Accredited Member Spotlight: Sanjeev Lal, CPA, MBA, A.A.E.

With the IAAE Canada Accreditation Academy coming to Abbotsford later this month, we caught up with one of YXX’s own accreditation graduates.

Congratulations to Sanjeev Lal, CPA, MBA, A.A.E., with Abbotsford International Airport, who earned his Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.) designation after completing the IAAE Canada Accreditation Program.

From entering the aviation industry just five years ago to earning his A.A.E., Sanjeev has embraced every opportunity to learn, grow and build his knowledge of the industry. Now, he’s sharing what that journey looked like, what he took away from the experience and his advice for those considering accreditation themselves.

Tell us a little about yourself and your current role.

I am a CPA with an MBA from Simon Fraser University and have spent the past five years working in the aviation and aerospace industry at Abbotsford International Airport.

My career prior to aviation has taken me through a wide variety of industries, and each experience has given me a different perspective that I have been able to bring into my work at the airport. Since joining the industry, I've developed a real passion for aviation and aerospace and for understanding the many different areas that come together to make an airport successful.

Earning my A.A.E. designation has been an important part of building that knowledge and continuing to grow within an industry that I am very passionate about.

What inspired you to pursue your A.A.E. designation?

My long-term goal is to move into an executive leadership position within the aviation industry. Pursuing my A.A.E. designation was an opportunity to build the knowledge and industry perspective that will help me continue working toward that goal.

Leadership, to me, also means helping develop the people who will come next. As I continue to grow in my own career, I want to be able to mentor the next generation entering aviation and aerospace and help them develop into future leaders within the industry.

Tell us about your accreditation journey.

I completed the Accreditation Academy, which was a very valuable part of my accreditation journey. Coming into aviation from other industries, the Academy gave me the opportunity to build my knowledge while learning alongside a cohort of other airport professionals.

One of the things that stands out most when I look back is that cohort experience. Being surrounded by others who were going through the same process made the experience much more valuable, and Chris Wood did an amazing job of keeping our passion for the industry strong and the material current.

I was also fortunate to have the support of Chris Wood and Parm Sidhu as mentors throughout the process. Because I already held an MBA from Simon Fraser University, I was not required to complete the Phase Two written requirement.

My final Board of Examiners interview was held virtually, and from beginning to end, my accreditation journey took approximately two years.

What part of the program challenged you the most?

Coming into aviation relatively new to the industry, one of my biggest challenges was simply understanding the complexity and breadth of the airport environment.

There is a tremendous amount to learn, and early in my career I wanted to make sure I could contribute to conversations in a meaningful way and articulate my thoughts from an aviation and aerospace perspective. At times, that meant pushing myself outside my comfort zone and building confidence in my own industry knowledge.

The Accreditation Program helped provide much of the knowledge and context I needed. As I progressed through the program, I became better equipped to make a positive impact in my current role and to participate proactively in broader industry discussions without feeling out of place.

What advice would you give someone considering the Accreditation Program?

Enjoy the process and don't stress about it.

The real value of the program is in what you learn along the way. Take the opportunity to absorb as much as you can, but most importantly, find ways to apply that knowledge in your day-to-day work.

Accreditation isn't simply about completing the requirements and earning the designation. It's about taking what you've learned and using it to become a stronger contributor to your airport and the industry.

What does earning your A.A.E. designation mean to you?

Personally, earning my A.A.E. designation represents accomplishing a goal I set for myself: to learn and understand a new industry in a relatively short period of time.

Professionally, it has given me greater confidence in my ability to contribute to the aviation industry. I now feel better equipped to participate in industry discussions, bring forward my perspective and approach my work with confidence and determination.

For me, the designation represents both how far I've come since entering aviation and my commitment to continuing to learn and grow within the industry.

What's next?

I'm currently working on a building modernization capital project at Abbotsford International Airport. It's an exciting project focused on enhancing the terminal building and creating an improved experience for passengers while remaining on budget.

What makes the project particularly meaningful is the opportunity to deliver those improvements responsibly. By finding efficiencies and managing the project effectively, savings can ultimately be passed along to our stakeholders while helping the airport continue to serve as an economic enabler for our city.

Looking further ahead, I hope to continue building on my experience, pursuing leadership opportunities and contributing to the aviation and aerospace industry.

What has been the most memorable moment of your airport career so far?

Before working in aviation, I've had the opportunity to gain experience across an incredibly diverse range of industries.

My career has included agriculture through my family's berry farm, accounting in the film industry, construction with Lafarge, telecommunications with Bell Canada, utilities with BC Hydro, entrepreneurship through developing my own business, and experience with the Court of Appeal for British Columbia and the Supreme Court of British Columbia.

Today, that journey has brought me to aviation and aerospace at Abbotsford International Airport.

Working across so many different industries has given me a broad perspective and a diverse set of experiences to draw from. Each chapter of my career has contributed something different, and I'm now able to bring those experiences together in an industry I'm passionate about.

Inspired by Sanjeev’s Story?

Every accreditation journey is unique, but they all begin with the same first step. Learn more about the A.A.E. and A.A.P. programs, eligibility requirements and the accreditation process