Describe a typical day or week in your role.

There is no typical day. There are constant changes in what we do for our clients depending on what they ask us to find for them. What we do is source and sell aircraft for people, and as information changes on a daily basis, we are constantly looking for the most up to date data to deliver to our clients.

Tell us what you enjoy most about your role.

The thing I most enjoy about my role at Jetcraft, is delivering on client’s expectations and exceeding them.

Describe what you are most proud of in your professional journey.

I’m most proud of being part of a company that aligns with my personal goals. Since we all have the same goals and ambitions, it feels great to be a part of a group like that.

Tell us how Jetcraft’s global network of offices and specialists benefit clients.

Our global network benefits clients as we’re able to deliver data from around the world at a moments notice. With our people in territory, we can get accurate information very quickly, verses going through a third party that may not have a rep in the region. With our global network, we have relationships in local markets that no one else has, that directly benefits our clients.

Explain how Jetcraft’s data and analytics are used within your work.

The data that our team generates for us as sales directors, enables us to provide accurate information to our clients in real time.

Share which business aircraft you would buy.

If I could buy any business aircraft, I would buy a Global 7500 so I can go further, faster and higher.

Share a travel essential you couldn’t live without.

I could not live without my headphones when travelling.

Share the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given.

The best piece of advice I have ever been given is to be true to who you are.

Describe what’s most rewarding about working with Jetcraft.

The most rewarding thing about working with the Jetcraft team, is truly being part of a family that I’ve been with for the past 15 years, and that has grown from a handful of people to almost 100.

Describe Jetcraft in one word.

I would describe Jetcraft as excellence.

Describe a typical day or week in your role.

No day is the same but my responsibilities include bringing in new leads and nurturing existing leads for opportunities to bring in new deals.

Tell us what you enjoy most about your role.

What I love most about my role is being emersed in the world of aircraft. I’ve always been very passionate about flying and aviation throughout my career, so just being around the aircraft on a daily basis, talking about the aircraft, marketing the aircraft and selling the aircraft.  I also love meeting new people, networking and discussing new opportunities with them.

Describe what you are most proud of in your professional journey.

I think so far, I am most proud of my development and where I have come at this stage. From getting my PPL at age 21, to having done marketing for Jetcraft and now in sales for Jetcraft. Transitioning through different areas around aviation but learning as I go.

Tell us how Jetcraft’s global network of offices and specialists benefit clients.

Jetcraft has 20+ offices worldwide which is an incredibly useful tool as we can rely on different markets and have great market access. For our buyers and sellers in Northern Europe, if we have a client looking for a specific model, we have a much broader range of opportunities worldwide having that access. Also in the different markets, we have the local experts. Having people on the ground who really understand those markets is a great benefit and advantage for us.

Explain how Jetcraft’s data and analytics are used within your work.

Jetcraft’s data and analytics is crucial for the role for sales as it provides us with key market data on the trends, values and demands of aircraft on the market at that current time. It also helps us deliver the up-to-date data to our clients to give them a really transparent look. For both buyers and sellers, the data really helps them make an informed decision on their purchase and selling opportunities.

Share which business aircraft you would buy.

I would buy the Gulfstream G650. The G650 has a really impressive range and can connect cities like Hong Kong and New York. It also has a beautiful interior.

Share a travel essential you couldn’t live without.

A travel essential I couldn’t live without is a power charger because you’ve always got to be on call, you never know what call you are going to get.

Share the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given.

The best piece of advice I have ever been given is to stay curious and never stop learning.

Describe what’s most rewarding about working with Jetcraft.

I think the most rewarding aspect of working with Jetcraft is the camaraderie.  We have a very special team feeling. Everyone supports each other, everyone gives great advice to each other, and I think that there is a real sense of trust.

Describe a typical day or week in your role.

A typical day for me starts with calling clients in the morning, following up with new leads and then following up with deals that are currently in the pipeline. I often then have meetings in the afternoon with new clients, for example.

Tell us what you enjoy most about your role.

