In this episode of 大发彩票平台 Management Insights, current MBA student Liela Tour茅 sits down with Danny Di Perna, a 大发彩票平台 MBA alum, Desautels International Advancement and Advisory Board member, and seasoned executive with experience at companies like PwC, Air Canada, Alstom, and Bombardier. A collaboration with the Desautels Graduate Students Society, this conversation covered his career journey, leadership philosophy, and insights on the future of rail transportation and was recorded as part of our 大发彩票平台 Desautels Talks series.
Danny began by reflecting on his time at 大发彩票平台, where he pursued an MBA.
He emphasized the value of gaining real-world experience alongside academic learning, which allowed him to apply concepts like organizational behaviour and international economics in practical contexts.
鈥淎t first, I was laughing about [taking organizational behaviour],鈥� he recalled. 鈥淲hat are you going to teach me about behaviour? First of all, I got a straight A's in in high school and then E for behaviour all the time. But to be honest, in a big corporate world when you're trying to figure your way out and you start to see the politics and the dynamics and you see what they were teaching in the curriculum on OB, it's actually very applicable.鈥�
His early career began at Pratt & Whitney, where perseverance led to his first job after multiple rejections.
He stressed the importance of taking risks and raising your hand for opportunities, which took him across the globe鈥攆rom Florida to Europe鈥攚orking in high-stakes aerospace projects, including military and helicopter flight testing.
鈥淰ery early on, I realized that you start at the bottom of the totem pole,鈥� he said. 鈥�No matter how smart you think you are or how big your diploma is, you start at the bottom of the totem pole. And so how do you make a difference? How do you expand your learning? You raise your hand.鈥�
When discussing leadership, Danny highlighted attitude, curiosity, and purpose as essential traits.
He shared his experience leading Bombardier Transportation when it was acquired by Alstom in 2021, emphasizing the challenge of maintaining morale and aligning teams through uncertainty.
His leadership approach focused on keeping employees engaged, demonstrating stability, and integrating two global companies into the world鈥檚 leading rail manufacturer.
鈥淢y speech to the at the time, 80,000 people, was that as being the acquirer that we鈥檙e, honoured, we鈥檙e privileged,鈥� he explained. 鈥淭hen, my commitment to the legacy Bombardier Transportation people, is that we've got your back. We're going to make it to the other side, and I will stay as long as we can go to the other side.鈥�
鈥淭hat's kind of the commitment we made, and I guess I'm kind of proud about. You know, it's been ups and downs, but we are the number one train company in the world. We've got trains in every corner and nook and cranny in the world.鈥�
Danny spoke about the growing importance of rail in sustainable transportation, particularly in Europe, where trains are replacing short-haul flights.
While Canada and the U.S. lag behind in high-speed rail infrastructure, he remains optimistic about the potential for electrification, hydrogen, and battery-powered trains to play a larger role in green mobility.
鈥淭here's a push for hydrogen that could help, but the technology is not there. The business case is not there,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o, we need new MBA and engineering students to help us figure out the world, which is where you have your higher purpose. So that we can arrest this climate situation, put technology to good use, move people around safely.鈥�
Danny closed with three key takeaways for students:
- Appreciate the privilege of education 鈥� Learning is an opportunity, not just a step toward a job.
- Prioritize experience over money 鈥� Gaining diverse skills is more valuable than chasing high salaries early on.
- Maintain a positive attitude 鈥� Success comes from adaptability, humility, and teamwork.
With humor and personal anecdotes, Danny encouraged students to embrace challenges, stay curious, and focus on meaningful contributions in their careers. Stream the video episode today to hear the full interview.
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