two books that feature the results of his work. He’s also an outstanding graduate of the USAF Fighter Weapons School, an NBAA Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) Fellow, and a Certified Compensation Professional (CCP).
Resources
Get the Data, Win the Negotiation, Stay in the Business You Love. To get your compensation report, visit AirCompCalculator.com. We have a range of options for different scenarios and budgets, from validating a specific job offer, to packages for entire departments.