Jetgala | March – April 2020 | In the boardroom with Lou-ann Seet

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‘Women supporting women’ is what Lou-Ann wants to see in the aviation industry

The first time I hear of Lou-Ann Seet is at the Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA) Annual General Meeting in 2019, where she is on stage sharing her visions for AsBAA in her run for Chairmanship of AsBAA’s Board of Directors. Two things stand out from her presentation: she is the youngest of the group of nominees, and the only woman in a sea of men in business suits.

After a harrowing hour of voting by members of AsBAA, Lou-Ann has been voted as a part of the Board of Directors as a Vice Chairman. It is a great victory for the young then 28-year-old. In the aftermath of the elections, countless other women congratulate her on her newly appointed position. 

It isn’t that Lou Ann is pioneering a change in leadership in a male-dominated industry – AsBAA was chaired by Jenny Lau, President of the Sino Jet Group just before her – but the fact that a young woman wanted to use this opportunity to give a voice to other women in the aviation as well that left people impressed.

Lou-Ann’s passion for the aviation industry started when she was a child. Her mother was with Cathay Pacific for 31 years, which actually gave Lou-Ann a rare opportunity to sit in the jump seat when she was 16 years old. “I knew then that I wanted to be a pilot, so upon graduating from university, I went on to pursue my pilot’s license in the US.” The tenacious go-getter earned her Private Pilot Licence in just two months.

From then on, she had intended to apply to cadet pilot programmes in Singapore and Hong Kong, but after failing to get in for three years, she changed paths to pursue a career in business aviation instead, determined to stay in the aviation industry.

“I started with Hongkong Jet, and I remember there were only two roles available: B1 Avionics Engineer and Aircraft Interiors Cleaning Specialist,” Lou-Ann shares with me. With no engineering experience, she applied for the latter role and was offered a chance to be a Management Trainee. She grew her career slowly, working through aircraft operations, practical hands-on training in flight operations, client relations management and even in marketing. Lou-Ann moved on to Collins Aerospace some time later, earning her role in Avionics (Strategic Business Units) under Information Management Services, Business Aviation & Digital Solutions in Customer Support for Asia Pacific. 

With her feet firmly planted in the aviation industry, it was time to look beyond just working, but serving her fellow colleagues. Lou-Ann got to know of AsBAA through her company, as Collins Aerospace has been a corporate member for years. Many of the customers she works with were also members of the association. AsBAA reached out to Lou-Ann and asked if she was keen on running. Lou-Ann saw this as an opportunity she could not refuse. “My inner gut said, ‘if someone was willing to stick their head out to recommend me, I am going to go for it and give it a try.”

In running for AsBAA’s Board of Directors, Lou-Ann saw this as an opportunity to work on a personal goal of hers: increasing inclusion and developing women in the aviation industry. “Inclusion and development of women in the aviation industry has always been a passion project of mine, since entering the industry five years ago. As a Singaporean woman, who had on connections with anyone in the business, I know how hard it is trying to get into the industry, gaining credibility and being successful on my own terms.”

I ask her what she means by credibility and Lou-Ann frankly speaks of her age and her gender. “Being a millennial female in the aviation industry can certainly be a double-edged sword,” she states matter-of-factly. “It is a male-dominated industry, so when a motivated young person is eager to learn and grow, it is important to think about how others perceive you. Personally, it is about making genuine relationships with people you can trust and rely on, and I always think about what else I can do to support others better and think collaboratively about how we could help others.” 

Lou-Ann considers herself blessed to have had great support from senior leadership from a company like Collins Aerospace, who have helped her to grow immensely as a professional. But she knew not everyone were being afforded the same opportunities. “I am very self-aware that my peers, men and women my age, may not have the same opportunities I have been given. I saw [running for AsBAA’s Board of Directors] as a way to pay it forward whenever anyone asks me for help with anything in the industry. I would like to extend the same help I have been given by great mentors who have helped me along the way.” 

Since joining AsBAA as one of the five nominated Vice Chairmen, Lou-Ann has been keeping busy working on her platform of developing women. “Since gaining various leadership roles in the industry and in the region, I found myself being approached by men who needed support, but it got me thinking, ‘where were the women?’” That question struck a chord deep within Lou-Ann, who wanted to know if these women also needed help and support. “I had observed that many women might not seek help in their career for various reasons or that they might not believe there could be an easier or different way in getting help they need.” 

This spurred Lou-Ann to create a women’s development group – the Women’s Forum Asia at Collins Aerospace Singapore, an employee resource group that aims to empower women across four offices and plants in Singapore. Lou-Ann also joined the International Aviation Women’s Association (IAWA), which is organising an annual conference in October this year in Singapore. She will be leading a team of 18 highly connected women leaders to make the conference a success.

Focused and determined barely even begin to scratch the surface of what I’ve seen and heard from Lou-Ann. Even when speaking about her plans for the next 10 years, there is a clear goal in what she has been working so hard for. “Aviation in the region needs to be more united and collaborative to increase education, knowledge and awareness of the industry. I take a personal responsibility to increase transparency to improve knowledge sharing,” she shares passionately. “I am looking forward to a better time to be a woman in the industry. I am excited to strive for a fulfilling career leading teams and empowering others.”