René Banglesdorf is CEO of Charlie Bravo Aviation, an Austin, Texas-based company that buys, sells and leases corporate aircraft worldwide. René and her husband, Curt co-founded Charlie Bravo in 2008. René is part of an elite group—women in North America and Europe hold only 4-6% of high-level aviation positions.
René is a force. She’s taking all she’s learned as a female leader in a male-dominated industry and she’s creating a platform to help other women stand up. In 2016, René c0-authored the book, Crushing Mediocrity: 10 Ways to Rise Above The Status Quo. Her second book, Stand Up: How to Flourish When the World Seems Stacked Against You is due out January 1, 2019. Her platform also includes Stand Up: How to Win in a Male-Dominated Industry Facebook Live conversations, and she’s launching a podcast soon that will be a resource for companies looking to empower women.
In this episode, we discuss all of this, plus what she and her husband are doing to engage their children in the family business. René also provides advice for people who are considering flying privately.
Learn more about René at www.renebanglesdorf.com.
Topics discussed in this episode:
Meet René (2:34)
Becoming CEO of Charlie Bravo Aviation (7:00)
Advice for flying private (12:11)
Engaging the next generation in the family business (18:40)
Succession planning (24:47)
René’s Stand Up platform for female leaders in male-dominated industries (28:02)
Lessons learned for René’s daughter (47:50)
How to contact and follow René (53:04)
Bonus questions (53:57)
Notable & Quotable:
My advice for women is to stand up and take what you want. You can’t wait for it to be handed to you. —René Banglesdorf #successfulgenerations
Regarding flying private: Consider when you’re flying, where you’re flying, how much time you’re wasting in travel and what you’re time is worth. —René Banglesdorf #successfulgenerations
I’d rather fall flat on my face and have to get back up, than arrive at the end and think, ‘that was a mediocre life.’ —René Banglesdorf #successfulgenerations
The downside of not standing up: Not leaving a legacy. We must consider the example we are setting for the people who follow behind us. —René Banglesdorf #successfulgenerations
Buck the system, push back and don’t apologize. Keep your eye on the goal and move towards that. Don’t give up. —René Banglesdorf #successfulgenerations
We are at a time in our history where women, on both sides of the aisle, need to stand up. —René Banglesdorf #successfulgenerations
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Michael Hyatt’s Best Year Ever
Crushing Mediocrity: 10 Ways to Rise Above The Status Quo
International Aviation Womens Association
Guest Bio: René Banglesdorf
René is co-founder and CEO of Charlie Bravo Aviation, an Austin, TX-based company that buys, sells and leases corporate aircraft worldwide. She applies a background in business journalism and marketing from several industries to the company she started in 2008. Charlie Bravo works with government entities, non-profits, corporations both large and small, and private individuals and has closed deals more than 40 different countries ranging from hundreds of thousands to $30+ million.
René serves as a spokesperson for business aviation and women in aviation in speaking and press appearances all over the world. René serves as Vice President-Communications on the International Aviation Women’s Association board, driving all Connect, Inspire and Lead activities. In 2018, she held organized and emceed the IAWA Inaugural GA Women’s Leadership Forum, with more than 100 female leaders from the industry in attendance.
René is an active member of the National Business Aircraft Association. She served on the advisory board of Phoenix Arising Aviation Academy, a group that teaches the love of STEM learning through aviation in her local community for three years and continues to promote STEM learning through other activities. She serves as a Supply Chain Coordinator for PALS Sky Hope Disaster Relief, a charitable organization that utilizes business aviation to help in times of natural disaster or life-threatening situations.
René met her husband and Charlie Bravo Aviation co-founder, Curt, while studying journalism at Ohio University. To satisfy her passion for writing, René is an editorial contributor to several aviation business publications. In 2017, she wrote and produced a 28-lesson video course on how to buy an airplane.
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