News | 27 October 2023

Azorra Expands Sponsorship of ISTAT Foundation Mentorship Program

In conjunction with National Mentoring Day, the ISTAT Foundation, the charitable arm of the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading (“ISTAT”) that promotes the advancement of commercial aviation and humanitarianism, is pleased to announce that U.S.-based lessor Azorra has extended its sponsorship of the organization’s Mentorship Program.

The Mentorship Program, which is one of The ISTAT Foundation’s five core programs that foster opportunities for investing in the future of the global aviation community, leverages the experiences and insights of ISTAT members to enable rising professionals to enhance their networking skills, learn about the industry, and receive guidance on their educational and career direction during ISTAT conferences.

As a relationship-driven aircraft lessor, whose multi-cultural team is led by seasoned industry veterans and is underpinned by young professionals that bring fresh perspective, ideas, and enthusiasm, Azorra opted to sponsor the recent Mentorship Program reception that took place in September 2023 at the ISTEA EMEA conference in London. The lessor has now decided to extend its sponsorship to support the forthcoming reception in March 2024 that will be held during the ISTAT Americas event in Austin, Texas.

“On behalf of Azorra, we are proud to sponsor such a worthy program. The Azorra team was extremely impressed with the ISTAT EMEA event and wanted to continue our support as we feel very strongly about the growth of young talent,” commented Laura Henderson, Azorra’s Vice President, Human Resources and Administration.

“We are grateful to John Evans and his team at Azorra for their support, which will go a long way in connecting students with a community of mentors for career coaching and professional guidance,” stated Joey Johnsen, ISTAT Foundation Trustee and Zeevo Group Chief Executive Officer. “The Mentorship Program is critical to providing rising professionals with the tools and guidance they need to become successful contributors. We are delighted to have the Azorra team join our collective efforts to build and sustain a powerful community of mentors and mentees that will help shape the future of our industry.”

In the summer 2023 issue of Jetrader, ISTAT's official magazine, John Evans, Azorra’s Chief Executive Officer & Founder, remarked: “I’ve been lucky to be guided by some incredibly valuable mentors in my career, including one of our industry’s most influential leaders, Steve Hazy. He saw more potential in me than I could see myself. He shared knowledge, encouraged innovation, instilled confidence, and provided leadership that unleashed an entrepreneurial spirit within me and that has guided me throughout my career.”

Recognizing the critical role of mentorship in shaping the industry’s next visionaries and leaders, Azorra seeks to identify the unique talents in each of its people, share wisdom, and foster a culture of empowerment that enables them to grow, enrich their careers, and fulfill their ambitions.

“We aspire to develop future generations of innovators, mentors, and leaders of our industry. Without good mentorship, our industry’s visionaries and leaders would not have reached their full potential,” added Evans.