AVIATE with Shaesta

Katherine Moloney did not grow up thinking she would become a pilot, even though aviation was in her family. Her father flew, but she never saw herself in the cockpit and brushed off early signs that she might belong there. That changed when she started working at a flight equipment company on an airfield, where daily exposure to aviation turned curiosity into action. A helicopter trial lesson at Brighton City Airport changed everything. She signed up right away, earned her helicopter license at 19, later added a fixed-wing license, and kept chasing every part of aviation that felt new, challenging, and worth learning. That personal journey eventually led to Elevate Her Aviation. Katherine explains that while she had strong support from men in the industry, she still felt isolated because she rarely met other women in aviation. So she created the kind of space she wished she had herself. She booked a room, ordered sandwiches, invited as many women in UK aviation as she could find, and 40 showed up. What started as one gathering became a real community, and now Elevate Her is working across the UK and expanding internationally. In this conversation, she explains why general aviation matters so much, why cost remains one of the biggest barriers to entry, and why more accessible routes like cadets, gliding, and microlights can make a real difference. Later, Katherine gets specific about what inclusion actually means in aviation. Her point is blunt: women do not need special treatment, they need equipment, uniforms, and systems designed with them in mind. She talks about flight suits, helmets, life jackets, seat cushions, and even aircraft seating requirements that still fail many women on basic safety and usability. She also points to the bigger issue underneath it all: if women are pushed out by poor design, lack of support, or the pressure of motherhood and family life, the industry loses talent, experience, and future mentors. Her argument is simple. Better design is not cosmetic. It is a safety issue, a retention issue, and a leadership issue. CHAPTERS (00:00) Katherine’s path into aviation (01:26) The trial flight that changed it (05:12) Why Elevate Her was created (07:18) Why general aviation matters (08:10) The cost barrier to entry (10:40) Building community online (14:46) Why women start behind (18:28) Barriers beyond the UK and US (21:11) Better design, not special treatment (23:48) Retention, motherhood, and safety SPONSOR ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Atlantic Aviation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠atlanticaviation.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ WORK WITH SHAESTA For bookings and inquiries, visit: ⁠⁠⁠https://shaestawaiz.com/book⁠⁠⁠ MORE ABOUT KATHERINE MOLONEY LinkedIn: Katherine Moloney - Elevate(her) Aviation IG: Katherine Moloney (@moloneykatherine) Website: http://katherinemoloney.com/ MORE ABOUT SHAESTA WAIZ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shaestawaiz.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shaesta Waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@aviateplatform⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaestawaiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif & Kroo Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MassifKroo.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries/sponsoring: email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katie Hill works at the center of aviation policy, government affairs, and advanced air mobility, and in this conversation she explains how she got there. She started on Capitol Hill working for Senator Moran, where mentors pushed her toward the commerce portfolio and introduced her to aviation policy. What began as a Hill assignment turned into a real calling once she started working on advanced air mobility and saw how policy could help shape an entirely new part of aviation. For Katie, joining Joby was not a career detour. It was the chance to help build the future she had already started working toward in government. She also breaks down advanced air mobility in simple terms: fast, quiet, short-distance electric flight for normal people. Katie explains how Joby’s aircraft is designed to connect places that are close enough to drive but far enough to waste time in traffic, like downtown Washington and Dulles. She talks about why noise matters, why integration into the current aviation system matters, and why safety has to stay at the center of every conversation about innovation and regulation. Her point is clear: this only works if the aircraft is safe, useful, and accessible. Later, Katie talks about the pace of life at Joby, the discipline of focusing on the three most important things each day, and how motherhood changed the way she thinks about work and impact. She shares what it was like balancing Joby, law school, and a new baby at the same time, and why being fully present in each role matters. She closes with advice for young women entering aviation: trust your instincts, find strong mentors, speak up for yourself, and do not be afraid to chase the opportunity that feels right before everyone else sees it. CHAPTERS (00:00) Why Katie chose aviation policy (02:01) How she found AAM (06:15) Explaining eVTOLs simply (10:17) Why regional access matters (11:30) Her role at Joby (16:29) Innovation and regulation (20:10) How big ideas take shape (23:00) Why access to flight matters (25:26) Motherhood, work, and balance (32:42) Advice for young women SPONSOR ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Atlantic Aviation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠atlanticaviation.