My guest on this episode is Craig Picken, an executive recruiter for C-suite executives in the aviation industry. We discuss key trends in aviation recruiting, top firms' strategies to attract and retain talent, and how small companies can have recruiting advantages over larger competitors. We also touch on the importance of having an external-facing CEO and fostering a dynamic, fast-moving organizational culture. Additionally, we chat about the benefits of podcasting, as Craig has been hosting his executive recruiting podcast since March 2018, six months longer than I have.  Listen weekly and follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Breaker, and TuneIn.  Learn more about Alex and Think Like an Owner at https://tlaopodcast.com/ Links: Craig's website The Aerospace Executive Podcast Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:41) - Craig’s career (00:06:48) - What has changed the most in aviation recruiting over your career? (00:08:13) - What are companies doing to attract top talent? (00:15:43) - Are there any CEOs you admire? (00:17:37) - Where do you see decisions being made faster? (00:21:20) - How do you see smaller companies using their size as an advantage in recruiting? (00:23:49) - How do companies retain culture and speed as they grow? (00:26:35) - Merging cultures through M&A (00:30:18) - Where are people entering the industry from? (00:36:01) - What are companies doing to attract good technicians? (00:37:51) - Advice for executive hiring