If young entrepreneurs want to know about the importance of trust, they should talk with John Haag, CMEA’s Chief Operating Partner. John puts trust to the ultimate test every time he takes the control of an aerobatic aircraft.

“The first time you throw a high performance bi-plane into an inverted spin you must have faith in the instructor who’s teaching you, the guy who maintains the airplane and yourself,” John said. “No one learns to fly aerobatics alone. It’s truly a team effort.”

John joined CMEA Capital as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer in 2006. Previously, he was with Burrill & Company, a San Francisco-based life sciences merchant bank and venture capital fund, where he also served as CFO and COO. Prior to Burrill, John was COO and CFO of early-stage enterprises in alternative energy and media and an investment banker at JPMorgan and Bankers Trust.

John is equally passionate about playing music, which also calls for discipline, sensitivity and selflessness. “I am drawn to flying and music particularly because of the freedom of expression they offer and because it’s best to leave your ego out of the activity if you want to perform well.”

That’s good advice in a business where egos often are barriers to success.