Advertise on podcast: AVIATE with Shaesta

What does it really take to work as a corporate flight attendant? In this episode of AVIATE, I sit down with Kelly Carrillo, who has spent the past nine years working in business aviation and is now taking her experience in some exciting new directions. We talk about the side of corporate aviation passengers rarely see, from preparing different aircraft for flight to the importance of cabin safety and hands-on emergency training. Kelly also shares how the challenges she experienced as an independent contractor led her to create PROLOCKD, a new platform designed to make it easier for aviation professionals and flight departments to connect. And in 2027, she'll take on another role as president of the Northern California Business Aviation Association. I really enjoyed hearing how Kelly's career has evolved, from taking her first flying lessons to becoming a flight attendant, entrepreneur, and industry leader. It's a conversation about finding your place in aviation, recognizing opportunities to make things better, and helping others along the way. Learn more about PROLOCKD: https://prolockd.com AVIATE with Shaesta is made possible through the continued support of Atlantic Aviation. 01:24 Meet Kelly Carrillo 02:20 From Flying Lessons to Corporate Aviation 05:04 Cabin Safety and Emergency Preparedness 07:57 Bringing a Flight Attendant's Perspective to Leadership 11:12 Building Community in Business Aviation 13:40 The Future of Cabin Crew Training 16:20 Introducing PROLOCKD 18:30 How PROLOCKD Works 20:06 Turning Experience into Innovation 22:31 What Kelly Is Building Toward Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AI is changing how we work, but what does that mean for the people behind aviation? Shaesta Waiz sits down with Paula Sacks, Chief Human Resources Officer at Atlantic Aviation, to explore how AI could reshape the aviation workforce and why human judgment, mentorship, trust and leadership may become even more valuable as technology advances. Paula shares where she sees opportunities for AI, from reducing time-intensive work to supporting frontline operations, while making the case for protecting something technology cannot replicate: the wisdom and judgment that come from experience. They also discuss attracting and retaining women in aviation, the small leadership moments that shape careers, and why Paula believes building better leaders is essential to building the workforce aviation needs next. What happens when AI gives us more capacity? The opportunity may be to spend more time doing the work only humans can do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when you love aviation, but it isn’t your only passion? Marlis D’Souza built a career as an aerospace engineer and genuinely loved the work. But she was also an artist. In this episode of AVIATE, Shaesta Waiz sits down with Marlis to talk about stepping away from the expected career path, building a life around more than one passion, and discovering that engineering and art weren’t as separate as they seemed. Marlis shares the realities of building a creative business, what her engineering background brings to her art, and why four years spent building something of her own shouldn’t be viewed as a “career gap.” The conversation also explores a bigger question for aviation: Can we create careers that give talented people room to evolve without asking them to fit into one professional identity? In this episode:• Going against the traditional engineering career path• Building a sustainable life around a passion• How engineering influences Marlis’s art• Why unconventional career paths can build valuable skills• Making room for more than one passion• What Marlis is building toward Explore Marlis’s artwork:ArtsyByM — artsybym.com About AVIATE with Shaesta:AVIATE features conversations with women shaping what comes next in aviation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when a policy that looks reasonable on paper doesn’t work in real life? In this episode of AVIATE with Shaesta, I sit down with Samantha Sliney, an attorney, Air Force veteran, current Air National Guard officer, author, and policy advocate, to talk about how lived experience can become a catalyst for meaningful change. Samantha’s advocacy began with a problem she experienced herself: traveling for military duty while breastfeeding and discovering there was no policy to reimburse the cost of shipping breast milk home. What started as one frustrating experience eventually connected her with other women facing similar barriers and led to broader policy work. We talk about how to recognize when an individual challenge points to a larger systemic issue, why data alone rarely tells the whole story, and what Samantha learned from efforts to rethink policies around flying while pregnant. She also explains the shift from a “no, because” approach to a “yes, but” framework, one that acknowledges risk while giving women greater agency in decisions about their careers. Today, Samantha is continuing that work through White Lace & Combat Boots, her platform for advocacy and storytelling. She is also the co-author