"Find a purpose. Set up your priorities," with Suman Desai

I think of life as a good book. The further you get into it, the more it begins to make sense. I would have never thought to find myself working in private aviation. After five years of working in luxury fashion with brands such as Chanel, Saks, Moschino, Prada, and Furla I still was not fulfilled, I knew I wanted MORE! I took a leap of faith and the past two years have been a refreshing experience. Now to find me among the 3% of female executives in the private aviation space inspires me to increase that statistic. Now I have a sense of purpose that gives me direction.

What inspired you to start your business?

A mixture of my inner travel bug and passion for sales introduced me to private aviation.

Where is your business based?

FlyBLACK’s headquarters is located in Manhattan, but we have 3,000 available aircraft within our fleet worldwide.

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

A few years ago, I was working as an executive assistant to the CEO of Encore Jets, Sami Belbase-who is now my partner at FlyBLACK, where I learned a lot of insider information about the back end of private aviation. I took my networking, marketing, and sales skills from previous fashion companies and applied those skills to work within private aviation. I knew I was capable of starting my own company, took a leap of faith, and here I am today.

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

FlyBLACK’s target audience is mainly HNWI -  the top 1% of the world, Gathering the appropriate content to execute our company’s message then proceeding to market on all major social media platforms. After through SEO research, I have placed google ads to target in certain regions which many of our clients charter to.

 What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them? 

As a young female executive in a male-dominated industry I have definitely overcome some challenges, but with an open mind, confidence, and a sense of humor everything can be overcome & corrected.

How do you stay focused?

I stay focused on staying organized and goal-oriented. I am my biggest critic and constantly am looking to better myself in any aspect whether it be mentally, physically, or emotionally. I tend to read 2-3 self-help/business-focused books a month, written by authors I truly look up and can relate to. It fuels me to see how far I have come, motivating me to maintain my tunnel vision and stay goal-oriented. 

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

Fun Fact! 60% of private aircraft in the air are currently empty; either transient or going back to home base, we call these flights “empty legs”. FlyBlack We have pioneered cutting edge technology and married it to thoughtful human interaction to provide you with the best experience in private aviation. My team and I have created an exclusive, real-time global marketplace of our one-way deals. You can choose from one of our JetDeals and the entire private aircraft including all of its seats are yours. All at the cost of flying commercials.

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

I am enthusiastic about disruptive approaches in industrial environments that bring people together. FlyBLACK

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

Find a purpose. Set up your priorities. Remember you can say no because you know your underlying purpose. Motivate others, lead others. Remember you are only as strong as your team. And lastly, be comfortable with being uncomfortable. 

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

My favorite app iBooks, easily accessible anywhere at any time without killing trees for the enjoyment of reading. My favorite blog- SWAAY, a platform that elevates female voices. My favorite book, Like a Virgin by Richard Branson, written by CEO & Founder of Virgin Airlines. 

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

Social Media. What age to live in! It is truly astonishing what you can do directly from your phone, start a business no matter what industry you are in, voice your opinion/idea, learn, and connect. Social media has changed the marketing and networking industry. Truly a very powerful tool anyone and everyone can use. 

Who is your business role model? Why?

My business role model is Richard Branson, his story is truly inspiring. His vision when he started Virgin Airlines was not about the product he was selling but more focused on customer service. Which is a very big advantage he has against other aviation companies. It's within the details which differentiate your business from the competition. Learning from his prior mistakes within aviation has helped me learn to not only be a stronger leader but a better person altogether.

How do you balance work and life?

A formula that I am trying to master daily. Many entrepreneurs burn out due to the overload of stress they put on themselves. It's important to have the time to recharge for your physical and mental health so you can withhold a strong momentum. Simply just take it day by day.

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

Boxing.

Due to an unfortunate event, I had encountered at a young age, I was motivated to learn self-defense. Boxing has not only taught me how to defend myself, but helps to release any negative energy out, eliminate any fear, and has built my confidence. 

What do you have planned for the next six months?

FlyBLACK has a lot of exciting things planned in the next 6 months, we have a tech platform in the works which will be a direct market place including our JetDeals, FlyBLACK X Experiences, and Smart Concierge service. Along with our app launch, we have a very exciting apparel collaboration with a high-end fashion brand where we have found the perfect synergy of daily comfort to Aerotech engineered clothing to find the perfect functionality for our clients. 

How can our readers connect with you?  

For any readers who would like to connect with me, you can reach me directly at suman@flyblack.com. I am happy to help to my fullest potential.