Approaching the Runway

August 29, 2025

Ladies and gentlemen, we have begun our descent to the end of my term as AICC chairman.

Throughout this year, I have compared flying a plane to running a business. We are now on the final approach and preparing to land, and the analogy holds. At first glance, landing a plane and running a business may seem worlds apart. Yet, both demand focus, adaptability, and clear decision-making under pressure.

Landing a plane is a high-stakes operation that requires a pilot to assess multiple variables in real time: weather conditions, air traffic, altitude, payload, and speed. Similarly, a business leader must continuously evaluate market trends, demand, customer behavior, financial health, and operational efficiency. In both cases, situational awareness is critical. A missed signal or delayed response can lead to disastrous outcomes.

Preparation also is key. Pilots rely on checklists and rigorous training to manage expected and unexpected scenarios. Business owners, too, benefit from strategic planning, contingency frameworks, and a solid understanding of their industry. Neither can rely solely on intuition. Intuition is important, but discipline and data play a central role.

Communication is another parallel. Pilots maintain constant communication with air traffic control and their crew, ensuring safe operation. Likewise, business leaders must clearly communicate with stakeholders, employees, partners, suppliers, and customers to keep the organization aligned and resilient.

Finally, the moment of execution matters. Like a successful landing, a major business decision comes down to effective management of many variables ahead of the wheels touching the ground. Pilots and CEOs alike must trust their training and experience, use all available information, and make confident decisions, even amid uncertainty.

My AICC chairmanship theme is appropriate: “Fly the plane. Run your business.” The tools and environments differ, but we have established that the underlying skills required to fly a plane and run a business are strikingly similar. Both demand leadership that can manage complexity and steer toward a safe, successful outcome.

Being the chairman of AICC—this wonderful organization—has been one of the honors of my life. I am thankful for the tremendous flight crew I have—my family, my advisors, the AICC board of directors, AICC members, and my teammates at Package Crafters and Creative Packaging. Extra special thanks go to the AICC staff, who have worked hard to make my journey as your captain truly enjoyable.

Please remain seated until the aircraft has come to a full stop and I turn off the fasten seat belt sign.