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ WORK WITH SHAESTA For bookings and inquiries, visit: ⁠⁠https://shaestawaiz.com/book⁠⁠ MORE ABOUT KATIE HILL LinkedIn: Katie Hill - Joby Aviation MORE ABOUT SHAESTA WAIZ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shaestawaiz.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shaesta Waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@aviateplatform⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaestawaiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif & Kroo Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MassifKroo.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries/sponsoring: email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shelly DeZevallos has spent decades working in aviation and public service, and in this conversation she explains why running for Congress felt like the natural next step. She argues aviation and policy are already deeply connected—from FAA modernization and ATC pressure to advanced air mobility and supersonic aircraft—and says the industry needs more people in government who actually understand how aviation works. For Shelly, the move into politics is not a departure from aviation but an extension of it. She also talks candidly about culture, leadership, and the role women play in aviation and policy. Shelly shares a story about mistakenly assuming another woman in the room was not a pilot—an experience that forced her to confront how deeply industry norms shape perception. She discusses why healthy aviation culture is built through small signals of respect, why more women do not step into oversight and policy roles, and how people can start building influence long before ever considering a campaign. Later, Shelly breaks down what campaigning has taught her: talk slower, listen better, and do not panic. She compares running for office to flying an airplane—stay steady, fly the plane, and keep moving forward even when things get rough. She closes with advice for anyone who wants to make a difference, whether through public office, aviation advocacy, safety work, government affairs, or simply taking the first step and refusing to quit. CHAPTERS (00:00) Why Shelly chose to run (03:07) Culture and belonging matter (05:30) A mistake that changed her (07:39) Campaigning vs. aviation (08:59) What surprised her most (10:20) Family behind the campaign (11:53) Why women avoid policy (14:20) Advice for stepping up (18:07) Aviation policy career paths (20:57) Take the first step SPONSOR ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Atlantic Aviation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠atlanticaviation.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ WORK WITH SHAESTA For bookings and inquiries, visit: ⁠https://shaestawaiz.com/book⁠ MORE ABOUT SHELLY DEZEVALLOS LinkedIn: Shelly Lesikar deZevallos MORE ABOUT SHAESTA WAIZ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shaestawaiz.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shaesta Waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@aviateplatform⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaestawaiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif & Kroo Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MassifKroo.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries/sponsoring: email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Samantha Spencer oversees both landside and airside operations at South Bend International Airport—meaning she’s responsible for everything from FAA and TSA compliance to snow ops, badging, construction coordination, and daily airfield safety. She explains why airport operations has no “typical day”: her team can handle a fuel spill, a raccoon on a runway, a runway closure, a diverted aircraft, and pilot deviation reporting all before lunch—then make it look smooth anyway. She also breaks down what it’s like to lead young in an industry that often equates leadership with age. Instead of trying to look older or act tougher, she builds credibility through preparation, consistency, and stepping in wherever needed. She shares wins like driving strong compliance results and staying active in the industry through professional programs and young professional leadership—while pushing back on the idea that you have to “move out to move up” to be qualified. Looking forward, Samantha talks about how airports are modernizing fast—massive infrastructure projects, bigger aircraft capability, sustainability upgrades, and safer airfield geometry. She argues the next decade will demand leaders who kill the “that’s how we’ve always done it” mindset, take ownership, and invest in the next generation early—because the workforce pipeline is thinning and aviation needs new talent to step up. CHAPTERS(00:00) Running airside + landside(01:38) Modernization pressure is real(04:44) Meet Samantha Spencer(05:34) No background, chose aviation(08:12) Finding airport ops path(10:45) Young leader, proving herself(17:19) SMS without reinventing wheels(22:43) “Controlled chaos” before lunch(25:58) Notre Dame surge and “Irish apron”(39:47) Be happy, humble, know worth SPONSOR ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Atlantic Aviation⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠atlanticaviation.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ WORK WITH SHAESTAFor bookings and inquiries, visit: https://shaestawaiz.com/book MORE ABOUT SAMANTHA SPENCERLinkedIn: Samantha Spencer, C.M., ACE MORE ABOUT SHAESTA WAIZ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠shaestawaiz.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Shaesta Waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@aviateplatform⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaestawaiz⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif & Kroo Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MassifKroo.