Lessons Learned: Defying Gravity And The Odds

How learning to fly helped a senior director at Reddit achieve her goals.

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Commitment and perseverance are vital, as overcoming numerous obstacles in flight training (delays, maintenance, weather) mirrors the patience and flexibility required to achieve goals in the corporate world.
  • Leaders should strive to keep things simple, cutting through complexity to identify root issues and streamline processes, much like the fundamental principles governing aviation despite its technological advancements.
  • Adopting structured procedures and checklists, akin to pilots staying "ahead of the plane," helps leaders manage cognitive load, prevent errors, standardize workflows, and proactively address challenges.
  • Cultivating a curious and adaptable mindset is crucial for leaders, encouraging unconventional thinking, continuous learning, and relying on intuition to navigate constantly changing and unexpected situations.
See a mistake? Contact us.
Snehal Kundalkar has been involved in leading Silicon Valley firms for more than a decade, including work at Apple and her own fashion tech startup, The Reel. (photo courtesy: Snehal Kundalkar).

Be Committed 
To Your Goals

Being an immigrant and wanting to fly in the post-9/11 era meant undergoing additional security checks. I mustered all the patience in the world waiting for administrative clearances before I could even begin flight training. Throughout the training process, I was exposed to a whole lot of other interesting challenges. I would get to the airport to find out that the plane was still in maintenance or the engine wouldn’t start. Sometimes the weather conditions were below flying minimums, and other times life got in the way.

I learned to be flexible, to be patient, and to make alternate plans “on the fly.” I carried through on my commitment, and by overcoming every obstacle, I had a pilot’s license (FAA Certificate) in my hands.

The corporate world is not immune to unavoidable delays and technical difficulties. Every unexpected challenge can feel like an insurmountable obstacle. As a leader, you have to remember to remain patient and clear with why you are doing what you are doing. When you start a project, you may be full of enthusiasm, but when the priorities change or problems knock the wind out from under your wings, you just need to keep flying. Successful leaders are those who have the strongest commitment to their goals.

Your employees will see your perseverance as your strength to manage any circumstance.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get the latest Plane & Pilot Magazine stories delivered directly to your inbox

SUBSCRIBE