Over time, every organization will experience personnel attrition for various reasons, such as retirement or resignation. Over recent years, the IAQG has experienced this inevitable turnover and the issues that come with it. The IAQG has recognized our organization’s loss of knowledge and talent due to people leaving their member companies without having successors defined. In response to this problem, the Early Career Program was launched in Europe and the Americas*.
The Early Career Program will work to identify a pipeline of new talent from member companies in each sector to be mentored and developed into future IAQG leaders. Introducing and engaging these next-generation leaders early in their careers ensures that the IAQG will have a successful future as change comes along. The Early Career program’s first iteration comprises eight EAQG members and seven AAQG members. These 15 members are led under the direction of Jennifer Gray (Spirit AeroSystems) of the AAQG and Fortunato Giardina (Leonardo) of the EAQG, with the resource of mentors from their respective sectors.
Over the last year, opportunities for improvement have been identified across organizational units through collaboration between chair leads and Early Career group members. As a result, nine projects are underway and will be completed by the end of 2023. Each project will be led by members of the Early Careers program, individually or in groups depending on the scope, with the support of mentors associated with the topic. The projects will influence change across multiple organizational units – Communications, PSCI, Requirements, and Certification Oversight. Some focus topics are Sector/ IAQG News Reporting, IAQG Learning and Training, and New Member Onboarding.
Upon project completion, the Early Career participants will have a deeper understanding of the IAQG while forming valuable relationships with mentors and leaders. With a goal of developing future IAQG leaders, the Early Career experiences will combine the strengths of different generations and backgrounds to progress a sustainable and prosperous future for the IAQG.
The Early Career team is excited to take on these projects and share their results. Look for project updates and further communications during our fall sector meetings!
* APAQG is still in the process of building their sector Early Careers Team.
Article by Lindsey Merkel, Ball Aerospace (AAQG) and Loredana Moraru, Hensoldt AG (EAQG)