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries/sponsoring: email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amman went from rejection to finding her path in aircraft maintenance—then had to fight to be treated like a real technician. In a mostly male program, she was pushed toward admin work while men got hands-on tasks. A mentor’s line changed everything: “Engineer has no gender.” She kept showing up, asking questions, and pushing for harder work until the hangar floor had to take her seriously. Now based in the UK, she explains the shift from credential-focused hiring in Pakistan to a UK system that rewards networking and communication. She also breaks down why the industry is facing a technician shortage: universities often teach theory without enough real on-job training. Her answer is simple—make maintenance more approachable, rebuild practical pipelines, and recruit wider, including more women. CHAPTERS (00:00) “Engineer has no gender” (02:06) Meet Amman in the UK (03:01) Rejection to aviation path (06:45) Support that kept her going (12:24) Winning hands-on work (18:20) What AMEs actually do (23:23) Pakistan vs UK hiring (29:13) Why she launched newsletter (33:24) The training pipeline gap (34:24) Fixing the shortage SPONSOR ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Atlantic Aviation⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠atlanticaviation.com⁠⁠⁠ WORK WITH SHAESTA For bookings and inquiries, visit:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shaestawaiz.com/book⁠⁠⁠ MORE ABOUT AMMAND MUJAHID ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: Amman Mujahid MORE ABOUT SHAESTA WAIZ Website: ⁠⁠⁠shaestawaiz.com⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠Shaesta Waiz⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@aviateplatform⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠@shaestawaiz⁠⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif & Kroo Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MassifKroo.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries/sponsoring: email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Sabira Rezaie sits in a cockpit, she says she carries two things at once: the voices of Afghan women who never got the chance to fly, and the weight of everything she lost. That mix—purpose and grief—runs through this entire conversation with Shaesta Waiz. Sabira explains how aviation first meant freedom in Afghanistan: the sky was the one place culture and politics couldn’t fully control her. She became one of the first Afghan women to fly the MD 530, pushing through constant doubt from men who told her she didn’t have the “muscle” for it. She did it anyway—because it was never about strength. It was about skill, discipline, and will. Then the country collapsed. Sabira describes that moment as more than losing a place on the map. It was losing the version of herself she fought years to build. She talks about the shock of realizing she couldn’t go back, the sleeplessness, the grief, and the feeling that Afghan women’s futures were being erased in real time. From there, the episode shifts to what “starting over” actually looks like. Sabira says it’s learning to dream again after losing hope—while also dealing with personal loss, including her father, whose death anniversary comes up in the conversation. Flight training in the U.S. becomes both a rebuild and a tribute: proof that she can rise again, even when the people she wanted to make proud aren’t there to see it. They get practical about support, too. Sabira talks about how she helped other Afghan women—especially military women—navigate refugee pathways and paperwork, and why “network” isn’t a buzzword, it’s survival. She also makes a direct ask of aviation leaders: stop treating inclusion like charity. Recognize skill, fund mentorship and scholarships, and hire people for competence—not immigration background. The episode ends where it began: in the cockpit, with emotion. Sabira describes crying during her first solo in the U.S. because the win came with so much history attached. Her message to the next Afghan girl is blunt and simple: your dream is valid, and “no” isn’t a verdict. She was told no for years—until she sat in the flight deck, proved she could reach the controls, and forced the system to admit what it tried to deny. CHAPTERS (00:00) Carrying voices and grief (01:28) Kabul memory and why this matters (02:54) Reuniting on the podcast (03:43) Freedom then, resilience now (05:10) Becoming an MD 530 pilot (06:04) When Afghanistan collapsed (08:10) Starting over and her father (10:42) Helping Afghan women through networks (15:00) Why helicopters chose her (20:10) Inclusion isn’t charity: her message SPONSOR ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Atlantic Aviation⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠atlanticaviation.com⁠⁠ WORK WITH SHAESTA For bookings and inquiries, visit:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shaestawaiz.com/book⁠⁠ MORE ABOUT SABIRA REZAIE ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: Sabira Rezaie - Former Commissioned Officer, Afghan Air Force MORE ABOUT SHAESTA WAIZ Website: ⁠⁠shaestawaiz.com⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Shaesta Waiz⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@aviateplatform⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠@shaestawaiz⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif & Kroo Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MassifKroo.