What I enjoy most about my role is the connection I have with my clients. I have a really good relationship with my clients, so I enjoy helping them get exactly what they are looking for.

Describe what you are most proud of in your professional journey.

What brings me the most pride is definitely just getting the job done. In this business it is very difficult to sell an aircraft, so being able to get the job done is definitely my biggest reward.

Tell us how Jetcraft’s global network of offices and specialists benefit our clients.

Our team of specialists gives our clients confidence in us to find the best aircraft for them. It’s amazing how we can achieve this within the whole international network.

Explain how Jetcraft’s data and analytics are used within your work.

Jetcraft’s data helps me to get the best aircrafts on the market for my clients.

Share which business aircraft you would buy and why.

I would definitely buy the large cabin aircraft, because I like the large cabin.

Share a travel essential you couldn’t live without.

A travel essential that I couldn’t live without is definitely my airpods.

Share the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given.

Just getting the job done. That’s the best piece of advice I’ve got from my mentors.

Describe Jetcraft in one word.

I would describe Jetcraft as global.

Describe what’s most rewarding about working with Jetcraft.

The most rewarding thing I’ve got from working with Jetcraft is the friendship with the whole team.

Explain your role within your organization?

My role with Mitch McCune is to oversee the day-to-day operations of CFS Jets. Myself primarily, I’m responsible for the growth and development of the sales team.

Describe a typical day in your role.

Explaining a typical week or day is a real challenge, I’m engaged in the sales process and every deal is different. As well, other challenges present themselves in different projects or anything else that we are emersed in. It would be a challenge to have two weeks that were identical.

Tell us what you enjoy most about your role.

The most rewarding thing with my position is to see and watch our team grow. From the early stages of our team members joining, not knowing anything about aviation, growing up within our business and then watching them become successful sales people that are achieving goals and rewards that are beyond their expectations. That’s really the most rewarding thing that I get to experience.

Explain what inspired you to work in aviation.

Aviation has always interested me from a very young age, all I really wanted to do from the age of four is fly. I didn’t realize until I was in college that I wanted to do something besides commercial aviation. There was a moment in time where I realized that I didn’t want to sit next to a crew member for three weeks away from home and that resonated with me. I elected from that day forward, I would do something under the corporate aviation side.

Describe your greatest professional influence.

There’s one gentleman, Jim Mitchell, who really taught me the business growing up in my first role. I’ve had two great partners. My wife has been an exceptional influence in my professional career, knowing that everything is being taken care of at home and allowing me to travel and take care of the business needs. I’ve also had a great partner in Mitch McCune, who has really taught me how to optimize deals and is just a great compliment to my personality. Those three people have been the most instrumental in my career.

Describe yourself in three words.

If I were to describe myself in three words, I would say I’m inefficient, complimented by the fact that I cover that up with hard work and I’m diligent.

Share one item you wouldn’t travel without on a long-haul flight.

The one item that I would never travel without on a long flight would be my headphones, it’s an easy answer.

Share your hidden hobby.

My hidden talent or hobby would probably be that I used to do all of the 1980’s and 90’s voices from Saturday Night Live.

In this month’s Q&A, we take a sneak peek from Laurence’s broader interview to explore how she began her aviation career and what women can do to take the next step in the aviation industry.  

Can you summarize your aviation career so far?

I started my career as an engineer at Dassault Aviation in the south of France. This was a very technical role in the flight test centre that involved working closely with mechanics on aircraft certification.   

In 2012, I had become interested in business aviation sales and moved to Brazil to pursue this, spending around eight years at Bombardier. At the beginning of last year, I took up the Sales Director role at Jetcraft overseeing South American territories including Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay.  

What inspired you to work in aviation?  

I had a very early interest in aviation, which was inspired by a friend of my parents who was a pilot for Air France. I’d always been impressed by this role and it’s why I first went to engineering school.  

What do you most love about working in business aviation?

