From runway‑side childhood wonder to Embry‑Riddle and the captain’s chair, Rob takes us inside the making of an airline pilot—and the leadership mindset that keeps people safe: say no when it’s not right, aviate‑navigate‑communicate, and compartmentalize under pressure. 

We pull back the curtain on ALPA’s 80,000‑pilot safety network and his front‑row role as Airport Safety Liaison at Washington Reagan, where pilots, ops, and controllers fix risks in real time—and what really happens when incidents strike. Stick around for candid stories, practical travel truths and a simple way to thank your crew that means more than you think.

Quo Vadimus Leadership Podcast - Career Coaching and Leadership Discussion

Jason's Career Journey

Background: Started in staffing and recruiting for 14 years before transitioning to career coaching.
Transition Story: Lost his job, attended state unemployment sessions, and was offered a position as a job coach with the state of Texas. Initially hesitant about the role, wondering if it was "where recruiters go to die, Jason decided to try the job for three months. Ended up working for the state for seven years
Current Role: Career and financial coach at Jewish Family Service (JFS) for almost six years, starting in March 2020 during the pandemic.
Certifications: Certified career coach and certified financial coach
Leadership Philosophy and Style

Lead by Example: Core principle learned early in career as assistant manager at a video store. Actively participates in tasks rather than just managing from behind. Sends job search articles to clients twice weekly (Mondays and Fridays). Attends networking meetups himself, including a weekly gaming meetup
Positive Mindset: Believes success is 80% mindset and 20% reaction to circumstances. Emphasizes making each day a choice between good or bad. Focuses on building clients up rather than pointing out limitations
Humanizing Complex Job Search Journeys

AI-Generated Insight: LinkedIn AI analysis identified this as Jason's superpower
Key Components:
Empathy: Understanding each client's unique situation
Active Listening: Sitting quietly while clients speak, then responding thoughtfullyAvoiding assumptions about problems before fully understanding the situation
Training Approach: Emphasizes to new coaches the importance of listening first, then sharing knowledge
Nonprofit Leadership Experience

Transition Impact: Moving from competitive staffing industry to nonprofit work. More pure intent in helping people. Motivates going above and beyond job requirements
Examples of Extra Effort:Volunteering in food pantry during free time. Researching alternative resources for former clients in need. Taking initiative on additional helpful tasks.
Public Speaking and Communication

Background: Speech and debate experience through high school and college
State Role: Conducted 2-4 presentations weekly for seven years on job search topics
Key Principles:
Authenticity: Be yourself rather than trying to imitate others
Acceptance of Mistakes: Acknowledge errors with humor and move forward
Audience Connection: Focus on genuine interaction rather than perfection
Jason's "Caffeinate Your Career" Podcast

Launch: Started January 2022 as LinkedIn Live stream with two other coaches
Evolution: Originally three coaches discussing multiple job search topics per hour. Transitioned to Jason hosting with senior director Alison as co-host. After Alison's retirement, switched to monthly guest format
Format Changes: Reduced from 60 minutes to 40 minutes based on audience engagement data. Maintains Tuesday 10 AM Central time slot.
Future Plans: Scheduled guest speakers through March, moving to dedicated podcast studio in new office
2025-2026 Career Advice

Primary Recommendation: Learn artificial intelligenceAI is not going away and companies are increasingly using it34% of hiring managers now ask candidates about AI usage. Examples: Interview preparation, content creation, email finding. Can be trained to write in personal voice and style
Leadership Focus for 2026: Increased focus on supporting staff through uncertain times. Active listening and asking questions before implementing performance plans. Open and honest communication about challenges and solutions

QuoVadamus Leadership Podcast - Interview with Dharam Jhandrasikar


Guest Background and Journey


Professional Experience: Nearly 20 years in IT sector, AI, and machine learning with extensive experience driving large-scale digital transformations


Career Path: Started at IBM, then Oracle, which brought him to the US 15 years ago


Industry Expertise: Spans healthcare (Cenera Tech, Proteus Digital Health), entertainment (Sony), e-commerce (Stitch Fix), and consulting (Globality)


Leadership Evolution: Leadership journey began 3-4 years after starting at Oracle, shaped by the transformational experience of moving from Bangalore to San Francisco


Leadership Philosophy and Approach


Core Leadership Style: Empathetic, structured, and empowering leader who brings clarity during chaos