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries/sponsoring: email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Veronica Leacock moved from Panama to the U.S., she wasn’t just changing countries. She was rebuilding her entire career—new language, new system, and a licensing process that nearly shut her out. She went hangar to hangar asking for a chance, trained without pay, and kept pushing until an FAA office in Oregon agreed to review her case and sign her paperwork. In this conversation, Shaesta and Veronica walk through the real path: becoming a mechanic young, having a baby during training, immigrating, studying alone at night, and grinding through the FAA written, oral, and practical exams. Veronica shares what it feels like to fail a portion of the test, come back, and finish anyway—because quitting wasn’t an option. They also get blunt about the culture in maintenance: the “sink or swim” mindset, the double standard women face in leadership, and why recruiting women is easier than keeping them. Veronica explains how small signals (like not even having women’s uniforms) send a bigger message: “this wasn’t built for you.” The episode closes with her leadership “identity shift”—moving from proving herself to leading with purpose, integrity, and care for people. Her goal is simple: build others so well that they feel like they can achieve anything when they’re next to her. CHAPTERS (00:00) From proving to purpose (01:41) Meet Veronica + the shortage (04:37) Panama: first spark in a hangar (10:09) U.S. reset: language + studying (16:44) Oregon board signs her 8610s (20:03) A&P O&P: fail, retest, win (24:39) What mechanics really do (29:25) AI, drones, predictive maintenance (40:43) Fixing “sink or swim” culture (55:40) Leading with values and care SPONSOR ⁠⁠⁠⁠Atlantic Aviation⁠ | ⁠atlanticaviation.com⁠ WORK WITH SHAESTA For bookings and inquiries, visit:⁠ ⁠⁠https://shaestawaiz.com/book⁠ MORE ABOUT VERONICA LEACOCK BORCHARDT⁠LinkedIn: Veronica Leacock Borchardt MORE ABOUT SHAESTA WAIZ Website: ⁠shaestawaiz.com⁠ Instagram: ⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠Shaesta Waiz⁠ YouTube: ⁠www.youtube.com/@aviateplatform⁠ TikTok: ⁠@shaestawaiz⁠ Threads: ⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif & Kroo Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MassifKroo.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries/sponsoring: email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Abingdon sat at a 99s Christmas dinner in 2006, she thought she was just celebrating her new private pilot certificate. Instead, she discovered a gap no watch company was willing to fill: pilot watches built for women. Within hours she set herself an 11-month deadline to design, fund, and deliver a watch that didn’t exist yet. That deadline became the seed of The Abingdon Co., now an 18-year-old brand serving women across aviation and STEM. In this conversation, Shaesta and Abingdon walk through the full arc: from a 14-year-old chasing free pizza at a high school career talk, to getting a pilot certificate in 34 days, to preselling $400 watches off CGI renderings before a single unit existed. Abingdon explains why you can’t wait for “perfect,” why she swears by “trip your way forward,” and how saying yes to an imperfect start changed her entire path in aviation. They also dig into the reality behind the highlight reel of entrepreneurship—caregiving, near-shutdown moments, investors, and what it looks like to keep a promise to customers when life blows up. Abingdon talks candidly about stepping away to become her father’s full-time caregiver, the pressure to close the company, and why she refused to quit while thousands of women were still wearing her watches. From there, the conversation zooms out: Gen Z as the most entrepreneurial generation yet, where product ideas really come from, and why aviation desperately needs people who can see a problem and build anything better—whether it’s a watch, a system, or an entire mindset around mental health and aeromedical reform. Abingdon also shares her view of aviation in 2035, from autonomous air vehicles and drone logistics to why analog watches are growing in a world of smart devices. If you’re a young innovator wondering where you fit in aviation—or someone sitting on an idea you don’t feel “ready” to launch—this episode is a playbook on starting before you’re comfortable, serving a niche the industry ignores, and staying human in a career that loves to put people on pedestals. CHAPTERS (00:00) A missing watch at Christmas dinner (03:00) Trip your way forward, not perfectly (06:00) From free pizza to pilot in 34 days (11:00) Starting the first women’s pilot watch (18:00) How one product opened aviation doors (24:00) Gen Z, gaps, and building in aviation (30:00) Caregiving, near shutdown, and investors (36:00) Mental health, identity, and aeromed (44:00) Autonomous flight and 2035 aviation (50:00) Why analog watches still matter SPONSORS ⁠Atlantic Aviation | atlanticaviation.com WORK WITH SHAESTA For bookings and inquiries, visit: https://shaestawaiz.com/book MORE ABOUT ABINGDON MULLIN Website: abingdonco.com LinkedIn: Abingdon Chelsea Mullin IG: @theabingdonco MORE ABOUT SHAESTA WAIZ Website: shaestawaiz.com Instagram: @shaesta.waiz LinkedIn: Shaesta Waiz YouTube: www.youtube.com/@aviateplatform TikTok: @shaestawaiz Threads: @shaesta.waiz Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif & Kroo Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MassifKroo.