March marks Women’s History Month, and is the perfect time to reflect on how women have shaped the history of aviation, despite being a longtime male-dominated industry. From Amelia Earhart to Bessie Coleman, women have played integral roles in the rich history of our industry and have helped to shape the way people view the world by making air travel possible.
Tradewind’s trailblazing women team members have been leaders throughout the history of the company and continue to excel in their roles today, setting an example for all women currently in, or thinking about entering, the aviation industry. Continue reading for some valuable lessons our women team members learned throughout their careers while establishing themselves in a male-dominated industry.
Learn to Think Quickly
For Sarah Zimmerman, Tradewind’s Director of Safety and Regulatory Compliance, the fact that aviation is male-dominated held compelling possibilities and opportunity. “The challenge of this industry really intrigued me early on,” she shared. “There are so few women in this industry compared to men, in all areas, and I liked the idea of proving that anyone can do a job in this industry, regardless of gender, and that we are all equally capable.”
In college, Sarah learned to fly and got her degree in aviation management, then started at Tradewind as a Flight Coordinator. Through her seven years at Tradewind, Sarah has advanced to Director of Safety and Regulatory Compliance, where she’s learned that one of the most important skills to have in a high-stress position is the ability to think on your feet. “Being able to re-prioritize often is essential,” she says. “This industry and job are very dynamic and require the ability to shift focus often. To be successful and manage stress, you have to be able to manage lots of moving parts.”
Find a Community
Long intrigued by the freedom that came with flying, Lisa Mannina’s first foray into aviation was an introductory flight with a female flight instructor. “That was the first time I realized I could become a pilot as a woman,” she says. “Representation matters!”
Mannina currently serves as Tradewind’s Assistant Chief Pilot, but also holds a role as a Standards Captain, which means she mentors and serves as an advocate for the pilots employed by Tradewind. It’s a duty she takes seriously—especially because of how important mentorship and role models have been to her career.
“For any women that may be thinking of entering the aviation industry, I would highly recommend joining Women in Aviation, the Ninety-Nines, and any other aviation organizations geared towards women,” she says. “Being a part of these organizations really helped me along the way, as they provide support groups with a wealth of knowledge and advice. It also offers an opportunity to connect with female role models – seeing women as Captains when I was early in my career made me realize it was possible for me to do that too.”
Surround Yourself With People Who Motivate You
Maria Meyer, now Assistant Director of Operations for Tradewind, was 16 when she took her first discovery flight. With a father who had been a commercial pilot and loved taking her to airshows, she had long been curious about a career in aviation. “I started flight training in high school, and at that time there was no one else in my school who had the same interest,” she revealed. “It was hard to stay motivated when my friends didn’t understand my busy schedule and the only people motivating me were my parents and flight instructor.”
In college, she met people who shared her passion, and it was integral to keeping her on course with training and achieving her ratings. “Consistency is the key to success when flight training,” Meyer says. “Along the way, try to surround yourself with others who want to achieve the same goals and motivate each other. To succeed in this industry, find your passion, be persistent, and don’t be afraid to ask for advice!”
Don’t Take Put-Downs Personally
“When I was young, I was super interested in space and wanted to be an astrophysicist,” said Clara McGee, an aircraft mechanic who’s been with Tradewind for five years. “After I learned about what that job actually entailed, I realized that my expectations did not match the reality. I couldn’t see myself having a desk job, analyzing data, and doing paperwork every day.”
Her search for other career opportunities led her to A&P (aircraft mechanic) school. “Little did I know from the day I walked in, I’d fall in love with airplanes just as much as I loved all the space stuff. Every day in this career is something different and a new challenge, and I’m always learning something new.”
Though working in a male-dominated industry has its challenges, McGee has learned how to handle the tougher moments. “I find that some of the biggest [challenges] are all in your head,” she says. “Sometimes you might feel like you don’t belong or you’re not good enough, but you have to keep reminding yourself that you worked hard to get where you are. If someone tries to put you down, they may have a problem personally that they’re taking out on you, or they may be intimidated. Don’t take it personally—it almost always has nothing to do with you or your capabilities. You were hired for a reason!”
Never Stop Learning
Grace Richardson’s marketing career started in the food and beverage industry, but when she sought a change, she believed marketing Tradewind’s “sleek airplanes flying to interesting destinations would be a fun challenge.” She was proven right, and nine years later, Richardson has climbed to the role of Director of Marketing.
When providing advice for women who may be intimidated by an industry like aviation, Richardson offered that “most marketing tactics cross industries. The product or service you are marketing is what changes. If you are interested in the industry, but don’t have previous experience with aviation, don’t let that stop you from applying. Experiencing operations from the ground exposes you to all the intricacies that keep aircraft flying. No matter what your previous experiences are, you can always have something to offer with the opportunity to learn something new.”