of All the Things Our Mommy Can Do and author of All the Things Our Daddy Can Do, children's books that challenge traditional assumptions about careers, caregiving, and gender roles. Learn more about Samantha, her advocacy, and her books:https://www.whitelaceandcombatboots.com/ 02:14 Meet Samantha 02:41 The experience that started Samantha’s policy advocacy04:37 Why support matters for women building careers and families06:07 When does a personal problem become a policy problem?08:39 What happens when you’re the first woman facing a barrier?09:21 Rethinking flying while pregnant: From “no, because” to “yes, but”12:28 Giving women agency over career and risk decisions13:11 Where military aviation policy stands today15:51 Building White Lace and Combat Boots18:08 What Samantha is building toward20:00 Why policy and culture are connected21:00 Changing culture through children’s books22:24 Where to find Samantha’s books Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Building What’s Next with Lisa DeFrees What does it take to build a career in aviation that can evolve alongside the industry? In this episode of the AVIATE with Shaesta podcast, Shaesta Waiz, the 8th woman to fly solo around the world, sits down with Lisa DeFrees, an aviation sales, marketing, and media leader whose career has spanned three decades of transformation across the general aviation industry. Lisa shares why curiosity, relationships, trust, and even a little naivety have helped her navigate change, from the evolution of aviation media from print to digital to her own transition into aviation infrastructure. She also discusses what makes customers say yes, why real-world expertise still matters in an increasingly technology-driven world, and why being willing to ask questions can be one of the most valuable skills in your career. The conversation also looks ahead at the growth of general aviation, rising aircraft ownership costs, the demand for aircraft hangars and airport infrastructure, and what it will take to support the next generation of aircraft, pilots, owners, and aviation businesses. Now working to expand aviation infrastructure across the United States, Lisa is helping address an often overlooked question: As aviation grows, are we building the infrastructure needed to sustain it? Building What’s Next is a conversation about career reinvention, aviation leadership, sales and marketing, women in aviation, general aviation growth, aircraft ownership, and the people building what the aviation industry will need next. 00:00 Introduction 02:02 Meet Lisa DeFrees 02:25 Curiosity, Naivety & Navigating Change 04:19 What Actually Makes Someone Say Yes? 07:15 Turning a Great Idea Into a Sale 09:19 The Power of Relationships & Partnerships 10:08 From Print to Digital: How Aviation Media Changed 11:30 Why Real-World Expertise Still Matters 13:31 The Risks of Relying on AI & Search 14:13 What’s Next for Aviation? 15:30 Innovation, Technology & New Opportunities 17:33 Reinventing Your Career in Aviation 18:11 Building the Infrastructure Aviation Needs 20:37 Can Infrastructure Keep Up With Aviation’s Growth? 21:18 Closing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Kalmeta built her career around one core truth: a pivot is not a failure. It is feedback. In this conversation, Sarah explains how her own aviation career forced her to confront burnout, health issues, identity shifts, and the pressure to keep performing even when life was clearly asking for change. Her early work in private aviation gave her constant exposure to change, pressure, and high-stakes decision-making, but over time she realized that the pace of the industry was taking a toll on her nervous system, her health, and her sense of alignment. Sarah shares how moving to Asia opened her eyes to a different side of aviation and helped her see that there were other ways to build a career in the industry. But even after reaching the milestones she thought she wanted, the salary, the wedding, the apartment, and the title, she found herself miserable and disconnected. That realization forced her to ask harder questions about what success really meant, what she was trying to prove, and why she had been trying so hard to fit into boxes that were never built for her. The conversation also goes deep into the link between pivoting and mental health in aviation. Sarah explains the real signals that it may be time to pivot: losing joy in work that once energized you, withdrawing from people, procrastinating, making more mistakes, feeling overwhelmed, or realizing your body is no longer recovering. She also makes a clear case for why the aviation industry needs to treat mental health, women’s health, rest, recovery, and human performance with the same seriousness it gives to aircraft performance. Later in the episode, Sarah talks about what it means to pivot at different stages of life, why small one-degree shifts matter, and how women can approach change without making themselves the problem. She also challenges aviation leaders to build healthier systems that support people instead of pushing them into survival mode. Her message is simple: the future of aviation depends on people who can adapt, speak honestly, protect their health, and stop seeing change as failure. Chapters: (00:00) Pivoting Is Not Failure (01:28) Sarah Joins The Podcast (02:09) Her First Aviation Pivot (05:57) The Moment Everything Changed (08:19) Shame And Starting Over (12:14) Real Signs It’s Time To Pivot (17:09) Mental Health In Aviation (20:40) Pivoting At Every Age (27:04) Identity And Mental Health (30:04) Aviation Must Change SPONSOR ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Atlantic Aviation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠atlanticaviation.