AVIATE with Shaesta

Cat Clay Wren's Rise in Business Aviation

Meet Cat Clay Wren, a remarkable leader in the business aviation sector and the Chief Experience Officer at Business Jets in Dallas, Texas. Originating from a small town in southwest New Mexico, Cat's journey from a rural upbringing to a prominent role in aviation is a testament to her resilience and adaptability. Transitioning from college basketball to business aviation, she has swiftly climbed the corporate ladder, breaking barriers in a male-dominated field. Cat's leadership style is cha...

Shattering the Sky: Retired Col. Merryl Tengesdal, the First and Only Black Female U-2 Pilot

Introduction: Introduction of Col. Merryl Tengesdal (Retired), author of "Shatter the Sky: What Going to the Stratosphere Taught Me about Self-worth, Sacrifice, and Discipline." Brief overview of her unique achievement as the first and only African American woman to fly the U-2 spy plane. Background: Merryl's upbringing in the Bronx and her early fascination with space exploration. The journey from her childhood aspirations to joining the military with the goal of becoming an astronaut....

From PR and Sales to the Corner Office: Emily Deaton's Climb to CEO of JetAVIVA

In this episode of the 'AVIATE with Shaesta' podcast, we're joined by Emily Deaton, an influential leader in the aviation industry. Born and raised on Florida's Space Coast, Emily shares stories from her childhood, describing her childhood memories as a 'river rat' kid amidst rocket launches. She delves into her academic journey, highlighting her shift from an aspiring sports agent to a PR expert at the University of Florida.   Emily candidly discusses her diverse career trajectory, starti...

Flight and Family: Julia Harrington's Aviation and Motherhood Journey

About Julia Harrington: Lead Captain and Base Manager at Axis Jet in Chicago. Known for her pioneering role as a woman in the aviation industry. Balances her professional career with motherhood. Early Interests and Influences: Julia shares her initial fascination with Business Aviation. Recounts her experiences at the EAA AirVenture, sparking her interest in aviation. Discusses family influences and early role models in her life. Educational Journey: Details her educational path at ...

From Family Legacy to Aviation Leadership: Jenny Showalter's Journey

This week on the "AVIATE with Shaetsa" podcast, Jenny Showalter delved into her family's aviation legacy and career trajectory. She reminisced about growing up in Orlando, the origins of Showalter Flying Service, and the family's deep connection to the Orlando Executive Airport. Jenny shared fond childhood memories, discussed the emotional sale of the family business in 2015, and reflected on her subsequent roles, including her leadership in the Florida Aviation Business Association. Despite...

From NASA to the White House: Ezinne Uzo-Okoro's Journey and AVIATE Principles in Space Policy

This week on the AVIATE with Shaesta podcast, I speak to Ezinne Uzo-Okoro, Assistant Director of Space Policy for the White House. With her incredible career in aerospace, I asked Ezinne specific questions around the AVIATE (Acknowledge, Vocalize, Inclusion, Act, and Evolve) theme.   From humble beginnings in Nigeria, where she sought solutions to everyday problems, Ezinne Uzo-Okoro has charted an extraordinary path. Her journey, marked by curiosity and resilience, led her from aspirations ...

Kodey Bogart, Retired Army Aviator, Educator, Entrepreneur, & Author: turning adversity into her superpower.

Kodey Bogart, Retired Army Aviator, Educator, Entrepreneur, & Author: turning adversity into her superpower.     As many of us are familiar, adversity is a universal and inevitable part of life that most of us face through challenges like illness, loss, financial hardship, and the growing pains of life. Adversity is non-discriminatory, affecting all individuals regardless of gender, race, or socioeconomic status. No person is immune from it. While adversity introduces difficulties, it also...

Elevating the Future: A look into Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and the opportunities for women with Elan Head

In 2018, I was invited to be a speaker at a conference in the Midwest. Before I got on the stage to present my keynote, the session before me was talking about a new concept that I remember briefly hearing about as a student at Embry-Riddle, Advance Air Mobility (AAM). The speaker mentioned how AAM is the future of aviation, and that it will revolutionize air travel as we know it.   AAM is known as the development, integration, and utilization of new airborne transportation systems, typica...

Joan Sullivan Garrett on entrepreneurship and enhancing the safety and well-being of individuals traveling far from home.

