Spidertracks
In 2023, seven years into her CEO service, Banas doubled her duties when Air Maestro merged with New Zealand-based Spidertracks, a producer of integrated end- to-end software and hardware designed specifically for aviators. It enables access to meaningful flight data by operating in over 103 countries.
While Air Maestro’s and Spidertracks’ services now mostly operate in tandem with one another, Banas reveals that the teams worked hard to slowly integrate them in a way that doesn’t confuse current customers, but helps them. The first part of that integration, auto flight logs, has been released in Spidertracks. Coming soon will be new functionality that feeds the flight logs automatically into Air Maestro. That should reduce manual entry errors and save pilots’ time. “Later this year, we’re looking to automatically load events that Spidertracks detects into Air Maestro’s safety module, which is a full SMS tool,” Banas said. She’s aware that some pilots might feel that “Big Brother” is watching over their shoulder too closely, but she has an answer for such concerns. “I think the culture is changing; I hear objections like that less and less.
Wouldn’t it be great if the operation’s safety manager is getting accurate Air Maestro reports that notify him or her that a pilot may need more attention or training in a particular area? It’s about saving lives.”
Likewise, she believes that technology can assist aviation and make it easier and safer. “Advancements in technology present numerous opportunities for software vendors like us to enhance safety and efficiency within the aviation industry,” she elaborates. “We are shifting our approach to leverage developments in machine learning and AI (artificial intelligence) to provide tools designed to optimize operational procedures. I believe that routine tasks, such as scheduling and training, can experience substantial improvements through these innovations.”
Banas also became CEO of Spidertracks in the merger. One might think with her double-CEO and family responsibilities, Banas’ schedule would have little-to-no free time. They’d be right. “I don’t have a ton of extracurricular activities because I don’t have the time for them. Work and my family are mostly my life, and I think women can succeed at both,” she says.
Rest and Recreation
Yet, her full schedule doesn’t mean she has no life outside of work. “I have a passion for traveling and immersing myself in new cultures and experiences. (Her favorite spot is Fiji, where she got married.) At home, I enjoy cooking and entertaining family and friends.” When Banas invites those guests to enjoy the weather from the backyard of their Adelaide home, they are treated to whatever craft beer her husband is perfecting. The chemical engineer has turned his avocation for craft beer into a side vocation with his Yeo Haus brand. “Our backyard is a brewery,” laughs Banas. (She brags on his brews, but prefers wines from Australia’s renowned nearby vineyards.)
Nurturing
In our interview, Banas takes a moment to reflect on her rocket-rise to CEO times two. She says the best CEO advice she got was to nurture a team of “mini CEOs” who could proficiently lead their own teams. “I’m constantly trying to mentor my team and I think I’m doing it successfully, but I still struggle to get out of the way sometimes and let people flourish,” she says. “That reluctance is not so much from a trust issue, but because I really like to know what’s going on and hear directly from my team. I like to offer advice when it’s relevant. Mentoring is always a work in progress. I’m privileged to collaborate with outstanding leaders within the organization and have been proud of their growth and achievements.”
That “proud of their growth and achievements” phrase sounds almost like a proud mother talking. Banas is. “I see this opportunity not just as a personal milestone but also as a statement about the possibilities for women in leadership. It’s my hope that my journey sets a precedent, showing that women can successfully balance motherhood and career advancement. Looking back, I often reflect on that time (when she was promoted to CEO) as a period of nurturing my two ‘babies’ — my newborn son and my new career.”
Team-building event in Adelaide, Australia. 14 Mar/Apr 2024
The working-class girl sought the mother lode and became a woman on the long and dusty road
...and saw the good times come.
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