WAI2026 On-Demand - 3. Mid-Career - Lead, Evolve, Impact

Navigating New Heights - Women, Leadership and AI

In today's rapidly evolving landscape, the intersection of leadership, artificial intelligence (AI), and the impact on women in leadership roles is more crucial than ever. This talk will delve into how modern leadership within aviation is being reshaped by innovative technologies while emphasizing the necessity of maintaining a human-centric approach in the age of AI.

Women, with their innate ability to prioritize empathy and collaboration, are well-suited to leverage these advancements to enhance their roles and the work of their teams, ensuring that technology serves people rather than the other way around. 

Featuring: Nancy Coleman (Dean, Harvard Extension School and Continuing Studies)

1h 1m 51s

Navigating Challenges in the Aviation Industry

"Navigating Challenges in the Aviation Industry" provides aviation professionals with a comprehensive overview of key challenges faced by the industry. Leadership in aviation doesn't just fly planes—it's the entire airport ecosystem. Today, our world moves at jet speed. Airports are global villages, trains run driverless, and drones deliver packages to our doorsteps. Leadership now? It’s far more complex—and far more human.

We will explore how leadership styles in transportation and aviation have evolved—from the rigid commanding military style through the collaborative adaptive structure of today and where we are going with the tech styles. 

Featuring: Dr. Janette McMurtrie, Psy.D. Clinical Psychologist, Aviation Specialist, Captain (Ret.), Former Chief Pilot, Check Airman, Business Consultant

54m 33s

Fighter Pilot Forum

What does it take to fly the fastest, most advanced and most lethal aircraft ever built? This is the chance to find out from the women who fly them. This session will examine how to become a fighter pilot - the flying skills, the mind set, and the personal characteristics required. We will discuss types of advanced training and the different fighter missions with pilots from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps.

You will be inspired by true stories of flying in combat and learn what it takes to fly the most high performance aircraft in the world. 

Featuring: Col. Julie Tizard , ATP/USAF Pilot Sharon Preszler (737 Captain at Southwest Airlines F-16 Instructor Pilot) Cathyrine Armandie Melanie Kluesner

1h 8m 18s

Allyship in Action - Moving from Awareness to Impact

In today's interconnected world, effective allyship goes beyond good intentions to create meaningful change. This presentation introduces a practical approach to transforming passive support into active engagement. Through evidence-based strategies and real-world examples, participants will learn how to develop authentic allyship skills, including managing implicit bias, amplifying marginalized voices, and creating sustainable support structures.

Moving beyond performative gestures, we'll explore how meaningful allyship drives innovation and builds inclusive environments in both professional and personal contexts. Attendees will leave with actionable tools for implementing effective ally practices.

Featuring: Alison Faddis (Director, Aviation Operations for Amazon Global Air)

1h 2m 37s