🎧 Episode Summary
In this high-energy interview, Michelle Leon, Operations Manager at Levil Aviation, discusses the common thread that links her diverse career background: people. From her early days in hospitality and dentistry to leading operations in aviation and manufacturing, Michelle explains how the philosophy of servant leadership has guided her success.
We explore how Levil Aviation is disrupting the avionics market with affordable, safety-enhancing equipment and the specific strategies Michelle uses to build a paperless, highly efficient workplace. The conversation also tackles the critical need for workforce development and how early exposure to trades can change the trajectory of students’ lives.
⭐ Key Points
- Servant Leadership: Being in the trenches with your team and focusing on their growth leads to a more resilient company culture.
- The Appreciation Gap: Utilizing the ‘Five Languages of Appreciation’ to recognize employees in the way they actually want to be seen.
- Women in STEM: How Michelle Leon overcame industry biases by maintaining credibility and always leading with knowledge.
- Early Exposure: The importance of introducing middle schoolers to CNC machining and robotics before they choose a career path.
- NORSEE Approval: A breakdown of how the FAA allows safety-enhancing equipment to reach pilots faster.
🕒 Chapter Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction and Michelle Leon’s diverse career journey
00:54 – Servant leadership lessons from the dentistry world
03:54 – Why workforce development energizes the team and individuals
04:54 – Moving toward paperless and digital-first operations
06:11 – Boosting morale through the Five Languages of Appreciation
08:04 – Earning respect as a woman in aviation and manufacturing
13:06 – Why middle school is the ‘sweet spot’ for trade exposure
19:32 – Introducing Levil Connect: The future of data collection
22:12 – Deep dive into the FAA’s NORSEE approval process
28:29 – Advice for building a professional network
🔗 Links & Resources
Looking for more great stories and advice? Check out another one of our Long Form conversations with aviation’s most influential and entertaining figures here:
Dream, Fly, Repeat: Jamail Larkins on Turning Passion into Purpose