Born with an innate curiosity and a passion for making a difference, Joan Sullivan Garrett embarked on her professional journey with a clear mission: to enhance the safety and well-being of individuals traveling far from home. As a 1979 graduate of the Mesa Community College nursing program, and her extensive background in healthcare and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by travelers, Joan recognized the need for specialized medical assistance and support in remote locations. In ...

The first female to serve as the FAA Acting Administrator, Linda Hall Daschle

When I launched the AVIATE with Shaesta podcast, it was a priority to find women in government who could talk about their career journey and their impact on the industry. In my research, I came across the first female to serve as the FAA Acting Administrator, Linda Hall Daschle. Recently, a very kind and supportive aviation leader introduced me to Linda, and I am so grateful to him. Linda, a Kansas native, is a prominent public policy and government affairs figure. Daschle has served as a s...

Southwest Flight 1380 Captain, Tammie Jo Shults, reflects on her life and talks managing her mental health throughout her career | Tammie Jo Shults, retired commercial airline captain, author, and former naval aviator

Mental health in aviation is a critical issue affecting pilots and the entire aviation ecosystem. The high-pressure environment, long hours, irregular schedules, and extended periods away from home can cause significant stress on pilots, leading to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and burnout. There is limited research on mental health issues among pilots, but studies suggest that pilots may be at higher risk than the general population. Here are some statistics based on av...

'Somebody who has already walked that path, can help you get there faster—find yourself a mentor.' | Lynda Tran, Director of Public Engagement and Senior Advisor to the to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation

A powerful statement on the UN Women website read, "A single moment can spark a revolution, collective actions can transform laws, creative expression can change attitudes, and an invention can alter the course of history. It's these threads that weave together to propel the women's movement — even in the face of obstacles." The history of women in government and policy is a long and complex one, marked by struggles for equality, representation, and recognition. From the early pioneers who ...

'Do what you love, love what you do. Believe you can, and you'll be half way there.' | Rucsandra Magdalena Mihai, Founder and Managing Partner at Train Aviation offers her international perspective on the flight attendant sector

Joining us on the AVIATE with Shaesta podcast this week is Rucsandra Magdalena Mihai, Founder and Managing Partner at Train Aviation in Romania. Rucsandra also serves as the Vice President of Women in Corporate Aviation. Mahai has over 30 years of experience working as a Corporate Flight Attendant, flying predominately in Africa, Europe, and the United States. Her company offers Silver Service for Corporate flight attendant training, EASA Cabin Crew training, and more. In our conversation, ...

'I'm doing a great job if the people around me are going to be able to pass me one day.' | Laura Heltebran, Chief Legal Officer, Wheels Up

"Every woman's success should be an inspiration to another. We're strongest when we cheer each other on." Our guest this week on the AVIATE with Shaesta podcast is Laura Heltebran. Laura received a Bachelor and Doctor of Law from George Mason University. She serves as a C-suit executive- the Chief Legal Officer at Wheels Up. During her free time, Laura takes flight lessons and works towards her Private Pilot License. Heltebran has worked and represented Fortune 500 companies like The Coca-C...

'Global problem have local roots. By solving a problem within your community, you can solve a global one.' — Angelina Tsboui | Teen Software Developer Prodigy

According to We Are Tech Women, role models can be a vital influence on anyone's career, providing guidance, support, advice, and much more. This is especially true for women in technology, where it can be hard to establish yourself. This encouraged us to find an inspiring young woman who is paving her path in aviation and Tech. Our guest this week on the AVIATE with Shaesta podcast is Angelina Tsboui.   Angelina has been solving problems through her passion for computer coding and buildin...

'Self awareness and your values will always guide you to where you need to be' — Madelyne Paulk | Marketing and Communications Manager, Jet It

Our guest this week is Madelyne Paulk, the Marketing and Communications Manager at Jet It. I recently met Madelyne at an aviation conference, and I was drawn to how genuine, professional, and personable she is. Moments after speaking with her, I immediately knew she would be a great guest to feature on this podcast, and her perspective on diversity and inclusion would be valuable to the audience. Madelyne had some reservations initially because she was new to aviation, which was precisely wh...

'Financial literacy and women's empowerment go hand in hand' — Zahra Hirani | Chief Financial Officer, Boeing Capital

The launch of season four of the AVIATE with Shaesta is here. This week's special guest is Zahra Hirani, the Chief Financial Officer of Boeing Capital Corporation. Zahra has a compelling story that I resonate with. In 1972, Hirani and her family were expelled from their home in Uganda and were placed in a refugee camp in the United Kingdom. Eventually, Zahra and her family settled in Canada, where she would spend her early years figuring out her place in the world and her passions. With her ...

