Talent Has No Limit:
Reflections on Our Most Recent Talent Program Cohort
by Lori Thompson, Vice President Human Resources UAC US
This year’s Talent Program cohort truly embodied the power of global collaboration and diverse perspectives. Representing 7 countries and a wide range of functions across the business, this exceptional group came together for the first time in September at our kickoff workshop in Traunkirchen. From the outset, the energy, curiosity, and commitment they brought to the program set a strong foundation for the months that followed.
From Ideas to Impact: How Cross-Functional Teams Shaped Future-Focused Solutions at Montana Aerospace
During the kickoff in Traunkirchen, participants engaged in an interactive and highly collaborative workshop, where they selected the business opportunities they would tackle as project teams. These teams worked closely over the course of the program to develop meaningful, forward-looking solutions, ultimately pitching their ideas to the Group Management Board and Extended Leadership Team at the Program Finale in Vienna last week. The breadth and ambition of the topics - ranging from AI-driven innovation to enhancing the onboarding experience - were impressive, as was the creativity and rigor behind each proposed solution.
Growth, Connection, and Collaboration at the Heart of the Program
Beyond the ideas themselves, what stood out most was the growth of the individuals and the strength of the connections formed along the way. The professional networks and relationships built throughout the program were clearly evident during our final days together, as was the professional development of each participant. As we reminded our Talents at the close of the program, and as they continue their journeys at Montana Aerospace, one message resonates clearly: talent has no limit.
Meet the Procet Teams
Sky Ops 360: Reducing Downtime in Aerospace Manufacturing
Overall winning team –
based on voting of the management board and extended leadership team.
The Unflappable Award - for remaining cool and calm even during Q&A
This project pilots two practical AI efforts in production operations to reduce unplanned downtime - an ongoing and costly challenge across all Montana sites. Maintenance today is largely reactive, making root causes difficult to identify. Using ZENDA, Montana’s internal AI platform, the pilot will launch in two phases: first, an AI chatbot to help teams quickly find answers from maintenance system data and manuals; second, predictive tools that use live machine data to identify issues early and support a business case for broader rollout.
Team members: Arnaud Derode, ASCO Belgium | Bang Nguyen, UAC Vietnam | Kim Hezinger, UAC US | Kristen Flynn, ASCO US
AERO SPHERE : Together in one space – Connecting Teams. Powering Progress.
The Go with the Flow Award - for seamless flow of communication
AERO SPHERE is a proposed group-wide intranet platform designed to improve collaboration, communication, and knowledge sharing across all Montana Aerospace entities. Based on employee survey insights and industry best practices, the project addresses current challenges such as fragmented information, limited accessibility, and inefficient cross-site collaboration. The solution aims to create a single digital hub integrating communication, document management, employee directories, training resources, and project collaboration tools. Through a phased implementation approach, AERO SPHERE will enhance operational efficiency, strengthen employee engagement, and support a more connected and aligned global organization.
Team members: Lotte Engels, Asco Belgium | Adrian Moldovan, UAC Europe | Aleksei Genia, Montana Aerospace | VanTu Nguyen, UAC Vietnam
SKY SUPPORT 360: AI-Driven HR and Procurement Transformation for Efficiency and Strategic Impact.
The Closer Award - for a powerful closing
HR teams spend 50% of their time handling repetitive questions, limiting their strategic impact. Procurement of non-standard goods and services is slow, manual, and inefficient. The proposed solution is a single, smart HR access point with 24/7 support, combined with an AI-powered procurement assistant to automate the RFQ-to-PO process. Expected outcomes include freeing up 50% of HR capacity, saving over 8,000 hours, and reducing purchase order processing time from 3 days to 60 minutes, while improving efficiency, visibility, and data-driven decision-making.
Team members: Adrian Roman, UAC Europe | Nhan Dinh, Global Procurement, UAC Vietnam | Adnane Benadjaoud, ASCO Belgium | Steven Babaniaris, UAC Europe & Cefival
Welcome Aboard
The Hook Award - for a powerful opening
Welcome Aboard is a modular onboarding toolkit designed to help every new employee feel connected to Montana Aerospace from day one. The project introduces a consistent yet locally adaptable welcome experience, combining the global MAAG story, facilitator guidance, videos, interactive elements, and practical materials for local HR teams. By making onboarding more engaging, structured, and easy to deliver, Welcome Aboard supports stronger belonging, clearer understanding of our group identity, and a more consistent first impression across different locations.
Team members: Binh Nguyen, UAC Vietnam | Thais Diniz De Oliveira, Asta Brazil | Jeffrey Edwards, UAC US
