Kenn Ricci — Flexjet chairman, member of the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Board of Trustees and one of the most influential leaders in private aviation — recently urged students to be “passionate about what you do and compassionate about how you do it.”

Ricci credited this approach for Flexjet’s sustained success. Since acquiring Flexjet in 2014, Ricci has guided the private jet business through a reimagining as a luxury service and to dominance in the marketplace. 

“Focus on the process more than just simply results,” he told a packed audience of Embry‑Riddle students, alumni, faculty, staff, industry partners and friends of the university during a Presidential Speaker Series event on Oct. 27 at the Daytona Beach Campus.

For Flexjet, he explained, focusing on the process has meant building a culture grounded in fanatical attention to detail, safety, long-term relationships, trust and empathy.

“Employees are the foundation of this company,” Ricci said. “People come here with a passion for the industry, and all you have to do is allow them to enjoy that passion, to put them in an environment where they can enjoy their job, and they’ll perform unbelievably.”

The Presidential Speaker Series event also included a student-moderated discussion led by Ander Turueno Garcia, a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in Aviation Finance. Garcia served as Student Government Association president for two terms and also interned at Flexjet as an Embry-Riddle undergraduate.

Two men sit in chairs on a on a stage with a giant screen behind them
Ricci takes questions from the audience after being interviewed by graduate student Ander Turueno Garcia. (Photo: Embry-Riddle/Steven Sobel)

Their conversation touched on Ricci’s early career as a private pilot, Flexjet’s core values and Ricci’s leadership philosophy.

Ricci began his career as an entrepreneur in 1981, when he purchased Corporate Wings for $27,500. He flew such high-profile clients as President Bill Clinton, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen and Barbra Streisand — an experience that prepared him for his later Flexjet success.

“I had amazing insight into the high-end luxury people expected,” Ricci noted. “Those years that I flew created the foundation of why I was able to think about Flexjet being in the luxury space when we had the opportunity to identify that.”

Ricci flew Clinton during his presidential campaign and later to his inauguration. That experience taught Ricci about the art of forming long-term relationships.

“Don’t ever be afraid to admit your faults,” he said. “It’s actually a relationship strength when you can talk about what you’re not good at.”

Ricci concluded his speaking event by touching on mastery: “What happens when success is achieved? How do you keep your edge?”

To avoid complacency, Ricci said Flexjet emphasizes humility, innovation, discipline and continuous improvement.

“We focus on our own development,” Ricci said. “We don’t need our competitors to fail for us to succeed.”

His parting advice for students?

“Don’t miss the five best days of your life,” he said. “You never know which ones will be the best ones, so make the most of every day.”

A link to Ricci’s address can be found here.

Embry‑Riddle’s Presidential Speaker Series welcomes industry leaders, prominent alumni and trailblazers in aviation, aerospace and related fields to the Daytona Beach Campus. Video from past Speaker Series events can be found online.