Vanessa Wyche is the 13th Director of the NASA Johnson Space Center. She just helped launch Artemis 1

Our guest in this episode is Director Vanessa Wyche from the NASA Johnson Space Center. Wyche is a dual alumna of Clemson University, where she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree in engineering. She began her career at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and eventually found her way to NASA in 1989. At NASA, Vanessa has served in different positions, like Project Manager within the Space and Life Science Directorate. In this role, Wyche applied her engineering background towards de...

Dr. Saralyn Mark, Founder and CEO of iGIANT: Gender diversity is not just 'Pink it and shrink it'

Dr. Saralyn Mark is a world-renowned leader in women's health and precision innovation. She founded SolaMed Solutions, LLC, a premier consulting firm, and iGIANT®, a nonprofit accelerator for gendered innovation, to provide scientific and strategic direction and public outreach for agencies, academia, industry, and professional and advocacy organizations. Dr. Mark served as the Senior Scientific Policy Advisor to the White House and the Senior Medical Advisor to HHS and NASA.   She holds fo...

Canadian Air Traffic Controller Kendra Kincade turned her life around and is now Elevating Women in Aviation.

Our guest today, Kendra Kincade, wears several hats, but she is most recognized as a celebrated Canadian Air Traffic Controller and Founder/Chair at Elevate Aviation.   Kendra’s introduction to aviation came later in life at age 24. She was a single mother of four with no aviation background at the time. At age 13, Kendra ran away from home and eventually settled in a foster home. She got married at age 18 and started growing her family. When Kendra found herself going through a divorce, ho...

How Alina Nassar followed a career pathway in aviation law but is still charting her own course.

Our guest today is aviation attorney Alina Nassar. Alina was born and raised in Costa Rica. Her father, an attorney, also had a love for aviation that was passed along to Alina. As a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and the prestigious university in Belgium, KU Lueven, Alina practices Aviation and Competition Law as a partner in her home country. I met Alina a few years back when she became the president of the International Aviation Women’s Association (IAWA). She was relative...

How did Stephanie Espy go from being a chemical engineer to sucessful entrepreneur?

As a young girl growing up in Atlanta, chemistry and math were a passion for Stephanie Espy, our podcast guest, this week. This passion followed Stephanie to college, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from MIT. Upon earning her degree, Stephanie became one of the women who earned 19 percent of bachelor’s degrees in engineering, as well as one of the minority women awarded 3 percent of bachelor’s degrees in engineering.   Stephanie went on to further her educatio...

Disabilty doesn't mean inabilty. | Jessica Cox, world's first licensed armless pilot

Our guest today is the extraordinary Jessica Cox. Jessica is the world’s first licensed armless pilot, as well as the first armless black belt in Taekwondo and a certified Suba diver. Born with a rare birth defect, Jessica adapted to life without arms by using her feet to support her everyday activities. In my conversation with Jessica, we talked about changing the narrative, breaking barriers, and how she is setting up aviation to be more supportive of people who have disabilities.

How Do I Tell My Parents I Want to Focus on My Career and Not Get Married? | Lalitya Dhavala, Aerospace Engineer

Our guest today, to launch us into season three, is Lalitya Dhavala. Lalitya, who joined me from London, is an aviation consultant working for Ascend, the consultancy arm of the aviation analytics firm Cirium, aerospace engineer, and Board member of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Originally from India, Lalitya grew up in the United Arab Emirates in a passionate family about education. Following in her father’s footsteps, Lalitya decided to become an engineer at a young age. In 2013, she re...

Colonel Nicole Malachowski was the first female pilot for the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. A tick bite suddenly changed her life and career.

Our guest today, who will conclude season two of the AVIATE with Shaesta podcast, is Colonel  Nicole Malachowski. At age 5, during a time when women were not permitted to fly for the military, Nicole knew that someday, she would fly a fighter jet. Finishing fourth in her class, Nicole graduated from pilot training at Columbus AFB, Mississippi, and was selected for the only F-15E slot allotted to her class. Nicole has served in a few operational tours and went into combat for the United State...

Vanessa Blacknall-Jamison was the first woman and non-pilot Chairwoman of OBAP. Mentorship has been her brand her entire career.

