In this conversation, Stephanie Chung shares insights on creating a healthy organizational culture and emphasizes the importance of healthy confrontation and over-communication. Stephanie also highlights the need for empathy and understanding among team members and discusses the significance of building a collaborative culture. Stephanie emphasizes the importance of vulnerability in leadership and provides a sneak peek into her upcoming book, Ally Leadership.
With over 30 years of experience catalyzing transformative growth in the aviation sector, Stephanie Chung is widely recognized as a trailblazer, from her early career as a progressive sales leader with Bombardier Aerospace and US Airways (now American) to later being appointed the first African-American president of a major private aviation company when she took the helm at JetSuite.
In 2020, Chung joined Wheels Up, one of the largest private aviation companies in the world, as the first Chief Growth Officer, focusing on generating revenue through new client acquisition by building preference and loyalty among diverse customer segments, including BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and women. In 2022, Chung transitioned roles and served as a Global Brand Ambassador for the company.
Stephanie is an active member of c200, a community of the most successful women in business, and the Business Executives for National Security (BENS), a nonpartisan nonprofit comprised of business executives who apply best practices and cutting edge ideas to help solve some of the nations most complex security challenges. Chung also serves on the Advisory Council of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and is on the board of Make-A-Wish.
Stephanie has received numerous accolades in hospitality, luxury travel and aviation. She was named to Adweek’s Women Trailblazers and to Robb Report’s magazine featuring “23 Black Visionaries Who are Changing the Luxury World Right Now.” She was also named one of “Top Women in Travel & Hospitality” by Women Leading Travel & Hospitality. She was listed on the Ebony Power 100, in Savoy Magazine’s “Americas Most Influential Black Executives”, in D CEO Magazine’s Top 500 and in a feature article on “Women Who Built Dallas.” Stephanie has been a contributing columnist for Inc. and Black Enterprise Magazine, and is a highly sought after speaker whose work has been translated into 40 different languages.