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries/sponsoring: email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, host Shaesta Waiz speaks with Dr. Kimberly Perkins—787 airline pilot, research scientist at the University of Washington, and fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society—about the rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion in aviation and why it matters for safety, innovation, and the next generation. Kimberly shares how DEI was often treated as a branding campaign rather than systemic change, why psychological safety is inseparable from operational safety, and how silence in the cockpit or boardroom leads to risk. She explains why inclusion should be embedded into pilot training as a required competency, why emotional intelligence belongs alongside technical skill, and how leaders can shift from “I-frame” individual fixes to “S-frame” system solutions. They discuss how DEI rollbacks reveal which organizations were truly committed, why allyship must extend to all—including men in positions of power—and the fatigue marginalized groups feel carrying the burden of proof. Kimberly closes with practical “micro-allyship” actions and advice for young women in aviation: don’t conform or gaslight, strive to be an ally, and use small, consistent acts of inclusion to reshape the system itself. Chapter Breakdown 00:00 | Opening Reflections on DEI Rollbacks 01:34 | Season Seven Recap & Why This Conversation 04:44 | Introducing Dr. Kimberly Perkins 06:08 | Was DEI Ever on Solid Ground? 09:20 | Safety, Innovation, and Silencing Voices 12:41 | Psychological Safety in Aviation Teams 14:21 | From I-Frame to S-Frame: Systemic Solutions 17:33 | Allyship, Fatigue, and the Burden of Proof 21:21 | Message to Young Women Entering Aviation 24:26 | Micro-Allyship Toolkit: Small Acts, Big Change 27:15 | Rollbacks, Military Aviation, and Funding Gaps 30:46 | Final Thoughts and Call to Collective Action Follow Dr. Kimberly Perkins Website: www.kimberly-perkins.com LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Kimberly Perkins⁠⁠ Follow Shaesta Waiz Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ shaestawaiz.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shaesta Waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @shaestawaiz⁠⁠⁠ Shaesta Waiz on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: YouTube (Aviate Platform)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif Studio & Production & The Tallawah Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠www.massifsp.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Massif Studio & Production⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.TallawahWorldwide.com⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Tallawah Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, host Shaesta Waiz speaks with Lynda Coffman—CEO of Women in Aviation International, former United Airlines executive, and Northwestern adjunct professor— about sustaining a qualified aviation workforce while navigating the rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Lynda shares her journey from being the first female engineer in United’s powerplant group to leading airport operations across 63 stations and founding United Ground Express. She reflects on how DEI has been misunderstood, why access is not about lowering standards, and how systemic, purpose-driven action strengthens aviation’s safety and growth. They discuss why shrinking the pipeline hurts everyone, how leaders can challenge unconscious bias in real time, and why support networks and “personal boards of directors” are essential for women entering aviation today. Lynda closes with advice to stay rooted in passion, build strong communities, and never let others decide what you are capable of. Chapter Breakdown 00:00 | Why Workforce Strength Depends on Access01:49 | Why This Season: DEI Rollback in Aviation06:18 | Lynda’s Early Career at United Airlines10:26 | From Engineering to Executive Leadership14:29 | DEI as Access, Not Lowered Standards17:06 | Purpose-Driven Action in Corporate Strategy20:49 | Building Diverse Candidate Slates23:32 | Leadership, Culture, and Challenging Bias28:37 | Responding to “Lowering Standards” Narrative31:34 | Pilot Shortages, Economics, and Safety Risks35:11 | Advice for Young Women in Aviation38:09 | Building Sisterhood and Support Networks39:47 | Leading with Passion for Industry and Members Follow Lynda Coffman Website: Women in Aviation InternationalLinkedIn: ⁠Lynda Coffman⁠ Follow Shaesta Waiz Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠ shaestawaiz.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shaesta Waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠ @shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠ @shaestawaiz⁠⁠ Shaesta Waiz on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube (Aviate Platform)⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif Studio & Production & The Tallawah Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠www.massifsp.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠ Massif Studio & Production⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.TallawahWorldwide.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Tallawah Group⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, host Shaesta Waiz speaks with Samantha T. Mitchell—licensed A&P mechanic, author, and founder of Black Women in Aviation—about building a career where women are still drastically underrepresented, especially in maintenance. Samantha recounts finding aviation through a college brochure, nearly losing a dream role over citizenship status, becoming the first female mechanic for Air Jamaica at JFK, and learning to navigate rooms where she was often the only one. They discuss how the DEI rollback is affecting funding, visibility, and community support, why “we are more than letters,” and practical ways women can persist: invite yourself in, anchor to one ally, reprogram limiting blueprints, and lead with demonstrated competence. Samantha closes with a vision of progress defined not by headcounts but by a domino effect of inspired “yeses.” Chapter Breakdown 00:00 | Don’t Wait—Invite Yourself 01:20 | Why This Season: DEI Rollback 04:18 | Finding Maintenance at Vaughn 07:45 | Boeing Setback, Air Jamaica Pivot 09:25 | Being the Only One in the Room 14:13 | “More Than Letters”: DEI Reality 17:54 | Build the Turbulence Muscle 20:23 | One Ally, Faith, and Mentors 25:03 | Own Your Gifts, Own Your Path 29:12 | Progress as a Domino Effect Follow Samantha T. Mitchell LinkedIn: Samantha T. Mitchell Website: www.samanthatmitchell.com Follow Shaesta Waiz Website:⁠⁠⁠ shaestawaiz.com⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠ Shaesta Waiz⁠⁠⁠ Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ @shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠ TikTok:⁠⁠⁠ @shaestawaiz⁠ Shaesta Waiz on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube (Aviate Platform)⁠⁠⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif Studio & Production & The Tallawah Group⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠www.massifsp.com⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠ Massif Studio & Production⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠ www.TallawahWorldwide.com⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠ The Tallawah Group⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, host Shaesta Waiz speaks with Jennifer Pickerel—President of Aviation Personnel International and a veteran executive search consultant—about the rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in aviation and its real-world impacts. Drawing on over two decades of experience in recruitment, leadership development, and organizational culture, Pickerel examines how performative DEI, policy softening, and cultural misalignment can undermine both safety and profitability. They explore the business case for genuine inclusion, the mechanics of effective mentorship, sponsorship, and allyship, and share concrete tactics for women to advocate for themselves by reframing their requests around company goals. Pickerel also offers practical tools for researching organizational culture, building strategic networks, and sustaining resilience when formal DEI programs recede. Episode Notes Shaesta Waiz sits down with Jennifer Pickerel to unpack: The current state of DEI in business aviation Why superficial diversity initiatives falter The role of culture in hiring and retention Building mentorship, sponsorship, and allyship organically How women can present a business case for their own advancement Tools for assessing company culture before you apply Strategies for young women to stay and thrive in aviation Chapter Breakdown00:00 | Diversity in Aviation07:22 | Women in Pilot Statistics10:00 | Shifts in DEI Commitments12:45 | Culture’s Role in Hiring15:08 | Mentorship and Sponsorship17:42 | Defining True Allyship20:13 | Overcoming Industry Challenges22:56 | Assessing Organizational Culture25:20 | Inspiring Young Aviators Follow Jennifer Pickerel LinkedIn: Jennifer E. Pickerel - President - Business Aviation API: Jennifer Pickerel - President - Recruiter Follow Shaesta Waiz Website:⁠⁠ shaestawaiz.com⁠⁠ LinkedIn:⁠⁠ Shaesta Waiz⁠⁠ Instagram:⁠⁠ @shaesta.waiz⁠⁠ TikTok:⁠⁠ @shaestawaiz Shaesta Waiz on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube (Aviate Platform)⁠⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif Studio & Production & The Tallawah Group⁠⁠ Website:www.massifsp.com⁠⁠ LinkedIn:⁠⁠ Massif Studio & Production⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠ www.TallawahWorldwide.com ⁠⁠LinkedIn:⁠⁠ The Tallawah Group⁠⁠ For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email ⁠[email protected]⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this candid conversation, host Shaesta Waiz speaks with Captain Reyné O'Shaughnessy—veteran FedEx pilot, human-performance specialist, and author of This Is Your Captain Speaking: What You Should Know About Your Pilot’s Mental Health. Together they unpack the realities of high-stakes aviation work for women: chronic stress that accumulates unnoticed, the double standard around mistakes, and the current retrenchment of formal DEI efforts across organizations. Reyné shares why completing the stress cycle matters as much as managing it, why foundational habits (restorative sleep, movement, nutrition, real relaxation) are a first line of defense, and how personal agency can be protective when workplaces deny reasonable needs. She also introduces The Leading Edge Retreat (Oct 2–5, Santa Barbara)—a small-group, science-backed reset that brings together experts in sleep science, hormonal health, nervous-system regulation, and performance coaching to help high performers rebuild their baseline. This episode reframes well-being as core to leadership, not a luxury—especially for women navigating irregular schedules, persistent bias, and high expectations. Chapter Breakdown00:00 | Why mental health in aviation can’t be optional04:42 | The hidden cost of chronic stress for high performers07:29 | Double standards, over-functioning, and burnout10:20 | DEI retrenchment and the reality of invisible bias12:45 | Agency, boundaries, and building a resilience toolbox15:19 | The Leading Edge Retreat: design, experts, and outcomes18:00 | Community and sisterhood as performance infrastructure26:11 | Closing notes and next steps Follow Reyné O'ShaughnessyWebsite: captainreyneo.com LinkedIn: Reyné O'Shaughnessy - TEDx Speaker | Author Follow Shaesta WaizWebsite:⁠ shaestawaiz.com⁠LinkedIn:⁠ Shaesta Waiz⁠Instagram:⁠ @shaesta.waiz⁠TikTok:⁠ @shaestawaiz⁠⁠Shaesta Waiz on YouTube⁠⁠YouTube (Aviate Platform)⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif Studio & Production & The Tallawah Group⁠www.massifsp.com⁠LinkedIn:⁠ Massif Studio & Production⁠Website:⁠ www.TallawahWorldwide.com⁠LinkedIn:⁠ The Tallawah Group⁠For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, host Shaesta Waiz speaks