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PODCAST

AVIATE with Shaesta

Shaesta Waiz, Michael Wildes

AVIATE with Shaesta brings some of the most interesting female aviators together- trailblazers, record-setters, mothers, adventurers, entrepreneurs- to have honest conversations about what it means to be a woman in aviation. Join Shaesta Waiz, the Youngest Woman to Fly Solo Around the World, as she goes around the world (via a podcast) and connects with the industry to have honest conversations about being a woman in aviation. AVIATE, which stands for Acknowledge, Vocalize, Inclusion, Act, Travel,

society & culture relationships

All Episodes

31:02

The Cost of Silence: DEI Rollbacks, Safety, and the...

AVIATE with Shaesta ·

2025/09/18

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

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40:50

Purpose-Driven Leadership: Lynda Coffman on DEI,...

AVIATE with Shaesta ·

2025/09/04

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

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32:18

“Don’t Wait for the Invitation” — Aircraft Mechanic &...

AVIATE with Shaesta ·

2025/08/19

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

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39:23

A Business Case for DEI in Aviation with Jennifer...

AVIATE with Shaesta ·

2025/08/08

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

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26:16

If the Space Won’t Hold You, Move: Leadership and...

AVIATE with Shaesta ·

2025/07/31

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

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34:09

Why Ignoring DEI Is Aviation’s Biggest Safety Risk...

AVIATE with Shaesta ·

2025/07/24

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

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36:56

What Mervat Sultan Teaches Us About Building Equity...

AVIATE with Shaesta ·

2025/07/07

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,

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34:17

What the First Latina U.S. Air Force Pilot, Olga...

AVIATE with Shaesta ·

2025/06/19

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

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30:14

Capt. Lynn Rippelmeyer on Flying the 747, Mentorship,...

AVIATE with Shaesta ·

2025/06/12

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

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26:58

Jessica Ruttenber Exposes How DEI Rollbacks Threaten...

AVIATE with Shaesta ·

2025/06/05

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

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38:06

Sharon Preszler: 1st Woman in Combat talks Fighter...

AVIATE with Shaesta ·

2025/05/29

This is Aviate with Shaesta, and we’re opening Season 7 with a force of clarity, grit, and hard-earned wisdom. Sharon Preszler—trailblazer, retired Air Force fighter pilot, and advocate—joins us for a rare and brutally honest conversation on gender, performance, and the cost of systemic resistance in aviation today.As the first woman to become combat-ready in the F-16, Sharon didn’t just break a barrier—she carried the weight of proving an entire generation’s worth. In this conversation, she opens

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43:31

Advocating for Mental Health in Aviation with Capt....

AVIATE with Shaesta ·

2025/01/16

In this episode of the AVIATE with Shaesta podcast, we sit down with Capt. Reyne O’Shaughnessy, an airline veteran with 35 years of flying experience and the author of This Is Your Captain Speaking: What You Should Know About Your Pilot’s Mental Health. Reyne shares her inspiring journey from summer typist and flight attendant to the cockpit of the Boeing 747, offering an inside look at the challenges and triumphs of life as a pilot.Reyne opens up about the mental health challenges unique to

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35:43

A Fresh Perspective: Breaking Barriers and Building...

AVIATE with Shaesta ·

2025/01/08

In this episode of the AVIATE with Shaesta podcast, we’re joined by Reneta Johnson, a trailblazer in global commerce and aviation. Reneta’s unique journey—from aerospace engineering to leading international business development and strategy—offers a fresh perspective on the challenges and opportunities for women in aviation.Reneta shares her powerful story of overcoming barriers, navigating stereotypes, and building a successful career in a traditionally male-dominated industry. She discusses the

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39:37

Charting New Paths in Aviation Law with Lauren Lacey...

AVIATE with Shaesta ·

2024/11/27

In this episode of the AVIATE Podcast, Shaesta Waiz sits down with Lauren Lacey Haertlein, Deputy General Counsel for Policy and Regulatory at Joby Aviation. Lauren shares her unique journey from healthcare law to aviation, a career shift that stemmed from her passion for flight and a determination to follow her interests. This inspiring conversation dives into her experiences in aviation law, the impact of eVTOL technology, and the transformative role of advanced air mobility.Lauren also reflects

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46:08

EP 7 - Stephanie Goetz on Healing from Loss,...

AVIATE with Shaesta ·

2024/10/30

In this episode of the AVIATE with Shaesta, we sit down with Stephanie Goetz, a powerhouse of resilience, reinvention, and purpose. Stephanie’s journey is one of courage and transformation, navigating profound personal loss, redefining her path, and ultimately finding her passion for aviation later in life.From her beginnings as a news anchor to her evolution into a professional pilot and mental health advocate, Stephanie shares how she found healing, strength, and fulfillment by pushing beyond the

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45:19

EP 6 - From Combat to Creativity: Dr. Eileen A....

AVIATE with Shaesta ·

2024/10/18

In this episode of AVIATE with Shaesta, host Shaesta Waiz welcomes Dr. Eileen A. Bjorkman, a pioneer in aviation who has flown over 700 hours in more than 25 different aircraft, led groundbreaking flight test programs, and authored books highlighting the untold stories of women in aviation. Dr. Bjorkman shares her fascinating journey, from growing up in a military family to becoming a flight test engineer, and how she navigated a male-dominated field with resilience and determination.The

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53:24

EP 5 - Bobbi Wells: Creating a Pathway for Women in...

AVIATE with Shaesta ·

2024/10/09

In this podcast episode, aviation leader Bobbi Wells shares her experiences and insights, reflecting on her childhood in Wyoming, where her fondest memory was singing Christmas carols on a horse-drawn sleigh. Bobbi describes how her curiosity led her from logistics into aviation and emphasizes the importance of asking questions in aviation safety. She discusses the significance of diversity and inclusion, stressing the value of having diverse voices in decision-making. Bobbi highlights her role on

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53:01

EP 4 - Dorothy Cochrane: The Evolution of Women’s...

AVIATE with Shaesta ·

2024/09/24

Today, we have the distinct honor of speaking with Dorothy Cochrane, a true pioneer in aviation history and one of the most highly regarded curators at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Since joining the Smithsonian in 1977, Dorothy has been a driving force behind the preservation, research, and exhibition of aviation’s rich legacy. Her career has spanned decades of innovation and change in the aviation world, but what sets Dorothy apart is her ability to amplify the stories that have

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47:38

EP 3 - Becky Lutte: The Need for More Research on...

AVIATE with Shaesta ·

2024/09/17

Dr. Rebecca Lutte, an aviation education and research expert, discusses the barriers facing women in aviation and the importance of data-driven solutions. She emphasizes the need to address negative workplace culture, including bias and harassment, as a primary barrier to recruiting, retaining, and advancing women in the industry. Dr. Lutte also highlights the importance of support structures and outreach programs for underrepresented groups. She suggests that industry and government initiatives,

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34:52

Kelly Jost on Gender Equality in Aviation

AVIATE with Shaesta ·

2024/09/10

Today on the AVIATE podcast, we are thrilled to welcome Kelly Jost, a civil engineer and principal at C&S Companies, who shares her journey and insights in the aviation industry. Kelly's passion for engineering began in her childhood in Michigan, inspired by her father's construction projects. Her fascination with aviation was sparked by a fifth-grade project on Amelia Earhart, and her commitment deepened after her first solo flight in eighth grade.As a leader in airport planning, design, and

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86 results

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