ENTR Alum in the Skies
Purdue ENTR Alumni can be found all over the world, even in the skies. Rachel Borsa, a 2015 Polytechnic graduate in Professional Flight Technology with a Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, is one such graduate. Upon graduation, Rachel earned her Master’s degree in Aviation and Aerospace Management from Purdue and now serves as a First Officer for Compass Airlines, a regional airline for Delta Airlines and American Airlines, where she flies hundreds of passengers per week to their destinations.
Rachel says that she finds flying exhilarating and constantly strives for perfection with her focus always on safety. Her passion for her profession stems from her need to be a constant learner whether it be about the airplane itself, airspace, or more efficient ways to fly. For immediate feedback of how a flight went, Rachel enjoys connecting with passengers and saying goodbye to each of them as they exit the plane.
Rachel not only cares about her passengers having a positive flight experience, but also about helping to create an encouraging and inclusive work environment throughout the airline industry. She started a mentoring community among Women in Corporate Aviation (WCA) to encourage and support other women (and men) to become corporate pilots. Rachel says her time in the Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation program at Purdue, helped her learn how to use communication techniques more effectively when working in teams and that has been a great benefit as good communication and teamwork is essential for a flight crew. “The discipline and mental savvy needed to work with others in group projects [in the ENTR CERT program] is needed every day in the flight deck and was definitely needed while studying for training.”
Rachel believes her time in Purdue’s Polytechnic Institute and the Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation helped shaped her into a well-rounded graduate with the abilities to bring both technical and applicable trades into the workforce. Purdue motivated Rachel to achieve big goals. “The Burton D. Morgan Fellows program I participated in through the Entrepreneurship Certificate program really helped me see the potential we have as Millennials. We are smart, kind, and ready for a lot of hard work. Bring it on world!”
Rachel Borsa is a Boilermaker to watch, as she is sure to use her innovative spirit for the betterment of the airline industry and for all of us who take to the skies.
