Tell us about your career to date?
My first job in an aviation environment was as a retail sales assistant at Dublin airport. I then joined Emirates as cabin crew and a year later decided to come back to Ireland and pursue an aviation-related degree. While in college my knowledge of the industry has broadened and I have developed an interest in the aircraft leasing sector. This summer I commenced my job as marketing assistant in the aircraft sourcing and trading department with FPG Amentum, an independent and dedicated third-party service provider to aircraft equity investors, banks and debt investors.
What sparked your interest in aviation?
My interest was triggered by an Air Force air show back in my home country, Romania. I was impressed by the performance of the fighter jets and the idea of being a fighter pilot sounded really appealing. However, I had the opportunity to undertake a part of the rigorous medical test when I was 15 and learned I would never be able to become a fighter pilot due to being near-sighted. Nevertheless my passion for aviation grew and my curiosity to learn more has offered new opportunities which led me to where I am today.
IASA
Why did you set up IASA?
While in college I attended several industry networking events and conferences and had a few days’ work experience in various aviation companies. I discovered the industry was quite concerned about the issue of not knowing how to attract new talent and being equally unaware of the level of talent available. Ireland has seen a number of new aviation courses in third level institutions, a testament to this fast evolving industry, though it seemed to me they were misrepresented to the industry, meaning less opportunities to hire potential candidates. With that in mind and with the wish of developing new opportunities for both students and industry, IASA was established.
How does IASA make a difference to aviation students?
IASA’s mission is to forge stronger links between students, industry and educational institutions and to promote the diversity of aviation. I think of IASA as being the vehicle of one’s career, allowing the student to gain new insights and skills. More importantly it offers students a shared platform with industry professionals who are keen to support and advise on career strategy. We also promote internships and entry-level positions and hope to develop this area further, working closely with aviation companies in Ireland and hopefully abroad too.
What challenges do you face in your role?
When IASA was established none of the student committee, including myself, knew how to run a national association and organise events, like our annual symposium, on a big scale. We all have a common passion, which is aviation, and that was the main driver in conquering our obstacles and challenges. Being a team of 10 sometimes proves challenging due to our personal schedules and the distance between us, however we always learn to adapt to new ways of solving problems and progressing with our objectives.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
In addition to developing my interpersonal skills, the most enjoyable part of my role is meeting with high-level executives, something not many students get the opportunity to do. I often attend meetings presenting our initiative to HR personnel, directors and even level C executives, which is not always the easiest thing to do but is really rewarding. I am also privileged to be invited along with my colleagues to numerous industry events, which have allowed me to learn more about the industry and helped my professional network to grow. Currently IASA has a Board of Advisors of highly talented professionals who support our initiative and to whom I am grateful for their commitment.
What is your vision for IASA going forward?
To help Ireland continue to provide the best expertise in the field of aviation by empowering the next generation of aviation professionals to be heard by the industry and to enable greater collaboration. We aim to become the platform that will educate and connect young talent with the industry.
Source: Flight International
