Bizav Executive Director: ‘Adversity Can Be an Advantage’

Million Air Executive Director of Operational Controls Maria “Majo” Perdomo Cuevas, one of business aviation’s top young professionals, never imagined a career in aviation. Born and raised in Panama, she trained as a dancer before moving to the U.S. for university, majoring in actuarial sciences.

Perdomo Cuevas sees similarities between dancing and aviation, with transferable skills between the two disciplines.

“Aviation is precision under pressure,” she said. “It’s still dancing – just a little different.”

Perdomo Cuevas offered advice for business aviation’s next generation: “Be yourself, even if you face adversity. Adversity can be an advantage if you let it shape you instead of shake you,” she said. “Make yourself indispensable and work to understand the why behind the decisions.”

She also tells people who are new to the industry to never stop learning. “Get involved in local and regional aviation groups, where you’re likely to have an opportunity to lead initiatives and make good connections, because the business aviation industry is very personal.”

According to Perdomo Cuevas, employers working with the newest entrants to the workforce, Generation Z, should understand this younger generation refuses to operate on autopilot; instead, they tend to be purpose-driven and consider what impact they will have on a project or an organization. They also want to see a clear career path going forward, she added.

“It’s not just the salary for the newer generations,” Perdomo Cuevas said. “They want to know: ‘What’s the mission? And where am I going to be in five years?’”

They also value transparency and are very interested in work-life balance and mental health issues.

“This is not fragility; it’s simply awareness and a desire to integrate work into life,” she said.

Employers should understand that, as digital natives, Gen Z expects systems to be efficient.

“These generations demand smarter technology integration,” she said. “They respect the discipline and structure of those who built the industry, but as an industry, we need to modernize how we work.”