Vanessa Blacknall-Jamison is our podcast guest today. Some of you may be familiar with Vanessa’s leadership from OBAP (the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals) or her advocacy and hard work with the FAA. Vanessa grew up in Denver, Colorado, and was introduced to aviation by her mother, a Flight Attendant talent recruiter. Inspired by her mother’s ability to connect with people and her work in aviation, Vanessa started her career as a Flight Attendant. In the last 40-plus years, Va...

Jessica Webster is a corporate pilot and Founder & President of Hera Aviation Group. She has a plan to change workforce rules for mothers and primary caregivers.

Today, our guest is a corporate pilot, Founder and President of the Hera Aviation Group, and mommy of two, Jessica Webster. As a Massachusetts native, Jessica attended airshows with her family and admired the aircraft from afar. It wasn't until the Commander of a P-3 Orion invited Jessica to sit on the aircraft's wing with the crew that she believed aviation was a career possibility. It was a defining moment that inspired her to pursue flight. After a non-linear path to becoming a corporate ...

Amy Spowart, President & CEO of National Aviation Hall of Fame, plays a big role in shaping the narrative, from the past to future.

Joining me on this episode of the AVIATE with Shaesta podcast is the CEO and President of the National Aviation Hall of Fame, Amy Spowart. Amy grew up in central Pennsylvania and took a non-traditional route in aviation. Her first flight experience was when she was 19 years old on a TWA flight.  Although Amy had her hesitations about flying for the first time, this was a big deal back home in her hometown, where people didn’t travel much. During her twenties, Amy lived in England, and when ...

Chief Executive Officer of The Registry of Aruba, Alexandria (Alex) Colindres, pivots from art to aviation.

Our guest today is the Chief Executive Officer of The Registry of Aruba, Alexandria (Alex) Colindres. Alex had fond childhood memories of spending her summers at The Registry of Aruba, which is a company founded by her dad. Although she was surrounded by business aviation, Alex had a soaring interest in the arts. After receiving a bachelor’s in fine arts and a master’s in art management from Columbia College Chicago, Alex started her art career in Miami, working for an Art Gallery and Spinel...

Founder and CEO of Infinite Branches, Shelley Svoren, has worked in Finance for more than 30 years. She joins to talk about the importance of community.

Today, our guest, Shelley Svoren, is the Founder and CEO of Infinite Branches, which connects and transforms business aviation investments. With over 30 years of experience in finance, Shelley received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon in Finance, Economics, International Business, and Scandinavian Studies. Her interest in aviation came from her father, who served in the marine corp, but because she didn’t see people in aviation who looked like her, she didn’t explore the i...

NTSB Investigator and Guyanese Guyana’s first female pilots Beverly Drake talks about embracing unchartered territories

Our guest today is Guyanese American pilot Beverly Drake. In the 1970’s Beverley became one of Guyana’s first female pilots, flying both military for the Guyana Defense Force and commercial operations for Guyana Airways. By the end of the 1970s, Beverly left her country as a celebrated aviator, got married, had her first child while settling in America, and embarked on a different career track as an analyst for Goldman Sachs. Longing to return to aviation, Drake decided to work as an investi...

NTSB Investigator and Guyana’s first female pilot Beverly Drake talks about embracing unchartered territories

Our guest today is Guyanese American pilot Beverly Drake. In the 1970’s Beverley became one of Guyana’s first female pilots, flying both military for the Guyana Defense Force and commercial operations for Guyana Airways. By the end of the 1970s, Beverly left her country as a celebrated aviator, got married, had her first child while settling in America, and embarked on a different career track as an analyst for Goldman Sachs. Longing to return to aviation, Drake decided to work as an investi...

Aviation has a cognitive bias problem, and Kimberly Perkins, a Gulfstream G650 Captain & PhD candidate wants to fix it

Our guest today is Kimberly Perkins who is a Gulfstream 650 Captain, writer, researcher, and mother to two adorable girls. Discovering the possibility of an aviation career during a college campus tour, Kimberly was determined to earn her wings to fly. After building her flight time and finding unique ways to instruct pilots, Kimberly landed a job flying a CRJ for a US regional air carrier. When the 2008 recession hit, impacting air travel, Kimberly moved to a different continent to operate ...

Airline Pilot & Author Carole Hopson writes her own script for her career, and Bessie Coleman

Carole Hopson, our guest today, is a New Jersey native who took notice of the airplanes flying above her in the sky at the young age of four. Although she admired flight because she didn't see other black women pilots, let alone pilots who wore glasses like her, Carole didn't consider an aviation career.  She went on to earn her bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia and a master's in journalism from Columbia University. Carole's impressive career path includes being a journalist...

President of the Drone Racing League, Rachel Jacobson, talks about drone racing, tech, and aviation.

Rachel Jacobson, President of the Drone Racing League, is our guest launching us into season two, centering our conversation on the Act theme in AVIATE. A New Jersey Native, Rachel graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor's in Hotel and Business Management. Rachel spent 21 years at the National Basketball Association (NBA), where her career culminated as the Senior Vice President of Business Development. Rachel pivoted from the NBA and followed her other passion in tech by joining L...

Zara Rutherford, Youngest Woman to Fly Solo Around the World in A Single Engine Airplane, discusses her journey to take over my record.

Zara Rutherford, the Youngest Woman to Fly Solo Around the World, joins me in the exclusive conversation where we discuss her historic and inspiring trip around the world. On January 20, 2022, Zara broke my record of being the youngest woman to fly solo around the world at the young age of 19, capturing the hearts of so many who followed her flight. As we launched season two of the podcast, it is important to capture this historical moment of two earth-rounder women coming together to share t...

Part 1: “We almost never got off the ground.” – Behind the scenes highlights & what MLK & Afghanistan have in common| with Executive Producer, Michael Wildes

Michael Wildes, our Executive Producer for Aviate with Shaesta, joins for a very special season one, three-part series recap. Michael stays busy. Outside of his role as Producer, Michael is the Business Editor for Flying Magazine and sits on the board of Dreams Soar. Michael is also a pilot, recently working at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University as a Check-Pilot. In this episode, you’ll hear how the podcast came together from its inception, and hear how we worked behind the scenes for many ...

Part 2: Shaesta learns how to say “No”, a complete sentence. Favorite Moments, Mental Health, Pioneers, Motherhood, social media, & Self-Advocacy | with Executive Producer, Michael Wildes

Michael Wildes, Executive Producer for Aviate with Shaesta returns for this second episode of a three-part season one review. This time we discuss our favorite moments of the season. Did Michael answer fully? You decide. She reveals why it was important to lead off with Mental Health and we briefly outline our plans for more. Michael shares what he learned from Ariel Tweto’s episode. Finally, we gush about Stephanie Chung. In this episode: Mental Health with Airline Pilot, Linda Berlin, Pio...

Part 3: Michael, a Patty Wagstaff “superfan”; Shaesta shares the Pressure women face to be perfect, Why people are leaving their jobs, Nicole Stott, & Atlantic Aviation.

In this final of three-part season one review series, Michael Wildes, Executive Producer for Aviate with Shaesta returns. Michael joins to talk about why he’s a “superfan” of Patty Wagstaff: hint, she’s a 3-peat legend. Shaesta shares the pressure women face to be perfect, as we review Episode 7 with Erika Armstrong. Michael wants to know if Shaesta feels pressure to be perfect. Is there a premium to being a woman in a male-dominated space? Also, we reveal and discuss why the episode with Kia...

Part 3: Shaesta shares the Pressure women face to be perfect; Why we admire Patty Wagstaff; People are leaving their jobs, Nicole Stott, & Atlantic Aviation.

In this final of three-part season one review series, Michael Wildes, Executive Producer for Aviate with Shaesta returns. Michael joins to talk about why he’s a “superfan” of Patty Wagstaff: hint, she’s a 3-peat legend. Shaesta shares the pressure women face to be perfect, as we review Episode 7 with Erika Armstrong. Michael wants to know if Shaesta feels pressure to be perfect. Is there a premium to being a woman in a male-dominated space? Also, we reveal and discuss why the episode with Kia...

"I was not okay." | Talking about mental health in aviation.

"My hero, Jerrie Mock." | Pioneers who paved the way.

"Where was my village?" | My Motherhood journey, so far.

"Instagrammable moments." | Handling social media pressures.

"I had to learn how to speak up." | Being your best advocate.

"I wanted to fly...like Gwyneth Paltrow." | How my new passport empowered me.

"Ma'am, where's the pilot?" | The price women in aviation pay.

"Space, drones, airport designs, eVTOLs, Biofuels..." | Innovation is improving the way we fly.

"My New Flight Bag." | Innovation is improving the way we fly.

"The first time I travelled." | Finding my passion and the courage to pursue it.