How Great Leaders Fix Broken Aerospace Organizations

In this episode, hosts DeWayne Allen and Rob Wesley launch the new Power and Propulsion series with aerospace transformation leader Lillian Dukes. Drawing from decades of experience across aviation operations, supply chain, restructuring, and executive leadership, Lillian shares what it really takes to stabilize broken organizations, rebuild credibility, and lead transformation that actually sticks. The conversation covers regulatory pressure, leadership under stress, supply chain realities, the shift from engineer to executive, and the importance of mentorship, sponsorship, and measurable impact for the next generation of aerospace leaders. Key Takeaways:00:00 - Introduction to the Power and Propulsion Series01:22 - Mission of the Series and Introduction of Lillian Dukes04:15 - Walking Into a Broken Organization06:31 - What to Ignore in the First 30 Days10:13 - System Problems vs. Leadership Problems15:50 - What Real Transformation Looks Like19:40 - Why Executives Lose Touch With Operational Reality21:29 - The Structural Challenge in Aerospace Supply Chains25:21 - From Engineer to Executive30:04 - Training, Development, and Scaling Leadership32:24 - AI, Analytics, and Change Readiness33:38 - Representation, Legacy, and Leadership Responsibility36:18 - Advice for Black Engineers and Emerging Leaders38:24 - Mentorship, Sponsorship, and Breaking Through39:59 - The Leadership Impact That Outlasts a Career41:51 - Lillian Dukes on Her Work Today and What Comes Next Resources:LAD Consulting LLCConnect with Lillian Dukes on LinkedInConnect with us:DeWayne Allen on LinkedInRobert Wesley on LinkedIn Subscribe to our Newsletter:The StoryTeller by DeWayne AllenAutonomous Platforms of the Future by Robert WesleyProduced by NOVA