Introduction: 0:00 

• Introducing Ben Klein, CEO and First Officer of Aero, an airline that offers an exclusive, private-jet-like experience.
• Boasting previous experience as the GC at Skyrise, an autonomous helicopter company, and founding a private practice dealing with aviation law.
• Sharing his favorite Aero destinations, like Cabo and Aspen.
• Developing a passion for aviation at an early age.

Transitioning from corporate law to aviation law: 6:01

• Taking the LSAT after working in restaurants and bars after college.
• Starting his career at big firms like Paul, Weiss, Rifkin, Wharton, & Garrison LLP and Davis Polk & Wardwell
• Connecting his passion for piloting with the law after litigating a trial involving an airplane.

Founding an aviation-focused law firm: 9:38

• Taking on aviation-related regulatory and breach-of-contract cases and slowly building from there.
• He relies on his ability to speak the language of piloting to earn the trust of clients.

Learning to manage an executive team as a first-time GC at Skyryse: 11:47

• Relying on outside organizations to fill in gaps about privacy and related topics.
• Learning to trust yourself.

Counseling an airline through the Coronavirus pandemic: 14:57

• Recognizing the privilege of operating a pre-revenue, venture-backed company during a worldwide crisis.
• Developing a work-from-home policy that abides by federal and local regulations which require certain employees to be at the hangar.

Taking on a GC and First Officer role at Aero: 16:09

• Riding the tailwinds of a private aviation boom during Covid.
• Dealing with mask mandates and tensions between customers.
• Balancing US and European regulations.
• Moving into the CEO role.
• Learning more about the business by flying planes.”

Leveraging your experience in the cockpit to lead as CEO: 23:59

• Holding a deep understanding of fueling, timing, and other necessary processes.
• Refining business operations after every flight.

Instilling confidence in investors as you transition from GC to CEO: 25:47

• Continuing a long line of airline GCs becoming CEOs, including Southwest and Delta.
• Touching and internalizing all different points of the business as GC.
• Viewing litigation as a crucible for making quick judgments.
• Accepting a shift in responsibilities from advocating for positions to making them.

Inspiring teamwork in c-suite reports and hiring for your replacement GC: 30:58

• Relying on your existing working relationships to help with transitions.
• Finding a GC with curiosity and a passion for the specific work your company does.

Book Recommendations: 35:30

• The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann

What you wish you’d known as a young lawyer: 38:49

• Not putting so much pressure on yourself out of the gate
• Understanding that it’s okay to reorient yourself and take a new path.

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