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ WORK WITH SHAESTA For bookings and inquiries, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shaestawaiz.com/book⁠⁠⁠⁠ MORE ABOUT SARAH KALMETA LinkedIn: Sarah Kalmeta Website: https://www.sarahkalmeta.com/ Instagram: @sarahthepivoter MORE ABOUT SHAESTA WAIZ  Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shaestawaiz.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shaesta Waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@aviateplatform⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaestawaiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif & Kroo Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MassifKroo.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries/sponsoring: email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tasha Funes built her aviation career across commercial, charter, government, and private aviation, and in this conversation she explains how each chapter taught her something different about the job. Commercial aviation gave her structure. Charter sharpened her professionalism. Private aviation brought those skills together and showed her what full-spectrum service, safety, and adaptability really look like. She also pushes back on one of the biggest misconceptions about flight attendants: the idea that the job is only about service, when in reality the work starts days before a trip and includes preparation, coordination, safety, and constant problem-solving. That behind-the-scenes work becomes even more intense in private aviation. Tasha explains that private flight attendants are not just there to serve passengers. They are stocking the aircraft, handling catering, cleaning, shopping for client needs, protecting confidentiality, and reading the room for high-net-worth travelers who expect excellence without having to ask for it. Her point is clear: to do this well, you need emotional intelligence, flexibility, attention to detail, and the ability to think on your feet when the day changes fast. That experience is what led her to found Exclusive In-Flight. After more than 20 years in aviation, Tasha saw that there was no real roadmap for people trying to break into private aviation, only scattered information online that often left people confused, discouraged, and wasting money. So she built a business focused on mentorship, resume development, hands-on training, and career placement support. Later in the episode, she explains how aspiring flight attendants can get started, why commercial experience can be a strong first step, what skills matter most, and why women in aviation should trust themselves, stay flexible, and stop waiting for permission to build their own path. CHAPTERS(00:00) The job is more than service(01:14) Meet Tasha Funes(03:04) Lessons from each aviation lane(03:33) The biggest misconception(05:01) Discretion and emotional intelligence(05:46) Commercial vs private aviation(07:39) Why she built Exclusive In-Flight(10:56) Mentorship and training services(11:35) Skills that make you stand out(13:56) Trust yourself and go for it SPONSOR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Atlantic Aviation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠atlanticaviation.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ WORK WITH SHAESTAFor bookings and inquiries, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shaestawaiz.com/book⁠⁠⁠⁠ MORE ABOUT TASHA FUNESBusiness: Exclusive In-Flight MORE ABOUT SHAESTA WAIZWebsite: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shaestawaiz.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shaesta Waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@aviateplatform⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaestawaiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif & KrooWebsite: ⁠⁠⁠⁠MassifKroo.com⁠⁠⁠⁠For inquiries/sponsoring: email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katherine Moloney did not grow up thinking she would become a pilot, even though aviation was in her family. Her father flew, but she never saw herself in the cockpit and brushed off early signs that she might belong there. That changed when she started working at a flight equipment company on an airfield, where daily exposure to aviation turned curiosity into action. A helicopter trial lesson at Brighton City Airport changed everything. She signed up right away, earned her helicopter license at 19, later added a fixed-wing license, and kept chasing every part of aviation that felt new, challenging, and