Mandy Hickson
Former Royal Air Force Fast Jet Pilot
Mandy Hickson is a former Royal Air Force pilot and trained Human Factors facilitator. She was the only female pilot on her Front-Line Tornado Squadron, flying multimillion-pound fast jets for the Royal Air Force.
"Mandy embodies the true meaning of a motivational speaker"
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Mandy has operated in hostile environments, including patrolling the 'No Fly' zone over Iraq. Along with her unit, she carried the last weaponry and was ready to drop ordnance upon orders. Her route to the skies was intense and tumultuous; at age 17, she received a Royal Air Force flying scholarship. Although an expert in practice, she failed her mandatory computer-based tests, but with reference to her excellent skills in the skies, she convinced the Royal Air Force to accept her as a test case. With unyielding determination, Mandy has overcome great hurdles in her career. These experiences led her to co-found Inspiring Women for Work, an organisation that helps women rebuild the confidence that they need to return to work and realise their full potential after a career break.
WHAT she OFFERS YOU
Mandy relates her experiences of working within an elite team of fast jet operators to audiences with great clarity, outlining how the same values apply within any environment. She has a remarkable insight into decision making under pressure, calculated risk taking, and the critical role of humans in advanced systems.