The Cockpit and Corporate World: Being a Pilot Influences Your Work Life

University president Tom Jackson reflects on a life of aviation and education.

Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at 05:34 PM ET

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Tom Jackson says the lessons he learned in the cockpit prepared him for the historic post he has now. [Courtesy: Tom Jackson Jr.]

Key Takeaways:

Tom Jackson, Jr., the first African American president of California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, is a passionate and experienced aviator with approximately 2,800 logged hours.
He firmly believes that pilot skills such as planning for contingencies, strong decision-making, multitasking, and self-confidence are highly transferable and invaluable to his leadership role in education and business.
Jackson’s lifelong dedication to aviation, stemming from childhood inspiration, runs parallel to his commitment to education and continuous learning, as evidenced by his own academic journey and future aviation certification goals.

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Editor’s Note: This article is part of a month-long series celebrating Black History Month through aviation: Feb. 1: African American Pioneers in Flight and Space | Feb. 4: Legacy Flying Academy | Feb. 10: Why Aren’t There More Black Pilots in the Air Force? | Feb. 11: Jesse L. Brown | Feb. 15: Meet Four African Americans Making a Difference in Aviation | Feb. 18: From “Hidden Figures” to “Artemis” | Feb. 22: Cal Poly Humboldt | Feb. 25: Black Heritage Aviation

If you fly as a hobby, you may have found some of the pilot skills that you picked up in the cockpit benefit you in your non-aviation career. Sometimes, it is the confidence that learning to fly brings—or the ability to prioritize and multitask when flying in instrument conditions—that enables you to handle a particularly stressful situation at work.