worth learning. That personal journey eventually led to Elevate Her Aviation. Katherine explains that while she had strong support from men in the industry, she still felt isolated because she rarely met other women in aviation. So she created the kind of space she wished she had herself. She booked a room, ordered sandwiches, invited as many women in UK aviation as she could find, and 40 showed up. What started as one gathering became a real community, and now Elevate Her is working across the UK and expanding internationally. In this conversation, she explains why general aviation matters so much, why cost remains one of the biggest barriers to entry, and why more accessible routes like cadets, gliding, and microlights can make a real difference. Later, Katherine gets specific about what inclusion actually means in aviation. Her point is blunt: women do not need special treatment, they need equipment, uniforms, and systems designed with them in mind. She talks about flight suits, helmets, life jackets, seat cushions, and even aircraft seating requirements that still fail many women on basic safety and usability. She also points to the bigger issue underneath it all: if women are pushed out by poor design, lack of support, or the pressure of motherhood and family life, the industry loses talent, experience, and future mentors. Her argument is simple. Better design is not cosmetic. It is a safety issue, a retention issue, and a leadership issue. CHAPTERS (00:00) Katherine’s path into aviation (01:26) The trial flight that changed it (05:12) Why Elevate Her was created (07:18) Why general aviation matters (08:10) The cost barrier to entry (10:40) Building community online (14:46) Why women start behind (18:28) Barriers beyond the UK and US (21:11) Better design, not special treatment (23:48) Retention, motherhood, and safety SPONSOR ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Atlantic Aviation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠atlanticaviation.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ WORK WITH SHAESTA For bookings and inquiries, visit: ⁠⁠⁠https://shaestawaiz.com/book⁠⁠⁠ MORE ABOUT KATHERINE MOLONEY LinkedIn: Katherine Moloney - Elevate(her) Aviation IG: Katherine Moloney (@moloneykatherine) Website: http://katherinemoloney.com/ MORE ABOUT SHAESTA WAIZ  Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shaestawaiz.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shaesta Waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@aviateplatform⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaestawaiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif & Kroo Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MassifKroo.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries/sponsoring: email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katie Hill works at the center of aviation policy, government affairs, and advanced air mobility, and in this conversation she explains how she got there. She started on Capitol Hill working for Senator Moran, where mentors pushed her toward the commerce portfolio and introduced her to aviation policy. What began as a Hill assignment turned into a real calling once she started working on advanced air mobility and saw how policy could help shape an entirely new part of aviation. For Katie, joining Joby was not a career detour. It was the chance to help build the future she had already started working toward in government. She also breaks down advanced air mobility in simple terms: fast, quiet, short-distance electric flight for normal people. Katie explains how Joby’s aircraft is designed to connect places that are close enough to drive but far enough to waste time in traffic, like downtown Washington and Dulles. She talks about why noise matters, why integration into the current aviation system matters, and why safety has to stay at the center of every conversation about innovation and regulation. Her point is clear: this only works if the aircraft is safe, useful, and accessible. Later, Katie talks about the pace of life at Joby, the discipline of focusing on the three most important things each day, and how motherhood changed the way she thinks about work and impact. She shares what it was like balancing Joby, law school, and a new baby at the same time, and why being fully present in each role matters. She closes with advice for young women entering aviation: trust your instincts, find strong mentors, speak up for yourself, and do not be afraid to chase the opportunity that feels right before everyone else sees it. CHAPTERS (00:00) Why Katie chose aviation policy (02:01) How she found AAM (06:15) Explaining eVTOLs simply (10:17) Why regional access matters (11:30) Her role at Joby (16:29) Innovation and regulation (20:10) How big ideas take shape (23:00) Why access to flight matters (25:26) Motherhood, work, and balance (32:42) Advice for young women SPONSOR ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Atlantic Aviation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠atlanticaviation.