Expert: David A. NewMyer - 8/15/2007

Question
David,

I appreciate you taking time to answer questions. I'm a 25 year old financial analyst working on my Private Pilot license. I got my undergrad degree in finance at the Univ of Wisconsin-Madison and I've been working in corporate finance for four years since graduation (currently with Cisco Systems in San Jose,CA) . However good I'm at numbers and spreadsheets, the career isn't really fulfilling or exciting.

I grew up in India and used to dream of being a pilot. Now that I'm taking flight lessons, I feel I'll really enjoy flying but probably not as a profession. But the very prospect of working in the aviation industry is getting me many times more excited than my current finance career. As you know, the Indian aviation industry is booming and I really want to be a part of this rapid growth in India.

I'd like your thoughts on how to approach this career change. My grades and GMAT scores are good enough to give me a strong chance at a top 3 business school here in the US or in India. Perhaps MBA followed by aviation consulting? The Indian MRO infrastructure is just emerging - maybe MBA followed by a role in the MRO world? MBA and then join an Indian airline? Perhaps help grow the general aviation sector in India.? ... The industry is so vast with so many options that I don't even know where to focus.. But I think I'll definitely have a very satisfying career if I dedicate my career and contribute the best I can to the Indian aviation industry during this crucial transition phase.

Your thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Ram Kumar

Answer
Hi,

One other option that you might consider is taking an MBA in AVIATION and then transitioning to the aviation industry....the MBA with aviation content would give you both general business credibility (which you already have with your undergraduate degree plus your time at Cisco) PLUS it would give you some aviation-related credibility.  The problem with aviation is that it is an operationally-oriented industry, so, the folks doing the hiring tend to favor those with operational knowledge and skills.  The more of those that you can bring to the table, the better it is for you as an applicant.

My feeling would be that, if you pursue an aviation MBA from one of the following and then pursue employment with an airline in India, that would be a winning combination:

Concordia Universtiy, John Molson School of Business, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Florida

Daniel Webster College, Nashua, New Hampshire (on line only)

Best of luck to you,

David A. NewMyer, Ph.D., Professor and Chair
Aviation Management and Flight
Southern Illinois University Carbondale