Beyond the Flight Deck: New Year Edition

Happy New Year and welcome to 2025! As we step into this fresh chapter, I want to reflect on the foundations we’ve built together and the exciting plans ahead. This past year marked the launch of several key initiatives, each driven by a desire to create meaningful change in aviation and aerospace. Let’s take a moment to revisit why these efforts began and the vision guiding them forward.

The Elevate Initiative: Why It Matters

Last year, I created The Elevate Initiative to address one of the most pressing challenges in aviation and aerospace: the lack of representation and opportunities for women in leadership roles. This initiative was born out of a deep understanding of the systemic barriers that women face and a desire to foster a more inclusive and equitable industry.

This year, the Elevate Initiative will put its primary focus on shaping corporate culture that is welcoming and conducive to attracting, retaining, and promoting women and other underrepresented minorities. Although our core mission is still to exponentially increase the number of women in aviation, we are also noticing a trend toward ageism. The average turnover for employees under the age of 35 is 18 months. If we do not address the issue of ageism, the already critical shortage of workers in aviation and aerospace gets much worse.

The mission of The Elevate Initiative is clear: to bridge the gender gap, inspire the next generation of leaders, and create workplaces where everyone can thrive.

Beyond the Flight Deck: Amplifying Stories and Strategies

When I started the Beyond the Flight Deck newsletter, my goal was to create a space where stories, insights, and strategies could come together to inspire action. Aviation and aerospace are about more than planes and rockets—they’re about the people who innovate, lead, and break barriers.

This newsletter was born out of my own experiences of being one of the few women in rooms dominated by men. It’s a platform to:

· Highlight the achievements of women who have broken barriers.

· Share personal and professional stories that resonate with others navigating similar challenges.

· Provide actionable tools and strategies to foster inclusion and equity across the industry.

Beyond the Flight Deck is more than a newsletter; it’s a call to action and a community for those who believe in the power of change.

The Elevate Executive Exchanges (EEE): A Forum for Change

The Elevate Executive Exchanges were launched to address the need for candid, solutions-focused conversations among industry leaders. These sessions bring together executives in aviation and aerospace to:

· Discuss the barriers women face in the workplace.

· Share best practices for attracting, retaining, and promoting female talent.

· Explore how companies can foster truly inclusive cultures.

This year, we will be branching out into speakers and panels on topics that apply to attracting, retaining, and promoting women in aviation and aerospace. I am very excited about the guests we are lining up, and I think you will be too. Of course, we will still have the opportunity to talk about what we as individuals and companies are doing and brainstorm on what we can do as an industry.

By creating a space for dialogue, EEE aims to spark systemic changes that go beyond policies to influence company culture and leadership practices. These sessions are about not just identifying the problems but actively working toward solutions.

Looking Ahead

As we move into 2025, I’m excited to announce several new initiatives designed to expand our impact and continue driving change:

· Monthly Webinars:
Starting this week with The Mental Fitness Reset: Build a Better 2025 webinar, we’ll offer monthly sessions on intriguing and impactful topics throughout the year. These webinars are designed to inspire growth, foster resilience, and provide actionable strategies for personal and professional success.  Register Here.

· Elevating Women in Aviation and Aerospace Podcast:
This year marks the launch of my podcast, Elevating Women in Aviation and Aerospace. In our welcoming episode, I share why this podcast exists: to celebrate the incredible women breaking barriers, share their stories of resilience and success, and inspire the next generation of leaders. Each episode will feature trailblazing women, solo insights, and strategies to navigate and thrive in male-dominated industries. This podcast is not just a platform for storytelling but a community for support and empowerment.

· Memoir Launch: “Lift”:
Later this year, I’ll be publishing my memoir, Lift, which chronicles my journey through the highs and lows of a career in aviation and aerospace. It’s a story of resilience, passion, and breaking barriers, and I hope it will resonate with and inspire others on their own paths.

These initiatives are not just about reflecting on the past but about taking bold steps toward a more inclusive and equitable future.

Thank You for Being Part of This Mission

To everyone who has supported and engaged with these efforts, thank you. Your belief in this mission fuels the work we do. Together, we’re shaping the future of aviation and aerospace to be more inclusive, equitable, and full of opportunity for all.

Here’s to a year of growth, collaboration, and soaring to new heights. Let’s make 2025 a year of impact and inspiration!