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ WORK WITH SHAESTA For bookings and inquiries, visit: ⁠⁠https://shaestawaiz.com/book⁠⁠ MORE ABOUT KATIE HILL LinkedIn: Katie Hill - Joby Aviation MORE ABOUT SHAESTA WAIZ  Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shaestawaiz.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shaesta Waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@aviateplatform⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaestawaiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif & Kroo Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MassifKroo.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries/sponsoring: email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shelly DeZevallos has spent decades working in aviation and public service, and in this conversation she explains why running for Congress felt like the natural next step. She argues aviation and policy are already deeply connected—from FAA modernization and ATC pressure to advanced air mobility and supersonic aircraft—and says the industry needs more people in government who actually understand how aviation works. For Shelly, the move into politics is not a departure from aviation but an extension of it. She also talks candidly about culture, leadership, and the role women play in aviation and policy. Shelly shares a story about mistakenly assuming another woman in the room was not a pilot—an experience that forced her to confront how deeply industry norms shape perception. She discusses why healthy aviation culture is built through small signals of respect, why more women do not step into oversight and policy roles, and how people can start building influence long before ever considering a campaign. Later, Shelly breaks down what campaigning has taught her: talk slower, listen better, and do not panic. She compares running for office to flying an airplane—stay steady, fly the plane, and keep moving forward even when things get rough. She closes with advice for anyone who wants to make a difference, whether through public office, aviation advocacy, safety work, government affairs, or simply taking the first step and refusing to quit. CHAPTERS (00:00) Why Shelly chose to run (03:07) Culture and belonging matter (05:30) A mistake that changed her (07:39) Campaigning vs. aviation (08:59) What surprised her most (10:20) Family behind the campaign (11:53) Why women avoid policy (14:20) Advice for stepping up (18:07) Aviation policy career paths (20:57) Take the first step SPONSOR ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Atlantic Aviation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠atlanticaviation.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ WORK WITH SHAESTA For bookings and inquiries, visit: ⁠https://shaestawaiz.com/book⁠ MORE ABOUT SHELLY DEZEVALLOS LinkedIn: Shelly Lesikar deZevallos MORE ABOUT SHAESTA WAIZ  Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shaestawaiz.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shaesta Waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@aviateplatform⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaestawaiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif & Kroo Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MassifKroo.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries/sponsoring: email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Samantha Spencer oversees both landside and airside operations at South Bend International Airport—meaning she’s responsible for everything from FAA and TSA compliance to snow ops, badging, construction coordination, and daily airfield safety. She explains why airport operations has no “typical day”: her team can handle a fuel spill, a raccoon on a runway, a runway closure, a diverted aircraft, and pilot deviation reporting all before lunch—then make it look smooth anyway. She also breaks down what it’s like to lead young in an industry that often equates leadership with age. Instead of trying to look older or act tougher, she builds credibility through preparation, consistency, and stepping in wherever needed. She shares wins like driving strong compliance results and staying active in the industry through professional programs and young professional leadership—while pushing back on the idea that you have to “move out to move up” to be qualified. Looking forward, Samantha talks about how airports are modernizing fast—massive infrastructure projects, bigger aircraft capability, sustainability upgrades, and safer airfield geometry. She argues the next decade will demand leaders who kill the “that’s how we’ve always done it” mindset, take ownership, and invest in the next generation early—because the workforce pipeline is thinning and aviation needs new talent to step up. CHAPTERS(00:00) Running airside + landside(01:38) Modernization pressure is real(04:44) Meet Samantha Spencer(05:34) No background, chose aviation(08:12) Finding airport ops path(10:45) Young leader, proving herself(17:19) SMS without reinventing wheels(22:43) “Controlled chaos” before lunch(25:58) Notre Dame surge and “Irish apron”(39:47) Be happy, humble, know worth SPONSOR ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Atlantic Aviation⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠atlanticaviation.