About this episode

Delphine Kennedy discusses her journey in the aviation aftermarket, leadership lessons, and the importance of relationships in business.

Speed is a tool. But trust is the advantage. Speed can win a moment. Trust wins the relationship. And relationships are what people return to when the stakes are real. That thread runs throughout this conversation: the extra effort, the follow-through, and the decisions that earn confidence over time. Host Patrick Kraus (COO & Managing Director, Jet Midwest) sits down with Delphine Kennedy of DBK Aero to trace her path from early days around MRO work in France to building her own brokerage in the UK, and what she’s learned about leadership, relationships, and solving problems when time is the constraint. Delphine shares how mentors shaped her approach, why she champions women in aviation, and what changes have helped the industry become more welcoming over the last two decades. She also breaks down how DBK launched during COVID, why she created the Smart Revenue Partner (SRP) program, and how AI-enabled quoting supports a small team without replacing the human side that makes the aftermarket work. In this conversation, we cover: • How Delphine’s early MRO exposure and AOG desk experience shaped her career • The leadership lessons that carried from employee to entrepreneur • What…

People in this episode

Host: Patrick Kraus

Guest: Delphine Kennedy

Topics covered

• aviation business
• leadership
• women in aviation
• aftermarket
• AI in quoting
• mentorship

Keywords

• aviation
• aftermarket
• leadership
• women in aviation
• AI quoting
• mentorship
• business relationships

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: DBK Aero

Places: France, UK

More episodes of Nose to Tail by Jet Midwest

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• EP 85: How High-Performing MRO Teams Are Built with Brandon Allen · April 10, 2026 · 55 min
• EP 84: Meet the Expert: Inside the Engine Shortage| DER Repairs, Lead Times, & Strategy with Rick Tobey · March 27, 2026 · 50 min
• EP 82: Inside the World of MRO Branding with Michaela Preusser · February 20, 2026 · 41 min
• EP 81: Dive into Aviation Repairs with Milton Aguilera · February 6, 2026 · 38 min
• EP 80: Navigating the Skies with Bill Wilson · January 23, 2026 · 48 min

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