O'Maley College of Business Launches Student's Aviation Career

Early Mentorship in the Aviation Business

Although Emily Wyszynski (’27) did not come from an aviation family, she quickly grew interested in the field as a child. As a first-generation college student whose family moved to the U.S. from Poland, she could not ignore her love for international travel when she began contemplating her career.

“It was actually my high school nurse, who was also first generation, that said, 'If you want to travel, you should look into aviation,’” Emily shared.

Emily began flight training and joined professional groups, including the International Aerospace Women’s Association, to expand her knowledge of the aviation industry. These women would ultimately inspire Emily’s decision to pursue a B.S. in Aviation Business Administration.

“I love flying, but I wanted to be part of the larger aviation conversation,” she said. “I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, but I knew what direction I was going in. Those women are the people who helped me discover that.”

While Emily toured other universities, she knew before she even got out of the car at the Daytona Beach Campus that Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University was the one.

“Of course, Embry-Riddle is the name in the business. But even just turning onto Aerospace Boulevard, I was jumping out of my seat,” she said. “It stole my heart.”

As Emily began her studies at the O’Maley College of Business, she not only felt she was in the right place, but the professional opportunities to follow would prove it.

Embry-Riddle Class Kicks Off Co-Op

Emily started taking business courses and investing in her professional development during her first semester. She positioned herself for acceptance into the Boeing Business Fundamentals cohort during her second semester. That course was the catalyst for a chain of early-career wins for Emily, including two co-op experiences at Gulfstream Aerospace.

“It was a highlight on my resume, and I'm really grateful for it,” she said. “I attended the spring Career Expo, where I was recognized by Gulfstream — that’s when I really started to get industry experience."

Emily picked up several technical skills in her business classes, which she polished and built on during her co-ops. But while she enjoyed the procurement and analysis sides of supply chain operations, Emily felt a natural pull toward sales.

“I developed the soft skills that come with hosting online meetings, public speaking and talking to managers who were more senior than me,” she said. “I realized that I had a natural ability to communicate and make connections with people.”

How to Sell Yourself for an Internship

When Emily returned to campus after her co-ops, she joined several clubs and organizations to build on her professional momentum. Soon after joining the Business Aviation Student Association (BASA), Emily attended a social event that hosted Textron ambassadors. After discussing her sales aspirations with a recruiter, they immediately moved her forward in the interview process.

Emily was initially dropped from the interview process, but with professional experience, passion and determination on her side, she continued to pursue the sales operations program.

“I was disappointed because the sales program was exactly what I wanted to do,” she explained. “So, I attended the National Business Aviation Association conference with BASA and scouted out Textron representatives, and I met a sales associate there.”

After connecting and networking with the sales associate, Emily received a referral back into the interview process. This time, she secured an offer for the summer of 2026.

Developing Sales Expertise at Textron Aviation

Emily spent her sales internship learning about Textron's products, mastering the Cessna Citation Jet final assembly and production line and collaborating with the aftermarket team to discover areas for growth and improvement. She also gave tours of the aircraft and the production line to Textron’s customers, which gave her meaningful sales experience and some of her favorite memories from the summer.

“I was shadowing a spec session and the customers wanted to see a tour of the final assembly. The sales director looked at me and said, 'Emily, would you like to give a tour?' Afterwards, I felt really proud, and it gave me a great sense of confidence and better connection to my job and the people,” she shared. “The biggest highlight of the summer was the relationships I created and how they allowed me to develop as a person.”

Emily was offered the opportunity to extend her sales internship into a year-long rotational program. She will be working with parts, programs, aftermarket service and aircraft sales.

Her long-term goal is to continue working in private aviation sales on an international scale and to reconnect her professional life with her personal roots.

“I plan to make the connections and then be the representative between Poland or Eastern Europe and the U.S. for Textron,” she explained.

Aviation Careers are Born at Embry-Riddle

From studying practical business fundamentals to attending club networking events to presenting a Textron Aviation case study, Emily attributes much of her early-career success to the coursework, people and resources behind Embry-Riddle's College of Business.

“I gained a lot of real-time exposure and technical skills,” she said. “The classes are so intertwined within the industry that you almost have to work against the system to not set yourself up for success.”

Emily is excited not only to continue building on her sales experience at Textron but also to continue making memories with Embry-Riddle's aviation-loving community through her senior year.

“Embry-Riddle is a place where everyone has one thing in common, and it's that passion for aviation,” she said. “That’s what makes me love this school so much.”