One of the things I love most about business aviation is how each day is different. There’s always a different mission and customer to support, which means I get to enjoy the challenge of adapting and rethinking our approach every day. 

What have been your recent highlights at Jetcraft over the last few years?

The main highlight of working at Jetcraft is the amazing team spirit here. You might think there’s a sense of competition in a company where people are based in different territories around the world, but that’s not how it is. Instead, we’re always looking for the best ways to work together to deliver results, pulling together with a sense of unity. That’s rare.  

What would you like to see change about the aviation industry?

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day, Inspire Inclusion, is very timely. I think it’s fair to acknowledge that we need more women in the business aviation industry. We’ve definitely seen representation improve, there are more female sales directors, for example, but there’s still more work to do.  

Jetcraft is an active member of the International Aviation Womens Association (IAWA), an international organization for women who hold positions of impact in the aviation and aerospace industry.

How long have you been at your current organization?

I founded the company 25 Years ago and have enjoyed serving our clients since then.

What are your responsibilities within your organization?

I am the CEO of G-Yachts and also work as a Senior Yacht Broker.

Describe a typical day or week in your role.

I start my day by having tea with my twin daughters, followed by a sports workout for an hour. After that, I head to the office in Monaco for meetings with my team. Often, I’ll go to lunch with my clients before returning to work. When I get home, I like to cook and enjoy dinner with my partner and daughters.

What do you love most about your job?

One of my favorite things is speaking with our clients who share my love of boats.

What is the relationship between Jetcraft and G-Yachts?

I’ve been friends with Jetcraft’s owner and chairman Jahid Fazal-Karim for a long time. The synergy between our companies offer our clients years of experience with an honest and reliable partner. 

Who or what has been your greatest professional influence?

My parents owned a rental boat company in the South of France so I understood very quickly that this world was for me. I was born into this industry and worked as the skipper until I was 19 years old.

Describe yourself in 3 words.

Ambitious, Reliable and Passionate.

What one item would you never travel without on a long-haul flight?

I couldn’t travel without my phone.

Finally, what is your hidden talent or hobby?

I am a Sailing Race Fanatic and I also enjoy Horse riding.

Massimo Burotti, Sales Director, Central Europe, Jetcraft
Location: London, UK

What are your responsibilities within the global Jetcraft team?

Essentially, my primary responsibility is representing Jetcraft towards our clients and our client towards Jetcraft to meet their aviation needs.

Describe a typical day or week in your role.

A typical day in the role of a sales director, is essentially prospecting clients, speaking with principles and family offices and working with banks. The aim is always to always find solutions for their aviation needs.

Describe the company culture at Jetcraft and what it means to you?

One of the primary reasons I decided to join Jetcraft is because the culture of the company is aligned with my personal values. We are professional, honest, trustworthy, and transparent. This is the basis of a transaction that I really believe in doing.

What do you love most about your job?

What I love most about my job is working with so many different cultures and the ability to help our clients by finding solutions that are best fitted to them.

Who or what has been your greatest professional influence?

To identify one person is practically impossible, but it’s taking a little bit of everybody that I’ve came to work with and worked for, to be able to do what I do today so professionally.

Describe yourself in 3 words.

How would I describe myself in three words? Well three words is kind of short, but I’ll do my best: professional, honest and trustworthy.

If you were to buy a business jet, which aircraft would suit your needs and why?

I like Europe, I live in Europe, I stay in Europe. Essentially a mid-size for me would be a perfect aircraft.

Explain what makes Jetcraft’s customer experience unique.

What stands out to me as being good customer service is communication and honesty. Simple. The most beautiful thing about buying an aircraft and the experience that the client should get, is a feeling of joy. My role is to remove all the stress and hardships so that when the when the aircraft is delivered to them, or is sold, they can enjoy the moment and feeling of joy.

Finally, what is your hidden talent or hobby?

Well, I would say when I’m not working or spending time with my family, my secret talent is gardening or cooking.

Mick Doohan, President, Jetcraft Australia and New Zealand
Location: Gold Coast, Australia

What are your responsibilities within the global Jetcraft team?