with Kathryn Creedy—veteran aviation journalist and advocate for workforce equity—about the rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in aviation and its consequences. Creedy draws on decades of reporting and personal experience to challenge misconceptions about DEI, highlight the business case for inclusion, and explore how cultural resistance, policy rollback, and outdated work rules threaten both profitability and safety. They discuss the power of community among women in aviation, the emerging demands of younger generations for work–life balance, and the imperative for leaders to move beyond lip service to real, systemic change. Chapter Breakdown 00:00 | Intro: The Cost of Ignoring DEI 01:31 | Kathryn’s Background & Advocacy 03:07 | Why DEI Rollbacks Fail 05:13 | Women’s Gains & Pushback 08:09 | What DEI Really Means 10:23 | The Diversity Dividend 12:04 | Culture & Economic Backlash 15:42 | Why So Few Women AMTs? 18:41 | Strength in Community 21:32 | Rethinking Work–Life Balance 24:03 | Next‑Gen Talent Pipelines 26:50 | Safety & Mental Health Reform 29:28 | Leaders: Lip Service vs. Action 33:08 | Closing: A Call to Change Follow ⁠Kathryn Creedy LinkedIn: ⁠Kathryn Creedy⁠ Follow Shaesta Waiz Website:⁠ shaestawaiz.com⁠ LinkedIn:⁠ Shaesta Waiz⁠ Instagram:⁠ @shaesta.waiz⁠ TikTok:⁠ @shaestawaiz⁠ ⁠Shaesta Waiz on YouTube⁠ ⁠YouTube (Aviate Platform)⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif Studio & Production & The Tallawah Group ⁠www.massifsp.com⁠ LinkedIn:⁠ Massif Studio & Production⁠ Website:⁠ www.TallawahWorldwide.com⁠ LinkedIn:⁠ The Tallawah Group⁠ For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, host Shaesta Waiz speaks with Mervat Sultan—founder of Ramjet Aviation Services and President of the Women in Aviation Middle East Chapter—about how intentional leadership, structured mentorship, and policy support have transformed a handful of members into a 1,000-strong network and the largest women-in-aviation conference in the Arab world. Over 25 years, Sultan learned aviation “from scratch,” built executive charter operations, and opened doors for countless pilots, engineers, and managers. They discuss reframing quotas as performance standards, embedding inclusion into systems, preparing students for AI and quantum-driven flight, and why “the sky is wide enough for all of us.” Chapter Breakdown 00:00 | Opening call: “Skies are wide enough for all of us.” 01:32 | Host introduction & Sultan’s impact on Middle-East aviation 03:53 | Why Middle-East progress matters to global inclusion efforts 06:03 | Sultan’s passion: real stories of women transforming careers 07:30 | Founding Ramjet and learning aviation from the ground up 10:41 | Government backing & corporate accountability in the region 12:38 | Quotas vs. performance: reframing the gender-equity debate 17:31 | Effective strategies: executive intent, clear pathways, male allies 18:51 | Embedding inclusion: systems, metrics, respect in practice 20:24 | Advice to women: seek mentors, stay curious, trust your worth 23:34 | Cross-border lessons: sharing stories beyond geopolitical lines 26:22 | Future skills: integrating AI & quantum tech into aviation education 30:21 | Guidance for new entrants: matching personality to aviation roles 33:29 | Zero-error culture: fundamentals, time-management, real-world anecdotes 36:34 | Closing reflections: gratitude, next steps, and a shared vision Follow Mervat Sultan LinkedIn: Mervat Sultan Follow Shaesta Waiz Website: shaestawaiz.com LinkedIn: Shaesta Waiz Instagram: @shaesta.waiz TikTok: @shaestawaiz Shaesta Waiz on YouTube YouTube (Aviate Platform) Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif Studio & Production & The Tallawah Group www.massifsp.com LinkedIn: Massif Studio & Production Website: www.TallawahWorldwide.com LinkedIn: The Tallawah Group For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this powerful conversation, host Shaesta Waiz speaks with Retired Lt. Col. Olga E. Custodio, the first Latina to fly for the United States Air Force and later, the first Latina commercial airline captain in the U.S. Olga shares the deeply personal and professional journey behind her groundbreaking aviation career—one that began after starting a family, not before. Together, they unpack cultural norms, leadership, and the rollback of DEI initiatives in today’s aviation climate. Olga discusses how women—especially Latinas—can stand firm in spaces where they don’t yet see themselves reflected, and why now is the time to preserve and elevate our stories, even as others try to erase them. This episode is a masterclass in persistence, purpose, and public service. Major Themes & Concepts ✅ Equity and excellence are inseparable ✅ Male and female allies accelerate change ✅ Family first doesn’t mean career last ✅ Confidence comes from preparation, faith, and self-trust ✅ Institutional bias can be dismantled ✅ Stories must be preserved ✅ Leadership’s tone sets the pipeline ✅ Legacy lives in service Chapter Breakdown 00:00 | Equity fuels excellence 01:11 | Olga's historic military and airline firsts 03:26 | Military childhood shaped global worldview 07:28 | Marriage and motherhood built career foundation 12:19 | Persistence despite bias and rejection 19:00 | DEI rollbacks threaten aviation’s future 24:11 | Latina pilots belong—find your allies 30:15 | Leaders must champion inclusive pipelines 34:12 | Stay visible, grounded, and accessible Follow Olga Custodio Website: www.purflygirl.com LinkedIn: Olga Custodio Instagram: @olgaecustodio Follow Shaesta Waiz Website: shaestawaiz.com LinkedIn: Shaesta Waiz Instagram: @shaesta.waiz TikTok: @shaestawaiz Shaesta Waiz on YouTube YouTube (Aviate Platform) Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif Studio & Production & The Tallawah