Q & A

We recently sat down with Paul to find out more about his passions, his calling, and generally dive in deeper to get to know him.

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What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your work over the last few years?

COVID-19 was definitely a challenge and then George Floyd and Black Lives Matter drew much needed awareness. Once the pandemic hit, we lost a big contract, and we were just trying to hang on. Because my wife was a scientist, we were plugged into everything we needed to know about masks in the early days and the dangers of COVID. In March 2020, we said everybody needs to wear a mask all the time. During the shutdown, flight schools were specifically called out as critical infrastructure in the aviation industry therefore able to operate. We had a responsibility, and we were going to do it safely. We felt it was a privilege not a right to operate. We had zero infections. We were able to hang on for dear life. Because we were so small, we were able to keep the faith with our students and instructors.

The larger world with George Floyd, Charlie and I had to own that we are minorities, and there are not people like us in this community. So we got really focused on that. Before George Floyd’s murder, we were a flight school; after, we were a flight school specific for minorities. It was during that time I got closer in touch with my Potawatomi Nation on my dad’s side of the family. It’s been a real journey. I am so happy I did this leadership program with other Potawatomi citizens. Once I heard all the stories, I realized the door had been open the whole time and I finally had the courage to walk through it. There was this emotional moment we all went through that summer of 2020, so it is a bittersweet reason behind it, but it is a silver lining for me, because I don’t think I would have been pushed in that direction if it hadn’t been for that.

3

What are some of the biggest barriers diversifying aviation, and how can alternative business models help break down those barriers?

Flight training is very expensive—we are talking $80,000-$90,000—and it is not eligible for traditional student loans. Right there you already have wealth inequality and biases in the system of who can get financing. You really need a loan that looks at you on something other than credit rating. Another layer is that traditionally flight students come from an aviation family. They are living in a situation where they know the jargon. I am still learning, but there needs to be more wraparound services that go into the nontraditional students to help them succeed. We are seeking different loan programs for our students, and even stepping up to the loan ourselves. Lastly, we are always looking for more support to help broaden our reach to people who don’t normally go to flight school. We are always looking to form new partnerships. Every day is a new day to discover. Charlie and I discovered our power, our secret sauce, and we really focused on nontraditional students, minorities and veterans, it was transformative.

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How do we shift the narrative about the role of capital in BIPOC communities and reframe the perceptions of the risk involved?

I would say there are two places where the risk model needs to be adjusted. One way to knock down the sensitivity to risk is that these loan providers need to find a better way to partner with the airlines where we’re going to send these pilots. The airlines need to realize, and I think they are starting to, that they talk a big game about diversity and equity, but the numbers are still really low. The only way to change this is to partner with loan providers and create a pipeline. So now the risk pool looks different when it consists of people who have been pre vetted and pre hired. I also think there are some opportunities with impact investing. Our work requires a big infrastructure investment—we need big stuff to really move the needle. One of the things that holds the aviation industry back from being competitive for talent is the lack of diversity. I don't think they will get the talent they need unless they become more inclusive with their culture and go into communities that are not currently being engaged. Every time I go to the South Bay of San Diego, I compete against zero schools, nobody else is talking to them—that needs to change.

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What are the top three pieces of advice you would give to BIPOC entrepreneurs, who are dedicated to both purpose and profit, as they are starting or scaling their business?

• Have audacious goals, because they have underestimated your potential

• Take the long view, because your time and energy is your most precious asset

• You are not alone

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What is the call to action for investors who seek to promote social justice through investment solutions?

VCs want us to show them a 1000x return, and we tell them thanks but no thanks. Instead, every one of our alumni who rises into a $10mm STEM career is a 1000x impact return.

We are seeking impact investors to back our company’s growth. We want to partner with CDFIs to create financing options for our BIPOC student pilots.

If I were an early-career pilot looking to the aviation industry for mentorship, guidance, or inspiration from people like me, what I would find would be a rounding error: Less than 0.5% of professional pilots are of native or indigenous descent.

Who will help us change the face of aviation?