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Tenacity with Sonia C.

Tenacity with Sonia C.

Earning FAA Drone Certification When Underfunded with Beth Flippo

Oct 5, 2026 · 33m

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On this episode

About this episode

Beth Flippo, CEO of Drone Express, shares the real story behind building a drone delivery company and earning FAA drone certification with limited funding. She explains how a five year regulatory process, intense competition, and major setbacks became the very things that built a more resilient company. In this episode: • The personal problem that inspired the creation of Drone Express. • How Beth landed Kroger as her first customer by targeting a massive market. • Why she viewed strict FAA regulations as a collaborator, not an obstacle. • The leadership strategy she used to keep her team focused during long periods without obvious progress. • How the company navigated a critical parachute…