My role within the team is based in Europe and Australia. I’ve been travelling around the world for the past 30 years and have gained a lot of contacts throughout, so wherever I can spread the Jetcraft wings, I’ll add value.

Describe a typical day or week in your role.

I never switch off, I’m 24/7. Whether that’s dealing with staff, clients, sales or within the Jetcraft team. For me, there’s not really one specific role or one specific day that is the same as another because I don’t know what the days going to bring. I just enjoy what I do and focus on getting the best outcome for the global team.

Describe the company culture at Jetcraft and what it means to you?

The culture is first class and that’s why I was drawn to the company. The leadership team are honored, they understand every facet of the business and what the clients’ needs are. I think that’s what makes Jetcraft different. It’s not about us, It’s about what’s best for the client. That’s what I like about the culture.

What do you love most about your job?

Aviation, that’s what brought me in this direction. I’m a bit of an aircraft nerd, I guess. I’m a pilot of both helicopters and planes, so for me it’s sort of a passion that has turned into a lot of business.

Describe yourself in 3 words.

If I had to describe myself in three words it would be: passionate, approachable, and committed.

If you were to buy a business jet, which aircraft would suit your needs and why?

I’ve had a variety of different aircraft type, the last aircraft was a small jet I had here in Europe, but I’ve had long range aircraft as well. For the moment, I travel a fair amount, so I’d probably go for an ultra-long range. Something like a Global 6000 and perhaps a smaller jet like a CJ2 or similar. The best aircraft I’ve owned has been the challenger series because it really fits the bill for everything. I had the challenger 604 for many years.

Explain what makes Jetcraft’s customer experience unique.

Just confidence and being heard, that really what it’s all about. We give you what you want, and we will listen to your needs, and we hope to have you as a customer for life. That’s how we are not here for just one transaction, we are here for a lifetime of ownership.

Finally, what is your hidden talent or hobby?

I had a history with sport many years ago, where I won five MotoGP world championships.

What are your responsibilities within the global Jetcraft team?

My responsibilities within Jetcraft commercial are the acquisition and sale of commercial aircraft, primarily within the Americas. We are a small team and we’ve got relationships across the world, so this tends to go beyond the strict lines of the boarder, but that is my primary responsibility.

Describe a typical day or week in your role.

A typical day or week in my role is mainly managing transactions that we have going on. Making sure that any problems that come up, get resolved and between all that, prospecting for new deals and following up with existing relationships.

Describe the company culture at Jetcraft and what it means to you?

The company culture at Jetcraft to me is very collaborative, very supportive and coming from my background in very large corporations, it’s a much more relaxing and collaborative environment to work in.

What do you love most about your job?

The thing I love most about my job is that it’s a truly global industry and you’re constantly dealing with people all over the world. In fact, its extremely rare that I actually deal with anybody that is close to me geographically, so that to me is the most fascinating thing.

Who or what has been your greatest professional influence?

In terms of my professional influences over my career, I don’t think I can narrow it down to any specific individual. I would say that there are a number of individuals that I have worked with over the years, that have had an influence on how I’ve developed professionally. I’ve taken the best from each of them and tried to make it my own.

Describe yourself in 3 words.

In a few words, I think the way I’d describe myself is quite competitive, collaborative and transparent.

Explain what makes Jetcraft’s customer experience unique.

In terms of good customer service, I think the most important thing is having people actually respond. When we’re talking customer service, I think if you’re engaging with somebody, in any transaction, just the fact that you’re present and responding in a timely manner is the most important thing. When customers are dealing with Jetcraft Commercial and primarily when they are dealing with me, what I want them to experience is very professionally run transactions. Any difficulties are dealt with effectively and quickly so that the transaction goes smoothly and without any drama.

Finally, what is your hidden talent or hobby?

I don’t think I have any particular secret hobbies or talents but I am a very enthusiastic golfer and downhill skier and I’m pretty good at those so that would probably be it.