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ WORK WITH SHAESTAFor bookings and inquiries, visit: https://shaestawaiz.com/book MORE ABOUT SAMANTHA SPENCERLinkedIn: Samantha Spencer, C.M., ACE MORE ABOUT SHAESTA WAIZ  Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠shaestawaiz.com⁠⁠⁠⁠  Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Shaesta Waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@aviateplatform⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaestawaiz⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif & Kroo Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MassifKroo.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries/sponsoring: email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amman went from rejection to finding her path in aircraft maintenance—then had to fight to be treated like a real technician. In a mostly male program, she was pushed toward admin work while men got hands-on tasks. A mentor’s line changed everything: “Engineer has no gender.” She kept showing up, asking questions, and pushing for harder work until the hangar floor had to take her seriously. Now based in the UK, she explains the shift from credential-focused hiring in Pakistan to a UK system that rewards networking and communication. She also breaks down why the industry is facing a technician shortage: universities often teach theory without enough real on-job training. Her answer is simple—make maintenance more approachable, rebuild practical pipelines, and recruit wider, including more women. CHAPTERS (00:00) “Engineer has no gender” (02:06) Meet Amman in the UK (03:01) Rejection to aviation path (06:45) Support that kept her going (12:24) Winning hands-on work (18:20) What AMEs actually do (23:23) Pakistan vs UK hiring (29:13) Why she launched newsletter (33:24) The training pipeline gap (34:24) Fixing the shortage SPONSOR ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Atlantic Aviation⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠atlanticaviation.com⁠⁠⁠ WORK WITH SHAESTA For bookings and inquiries, visit:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shaestawaiz.com/book⁠⁠⁠ MORE ABOUT AMMAND MUJAHID ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: Amman Mujahid MORE ABOUT SHAESTA WAIZ  Website: ⁠⁠⁠shaestawaiz.com⁠⁠⁠  Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠Shaesta Waiz⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@aviateplatform⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠@shaestawaiz⁠⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif & Kroo Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MassifKroo.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries/sponsoring: email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Sabira Rezaie sits in a cockpit, she says she carries two things at once: the voices of Afghan women who never got the chance to fly, and the weight of everything she lost. That mix—purpose and grief—runs through this entire conversation with Shaesta Waiz. Sabira explains how aviation first meant freedom in Afghanistan: the sky was the one place culture and politics couldn’t fully control her. She became one of the first Afghan women to fly the MD 530, pushing through constant doubt from men who told her she didn’t have the “muscle” for it. She did it anyway—because it was never about strength. It was about skill, discipline, and will. Then the country collapsed. Sabira describes that moment as more than losing a place on the map. It was losing the version of herself she fought years to build. She talks about the shock of realizing she couldn’t go back, the sleeplessness, the grief, and the feeling that Afghan women’s futures were being erased in real time. From there, the episode shifts to what “starting over” actually looks like. Sabira says it’s learning to dream again after losing hope—while also dealing with personal loss, including her father, whose death anniversary comes up in the conversation. Flight training in the U.S. becomes both a rebuild and a tribute: proof that she can rise again, even when the people she wanted to make proud aren’t there to see it. They get practical about support, too. Sabira talks about how she helped other Afghan women—especially military women—navigate refugee pathways and paperwork, and why “network” isn’t a buzzword, it’s survival. She also makes a direct ask of aviation leaders: stop treating inclusion like charity. Recognize skill, fund mentorship and scholarships, and hire people for competence—not immigration background. The episode ends where it began: in the cockpit, with emotion. Sabira describes crying during her first solo in the U.S. because the win came with so much history attached. Her message to the next Afghan girl is blunt and simple: your dream is valid, and “no” isn’t a verdict. She was told no for years—until she sat in the flight deck, proved she could reach the controls, and forced the system to admit what it tried to deny. CHAPTERS (00:00) Carrying voices and grief (01:28) Kabul memory and why this matters (02:54) Reuniting on the podcast (03:43) