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Alex, Manager, Performance and Planning at Global Airline Company: Advize Career Interview

A career in performance and planning at a global airline, as detailed by a Manager at a major airline, offers a dynamic blend of data analysis, strategic planning, and cross-functional collaboration.

The path to such a role can begin unexpectedly—a chance encounter, coupled with a strong work ethic and diverse experiences like entrepreneurial ventures, athletic training, or even an economics degree, can all contribute.

Day-to-day work involves acting as an information broker, connecting different teams to achieve ambitious goals, requiring strong communication skills and the ability to interpret both qualitative and quantitative data.

The role challenges individuals to be self-directed, comfortable navigating ambiguity, and skilled at persuading others to act.

The most rewarding aspects include contributing to significant company growth, facilitating global connections, and the intellectual stimulation of strategic planning.

Entry-level positions exist in revenue management and sales, providing structured opportunities to learn the business.

Collegiate success stems from a versatile approach to academics, engaging with diverse groups and developing strong interpersonal skills.

A willingness to think outside the box, consistently demonstrated throughout the Manager's career, opens doors to exciting projects, travel, and career advancement.

Advizer Information

Name

Job Title

Company

Undergrad

Grad Programs

Alex Olafsson

Manager, Performance and Planning

Global Airline Company

Kalamazoo College 2011

UCLA Anderson MBA

Majors

Industries

Job Functions

Traits

Economics

Aviation

Business Strategy

Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Student Athlete

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Career Path Of A Manager Performance And Planning At Delta Airlines

Alex's career path began with an economics degree and diverse experiences including "athletic training" and entrepreneurial ventures like lawn mowing. After graduating and relocating to Atlanta, a chance encounter with a recruiter led to a contracted position at Delta Airlines, which Alex leveraged into a full-time role through dedication and teamwork.

Responsibilities of a Manager Performance and Planning at Global Airline Company

Alex, a Manager of Performance and Planning at a global airline, focuses on "commercial performance" for key markets like Los Angeles and Seattle, working across business departments to develop and implement performance plans with both short-term and long-term goals. A significant portion of the role involves "liaising with different teams" to track performance and ensure plan implementation.

A Day in the Life of a Performance and Planning Manager at a Global Airline

A Manager, Performance and Planning at a global airline company's daily work involves acting as an "information broker," connecting various teams (revenue management, marketing, sales, etc.) to collaboratively achieve strategic goals, such as improving market share or reaching margin targets. This often includes identifying performance gaps, analyzing data (e.g., "this traffic on average of 25% more lucrative"), and developing action plans with input from multiple departments to address underperformance and optimize market strategies.

Most Important Skills For a Manager Performance and Planning at Global Airline Company

Effective communication, especially "persuading different teams to take action," and data analysis skills are crucial for this performance and planning manager role. The ability to be "self-directed," prioritizing tasks and discerning which work to accept or decline, also proves incredibly important in this open-ended work environment.

Favorite Parts Of Being A Performance And Planning Manager At An Airline

Alex enjoys contributing to the significant growth of their airline's West Coast presence, a previously under-invested area. The role's appeal stems from combining "the ability to interpret all day that information," including qualitative customer feedback and quantitative data like pricing and travel trends, to develop strategic plans, making for a "really fun" and impactful career experience.

Challenges For A Performance And Planning Manager At A Global Airline

Alex, a Manager of Performance and Planning at a global airline, identifies ambiguity in projects and team assignments as a key challenge, creating "hesitation that you can't really have in business." The highly competitive airline industry, with its "small margins" and price-sensitive customers, presents another hurdle, requiring a focus on differentiating service to build price inelasticity and attract customers.

Favorite Parts of Working in the Airline Industry as a Manager Performance and Planning

Alex, a Manager of Performance and Planning at a global airline, finds the most rewarding aspect of the job is "connecting people across the world," facilitating both personal travel and business connections between cultures. This passion for global connection is deeply personal, stemming from Alex's own love of travel and the shared enthusiasm for exploration among colleagues.

What Type Of Person Thrives In The Airline Industry According To A Performance And Planning Manager At A Global Airline

Aviation professionals who thrive are "curious" and "teamwork oriented," navigating the industry's complex operations through effective communication. Success also hinges on "analytical ability"—the capacity to interpret data and "tell a story" with numbers, though specialized skills like coding or advanced Excel expertise are not required.

What A Performance And Planning Manager At Global Airline Company Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Airline Industry

Alex, a Manager of Performance and Planning at a global airline, learned that the role demands a broad understanding of many departments—"a little bit of an expert in every book"—and strong relationships are crucial for influencing decisions, but must be coupled with "sound analysis and sound recommendations" to maintain credibility.

Entry-level positions for aspiring Revenue Management and Sales Professionals

Delta Air Lines and other airlines offer entry-level roles in revenue management, a "structured environment that allows you to learn about the business," and sales, including field and corporate sales. Additional opportunities exist through co-op or part-time programs, such as working at the airport or as a flight attendant, to gain industry experience before pursuing more corporate roles.

Career Lesson From a Performance and Planning Manager at a Global Airline Company

A significant career lesson learned was to be comfortable "getting a little bit outside of the box," exploring interesting results and challenging the status quo, as this led to more engaging projects, travel opportunities, and new roles; "every time I've done this, it has been a positive impact on my career."

College Experiences That Helped A Performance And Planning Manager At A Global Airline Succeed

Alex's collegiate experiences, including playing collegiate soccer, majoring in economics, and taking diverse courses beyond their core curriculum, provided invaluable frameworks for thinking and analysis, and fostered adaptability. The emphasis on study abroad and engaging with people from diverse backgrounds also proved crucial in developing the teamwork, leadership, and interpersonal skills essential for success in a global airline company.

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