In this exclusive interview, we sit down with *Abingdon Mullin,* a real-life pilot and the visionary founder of *The Abingdon Co,* www.abingdonco.com, the first watch brand built by and for adventurous women. From the cockpit to the boardroom, Abingdon shares how she shocked the watch industry with bold, functional, and fearless designs tailored to aviators, divers, and explorers.
Whether you're a *watch enthusiast,* a startup founder, or a woman breaking barriers in a male-dominated industry, this conversation delivers deep insights into *entrepreneurship, design innovation,* and building a purpose-driven brand that challenges the status quo.
- Why traditional watch brands overlook women
- The founding story of The Abingdon Co.
- Watch design for female pilots, divers & professionals
- Building a lifestyle brand for women who don’t play it safe
- What’s next for women in the watch industry
00:00 – Intro: The Christmas Dinner That Sparked a Watch Brand
01:08 – Welcome to the Show: Meet Abingdon Mullin
01:25 – Founding Abingdon Co. as a Flight Student
02:27 – How She Got Into Flying (Hint: Free Food)
04:03 – Early Aviation Career & Flying Across the Pacific
05:23 – Commemorating Flight Training with a Pilot’s Watch
06:00 – What She Needed in a Pilot’s Watch
07:12 – Lack of Options: Everything Was Too Big
08:07 – Flight Functions She Wanted: GMT, Stopwatch, Slide Rule
09:00 – Teaching Others How to Use Flight Functions
09:39 – Struggling to Find a Watch, Then Reaching Out to Brands
10:17 – The Christmas Dinner That Changed Everything
11:09 – Deciding to Build the Brand from Scratch
11:47 – Googling Her Way into Watch Manufacturing
13:13 – The First Watch: “The Jackie” Prototype
14:07 – Quick-Release Straps & User-Centered Design
15:24 – Why She Designed the Chevron Strap
15:56 – Early Reception & First Aviation Conference Booth
17:12 – Going on Shark Tank
18:03 – Shark Tank Reactions: Cuban, O'Leary, and More
20:32 – Entering the Dive Watch Market
21:28 – The Marina & Nadia Dive Watches
22:22 – Expanding into Tactical, Automotive, and Equine
23:55 – Does She Follow Other Watch Brands?
24:44 – Listening to Her Customers, Not Other Brands
25:30 – The Watch as a Symbol of Strength
26:37 – Abingdon Watches During Chemotherapy
27:18 – The Watch That Survived a Helicopter Crash
29:04 – Retirement at the Summit of Kilimanjaro
30:54 – How Watches Create Deep Human Connections
31:09 – Where to Buy Abingdon Watches
32:24 – Downtown Vegas Showroom Launch & Limited Edition Piece
33:11 – Thank You & Wrap-Up
🔗 *Connect with Abingdon Co.:*
🌐 Website: https://www.abingdonco.com
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theabingdonco/
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AbingdonCo
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abingdonco
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abingdonco
📌 Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/abingdonco
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