The Value of Gender Diversity in the Aviation Industry

Shelley Svoren is the Founder and CEO of Infinite Branches, a company whose mission is to ensure that money entities invest in aviation provides sustainable growth.  Shelley is also on the board of the International Aviation Womens Association (IAWA) and discusses changes she has witnessed within IAWA, and the aviation industry relative to gender diversity in the workplace.

Topics covered include:

• Why companies need business aviation.
• Global business trends that are starting to influence the aviation industry.
• Understanding the International Aviation Womens Association (IAWA).  
• Becoming a member of IAWA.
• Recent organizational changes benefitting IAWA and the aviation industry.
• Some of the “intangible benefits” IAWA provides its members.

About Shelley A. Svoren

Shelley is the Founder and CEO of Infinite Branches, and lives by the motto:  Always Be Curious.  

Prior to launching Infinite Branches, Shelley developed, oversaw, and led the management of an aviation lending portfolio that originated over $1Bn+ in aviation secured loans without any losses or repossessions during her 14+ year tenure focused on the aviation industry.  She is experienced in conducting due diligence and structuring transactions that return a recurring and increasing yield.  Her extensive career background includes banking, regulatory, and corporate finance that enables her to creatively mitigate issues and convert them into opportunities.  

Shelley’s near 30 year career involves serving in financial management capacities not only in banking and regulatory organizations, but also technology and multinational consumer brands, that involve partnering with multiple groups to manage sales activity and minimize expenses; providing the financial oversight for a multimillion-dollar revenue-generating unit of a multinational organization; developing and managing detailed and multinational budgets; structuring complex credit facilities; providing customized analyses that identified new niche market opportunities and whether divestiture might be appropriate; and developing and managing client, referral, and financing relationships.  She is also experienced with the complexity of owning, perfecting an interest in, and monetizing maritime, art, and winery & vineyard assets.

Shelley serves on the board of the International Aviation Womens Association, as the network’s VP – Leader Development, supporting the activities of the Scholarship, Mentorship, Internship, and Leadership Development committees; serves on the National Business Aviation Association’s Diversity Equity & Inclusion Working Group; and is a board member of the Society of Daughters of Holland Dames.  She moderates panels and speaks at conferences regarding aviation and marine industries and recently served as the keynote speaker for FedEx Express’s Women’s Network Annual Forum; writes articles; mentors others; and, recently wrote a recommendation for the mentee that resulted in her receipt of a prestigious scholarship for women in engineering coursework.  

Shelley earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Oregon with a focus on Finance, Economics, and Scandinavian Studies.  She resides in the Napa Valley with her husband, their two talented sons, and their monster Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, who is affectionately known as Charlie.