Throughout my career, I have had many individuals who have given me incredible support, from mentoring, flight training and career guidance and plenty of right hand seats for the fun of it. I feel that I have been truly blessed by so many of these people who have given their time and support freely to nurture and grow my skills and my passion for the industry and because of this support, I feel that it is incredibly important to pay it forward and support others on their aviation journey, and I am especially passionate about supporting other women in the industry.
I believe that by promoting an industry that is fully diverse will help create a more inclusive and equitable industry. By supporting each other we can help to break down barriers and create new opportunities for all who are interested in aviation.
Over the years I have often been the only woman in the room during my flight training, and it has been a lonely journey. Its time for a more balanced and diverse industry, and I whole heartedly believe that it is vitally important for women to support other women and pay it forward in aviation for several reasons:
Promoting diversity and inclusion: Supporting and promoting other women in aviation is a way to promote diversity and inclusion in the industry. By working together and supporting one another, women can help to create a more diverse and inclusive culture in aviation.
Addressing historical gender bias: Women have historically been excluded from many professions, including aviation. Some people may feel passionate about supporting more women in aviation as a way to address this historical gender bias and create a more equitable and inclusive industry.
Promoting diversity and innovation: Research has shown that more diverse teams are more innovative and effective, and may be better equipped to solve complex problems. Some people may be passionate about supporting more women in aviation because they believe that increasing diversity in the industry will lead to new ideas and solutions.
Encouraging girls and women to pursue STEM fields: The aviation industry is heavily reliant on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills, which are typically male-dominated fields. By supporting more women in aviation, some people may hope to encourage girls and women to pursue STEM fields and break down barriers to their participation.
Creating role models for future generations: By supporting more women in aviation and promoting their achievements, some people may hope to create role models for young girls and women who are interested in pursuing careers in the industry. This can help to inspire and motivate future generations of female aviators.
You don't have to give up hours of your time, you can can support other women in many different ways, there are many platforms and organizations that offer pathways for support, some examples of how you can pay it forward are;
Mentorship: One way to pay it forward is by mentoring others who are looking to enter your field or who may benefit from your experience. This can involve sharing advice and expertise, helping to build connections, and providing guidance on career development.
Volunteer work: Another way to pay it forward is by volunteering your time and skills to help others. This can involve working with community organizations, charities, or non-profit groups to support important causes and make a positive impact on the world.
Donations: If you have the means, donating to charities or organizations that support causes you care about is another way to pay it forward. This can help to provide resources and support to those who need it most.
Random acts of kindness: Sometimes, small gestures of kindness can make a big difference in someone's day. Whether it's offering a listening ear, helping someone with a task, or simply providing a kind word, paying it forward through random acts of kindness can help to spread positivity and kindness.
Supporting other women in aviation is important not only for individual success but also for the progress and growth of the industry as a whole. By paying it forward, women can help to create a more equitable and inclusive future for all in aviation. Together we can all contribute and support our future aviators!
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