Group www.massifsp.com LinkedIn: Massif Studio & Production Website: www.TallawahWorldwide.com LinkedIn: The Tallawah Group For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this wide-ranging conversation, Capt. Lynn Rippelmeyer—first woman to fly the Boeing 747—joins host Shaesta Waiz to dismantle the myth that equity and excellence are mutually exclusive. Rippelmeyer traces her unlikely climb from TWA flight attendant to 747 captain during an era when women “weren’t just under-represented—they were reminded they didn’t belong.” She credits key male allies, highlights the power of mentorship, and explains why tapping an inner spiritual compass is critical when the industry questions your right to be there. Beyond the flight deck, Rippelmeyer discusses raising two sons while flying, founding the nonprofit ROSE—Roatán Support Effort, and writing two memoirs (Life Takes Wings, Life Takes Flight) whose proceeds fund medical and educational aid in Honduras. Her core message: a fully engaged, diverse workforce is the only route to operational excellence—and every new pilot has a part to play. Major Themes & Concepts ✅ Equity is foundational to excellence—not its opposite ✅ Mentorship from male allies can open historic doors ✅ You can raise a family while flying professionally ✅ The myth of “safety risk” from women in command roles ✅ Inner confidence stems from spirituality and self-trust ✅ Institutional bias once blocked female captains—until proven wrong ✅ Representation matters: visibility breeds access ✅ Legacy is built not just in flight, but in giving back Chapter Breakdown 00:00 | Cold-open — “You can’t have excellence without equity” 01:24 | Host intro and Lynn’s historic flight credentials 03:04 | Dreaming the 747 while training in a Piper Cub 05:27 | Chief Pilot Carl Hershberg and mentorship that changed everything 07:21 | The 747’s “sacred” feel; pilot-aircraft relationship 10:15 | Tackling the false binary of DEI vs. safety 13:16 | Debunking myths: mental fitness, menstruation, and command 19:52 | Flying through doubt, powered by spiritual grounding 23:49 | Finding support: 99s, WAI, ISA+21, and choosing community 26:33 | Post-career: launching ROSE and humanitarian flying 28:50 | Life Takes Wings & Life Takes Flight — memoirs with mission Additional Resources Nonprofit: ROSE – Roatán Support Effort Follow Capt. Lynn Rippelmeyer Website: lynnrippelmeyer.com LinkedIn: Lynn Rippelmeyer - Speaker, Author - Wings Unlimited, LLC Books: Life Takes Wings Follow Shaesta Waiz Website:⁠ ⁠⁠shaestawaiz.com⁠ LinkedIn:⁠ Shaesta Waiz⁠ Instagram:⁠ @shaesta.waiz⁠ TikTok: ⁠@shaestawaiz⁠ ⁠Shaesta Waiz on YouTube⁠ ⁠YouTube (Aviate Platform)⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif Studio & Production & The Tallawah Group ⁠www.massifsp.com⁠ LinkedIn:⁠ Massif Studio & Production⁠ Website:⁠ www.TallawahWorldwide.com⁠ LinkedIn:⁠ The Tallawah Group⁠ For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Military veteran and advocate Jessica Ruttenber—retired Air Force officer, founder of Level Up Aviation joins host Shaesta Waiz to explain why dismantling diversity, equity & inclusion programs threatens aviation safety, talent pipelines, and hard‑won policy gains such as the removal of a height restriction that once barred 44 % of U.S. women from military cockpits. Politicized pushback against DEI is already shrinking grant dollars, sponsorships, and talent pools across aviation. Drawing on her work overturning the Air Force height standard and running Level Up Aviation scholarships, Ruttenber details how “trigger words” in funding applications are chilling support for nonprofits, why the FAA’s own data contradicts claims that standards were lowered, and what leaders can do—quietly or loudly—to interrupt bias and preserve equal access for future aviators. From the myth that DEI lowers standards to the hidden costs of outdated specifications, this conversation delivers hard data, candid stories, and a roadmap for leaders who refuse to roll back progress. Major Themes & Concepts ✅ DEI removes barriers—never qualifications ✅ FAA executive‑order rhetoric vs. actual safety data ✅ Height and anthropometric rules that excluded women & minorities ✅ Funding “trigger words” that chill nonprofit grants ✅ Change is a marathon: pacing advocacy to avoid burnout ✅ Leadership duty to interrupt bias in real time ✅ Inspiration + access: why representation still matters for recruitment ✅ Budget vigilance—protecting long‑horizon research ✅ Progress is nonlinear but defensible with facts and documentation Chapter Breakdown 00:00 | Cold‑open—misconceptions about DEI and safety 01:39 | Host introduction—Season focus on women in aviation 03:34 | Framing question: DEI politicization and nonprofit fallout 04:14 | Executive‑order language vs. aviation safety data 08:04 | Funding “trigger words” and scholarship impact 10:46 | Removing the 44 % height barrier; advocacy pacing 13:57 | Women pilots data; crypto‑linguist case study 19:11 | Inspiration vs. access; role‑model visibility 24:10 | Leadership advice: interrupt bias, protect inclusive R&D 26:26 | Closing gratitude and sign‑off Additional Resources Executive Order — “Keeping Americans Safe in Aviation” (Jan 2025) FAA Air‑Traffic‑Controller Shortage Coverage (CNN) Follow Jessica Ruttenber Website: levelupaviation.org LinkedIn: Jessica Ruttenber Follow Shaesta Waiz Website: shaestawaiz.com LinkedIn: Shaesta Waiz Instagram: @shaesta.waiz TikTok: @shaestawaiz Shaesta Waiz on YouTube YouTube (Aviate Platform) Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif Studio & Production & The Tallawah Group www.massifsp.com LinkedIn: Massif Studio & Production Website: www.TallawahWorldwide.com LinkedIn: The Tallawah Group For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices