AVIATE with Shaesta

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 fought for suffrage to the trailblazing women who shattered glass ceilings in politics, women have played an essential role in shaping government and policy in the United States.

In 1848, the First Women's Rights Convention occurred in Seneca Falls, New York, led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. Both women gathered hundreds of people and demanded civil, social, political, and religious rights for women in a Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions.

On March 8, 1911, the first International Women's Day was marked by more than one million people across Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland gathered for women's suffrage and labor rights.  

Fast forward to 1946, in the inaugural session of the UN General Assembly, Eleanor Roosevelt read an "open letter to the women of the world," sharing the importance of women's involvement in national and international affairs.

For aviation history, from 1997 to 2022, Jane Garvey became the first female Administrator of the FAA under the Clinton Administration. Garvey was the daughter of an Air Force colonel who worked as the Airport Director for Boston's Logan International Airport in the early 1990s and then served as the first Deputy Administrator for the US Federal Highway Administration for four years. Her successor was Marion Blakey, who became the 15th Administrator of the FAA.

The history of women in transportation, policy, and the government is inspiring. Still, with only 28% of women in Congress, 30% of statewide elective executive offices led or co-led by women, and 31% of seats in state legislation held by women, we have a long way to go. We need more women in government and policy roles to help grow society, especially in aviation.

Here are a few reasons why women should consider a career in government:

Representation: Women are underrepresented in government and policy positions, so having more women in these roles is essential to bring diverse perspectives and experiences to the table.

Influence: Women in government and policy can significantly impact the policies and decisions that affect the lives of women and girls. They can advocate for policies that promote gender equality, address issues such as the gender pay gap, and improve women's access to healthcare and education.

Leadership: By pursuing careers in government and policy, women can become leaders and role models for other women and girls. They can demonstrate that women have the skills and expertise to lead and make a difference in society.

Networking: Working in government and policy can allow women to network with other influential leaders, build relationships, and gain valuable experience and skills.

Progress: Finally, women in government and policy can help drive improvement and create positive change in society. By working to promote policies that support gender equality, combat discrimination, and advance human rights, women can help make a more just and equitable world for everyone.

Overall, women should consider careers in government and policy because it is a path to leadership, impact, and progress and can help increase representation and diversity in decision-making roles.

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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, Rucsandra offers her international perspective on the flight attendant sector. She shares the biggest misconception about flight attendants, key takeaways from starting her own business, and her thoughts on the increasing episodes and assaults on flight attendants in commercial aviation.

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"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-Cola Company, Time Warner, Xerox, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and Hilton Worldwide. With her remarkable career, Laura offers her professional perspective on the power of a woman's voice.

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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 building apps since she was seven years old. By the 11th grade, Tsboui had created a few resourceful apps, like an app for the Apple Watch that guides users through CPR and Lilac, where non-English speaking parents can access childcare and housing resources, and finally, the app called Pilot Fast Track. Pilot Fast Track helps you find customized flight scholarships, explore opportunities in aviation, and discover resources to help fund your aviation endeavors.

Welcome, Angelina.

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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 why her story was important to share with you.

Madelyne started her career in aviation with Jet It in 2020 after completing her master's degree program. With little knowledge of the industry, she took a chance and started as a Marketing Intern. Since then, Madelyne has worked her way up to Marketing Manager, where she is able to lead and guide marketing efforts to build brand awareness. Passionate about service and DE&I, Madelyne volunteers with the RedTail Flight Academy helping them plan their inaugural graduation ceremony and consulting on their marketing efforts. Outside of aviation, she also sits on the Lowcountry Advisory Board for Multiplying Good, a national nonprofit focused on elevating public service and empowering the next generation of servant leaders.

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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 parent's support, Zahra enrolled at the University of Waterloo, where she pursued a bachelor's in mathematics. Waterloo provided Zahra with a nurturing and unbiased environment, which was vital since she spent most of her adolescent life being bullied by her classmates because she was an immigrant.

After fearlessly pursuing her love for numbers, Zahra's career includes accounting, auditing, and business advisory services to domestic and international companies. She has dedicated the past decade to serving in various financial and leadership roles for Boeing.  

Welcome, Zahra!

A special thank you to Atlantic Aviation for sponsoring our podcast and providing these critical conversations and insights to the industry. It has been four seasons now, and we appreciate your partnership.

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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 developing and using hardware systems for medical and microgravity experiments on the space shuttle and the International Space Station. Today, Director Wyche serves as the thirteenth Director of NASA Johnson Space Center, a position she has held since June of 2021.  

In this episode, we talk about how Vanessa grew up in South Carolina as a curious young girl. Director Wyche shares how her biology teacher introduced her to engineering. We discuss the importance of community, role models, and balancing life as a professional, mom, and wife. Finally, Director Wyche talks about Artemis One and what she is excited about with space exploration.

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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 four academic appointments including at Yale and Kings College-London and has published and delivered over 700 lectures. Dr. Mark has received numerous awards for her contributions to medicine, precision health, and emerging and disruptive technologies.  

In 2014, Mark authored her book, Stellar Medicine: A Journey Through the Universe of Women’s Health, which is available on Amazon.

In this episode, Saralyn talks about her career as the first-ever Senior Medical Advisor at NASA and shares some of the biggest takeaways. I asked Dr. Mark how we, as an industry, can better serve women. We dove into the concern for young professionals and their mental health in aviation. Finally, Saralyn talks about her work with iGIANT and how it supports women in the workplace through its lens.

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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, hope seemed so fragile. Her mentor stepped in and introduced Kendra to the world of Air Traffic. This introduction led Kendra to find her passion in life.

In my conversation with Kendra, she opens up about her childhood, marriage, motherhood, and divorce while pursuing a career in aviation. She also shares how by getting out of her comfort zone to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, she discovered new opportunities to empower women with similar backgrounds and help them find their place in the industry.

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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 relatively young and determined to bring change for women in aviation.

In this episode, we hear about Alina’s childhood in San Jose and how her interest in aviation, especially aviation law, came about. Alina also talks about a brief career change that helped define her career aspirations as an attorney. She shares insights about her profession. Finally, Alina talks about the IAWA “Soaring Through Glass Ceiling” report, which highlights how far women in aviation have come and pathways forward, that was published during her leadership at IAWA.

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