Hello there, I'm Andrew Bielat, the founder and managing partner of Pilot Advisors, a firm I established to help leaders and organizations build their "best possible enterprise".
My backstory:
I started running a handyman business at 12. Got so busy I recruited my friends. Influenced by my World War II Marine sergeant dad, I pursued higher education, earning a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Illinois. Worked full-time through college, learning that "if you're willing to do the work and stay steady, you can build anything".
My career has spanned a Fortune 100 company, the Pentagon, nuclear power, and heavy manufacturing. These roles reinforced my belief that strong organizations are built on "clarity, accountability, and disciplined execution".
I initially planned to become a Harrier pilot through a Marine ROTC scholarship but was redirected to intelligence. Later, I participated in a covert program involving nuclear and chemical weapons, which I describe as one of the greatest things I've ever done — and it's now declassified.
After spending several years in nuclear power and then rising to Chief Operating Officer in steel manufacturing, I realized my desire to help more companies rather than just one. This led me to found Pilot Advisors, with my former CEO becoming my first client.
My World War II Marine sergeant dad instilled in me the core value that "there's a right way to do it, and the right way always matters" — a principle that has guided my life and career.