Key Principle: "Everyone is a CEO in their own role" - believes in giving full autonomy and accountability to team members


Leadership Foundation:


Lead with curiosity, not ego


Clarity is a superpower - people can't execute what they don't understand


Invest in people early as they become essential multipliers


Stay humble and continue learning


Cultural Adaptation and Challenges


Primary Challenge: Cultural shock when transitioning from conservative Bangalore environment to US culture


Adaptation Strategy:


Aligning personal principles with new cultural norms while maintaining collaborative mindset


Bridging cultural gaps through mutual understanding and learning


Viewing cultural differences as opportunities for growth rather than barriers


Technology and AI Perspective


Current Focus: Staying current with AI adoption and transformation, given rapid technological evolution


Industry Impact: Leveraging experience in autonomous processes and intelligent robotic processes to understand AI's transformational potential


Strategic Approach:


Shorter roadmaps (6 months instead of 2-5 years) due to rapid technological change


Focus on short-term, measurable goals


Stay hungry to evolve with new technologies and dimensions


Career Aspirations and Dreams


Childhood Dream: Always wanted to be an aerospace engineer, passionate about aviation and aircraft


Current Interest: Remains deeply interested in aviation industry, both commercial and military aircraft


Future Goals:


Continue thought leadership in enterprise applications, data integrations, and AI


Focus on entrepreneurship as a "conscientious entrepreneur"


Develop products that bring value to people and the world beyond just profit


Advice for International Leaders


Core Message: Stay true to yourself and bring out your passion - people in the US are ready to listen


Success Factors:


Maintain humility and show gratitude


Leverage your unique gifts and knowledge capacity


Stay hungry and passionate about your pursuits


Don't second-guess past decisions - view unsuccessful experiences as learning opportunities


Future Projects and Collaboration


Upcoming Initiative: Supporting a new project focused on helping others relocate and settle successfully in the US


Global Vision: Project has potential for global footprint and significant impact on people's lives worldwide


Space Economy: Interest in participating in the next space economy developments


Holiday Wishes and Closing Thoughts


Wishes everyone a successful, peaceful, and joyful holiday season


Encourages taking time to rest, reset, and recharge


Advocates stepping into the new year with renewed energy and clear intentions

From servant leadership to mentorship that scales, this episode with Elena Condos dives into how to lead through rapid change with empathy, integrity, listening, and real connection. With two decades in SaaS and recent leadership in Microsoft’s Healthcare & Life Sciences, Elena traces her journey from a life-changing study-abroad in Japan at 16 to mentoring founders through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s SelectUSA Global Women in Tech program—sharing why saying yes to hard problems, building inclusive teams, and embracing uncertainty are the fastest paths to growth. Stick around for practical playbooks and soul-level inspiration from a leader who’s building the future—and helping others do the same. 

Guest: Jennifer, Founder of www.AffordableSkies.org

Episode Overview: This inaugural episode features Jennifer's remarkable journey of launching Affordable Skies—a consumer advocacy nonprofit for air travelers—despite having no prior aerospace industry experience. Starting with just 68 members in December of 2024 she grew the organization to nearly 7,000 members within 12 months.

Key Discussion Topics:Leadership & Risk-Taking:
Transitioning from political campaign management and business development into aerospace. Taking calculated risks based on thorough research. Persistence and finding alternative approaches when facing resistance. The importance of "never letting fear of striking out keep you from playing the game" (Babe Ruth quote).

Building Affordable Skies:
Identifying a critical gap in consumer advocacy for air travel Starting as a one-person operation managing all aspects (website, marketing, outreach) Growing from 68 to 7,000 members in less than a year Establishing an advisory council and seeking sponsorships/partnerships

Consumer Advocacy Focus:
Top consumer concern: affordability and price sensitivity (consistent across 8 surveys) Safety concerns and supporting air traffic control modernization Providing education to reduce consumer misunderstandings about air travel Supporting legislation like the Airport Gate Competition Act Responding to every consumer inquiry personally

Call to Action: Jennifer emphasizes the need for industry partnerships and sponsorships from airlines, airports, OEMs, and government stakeholders. She invites listeners to join as free members at AffordableSkies.org and share the mission within their networks to help give consumers a voice in the aviation industry.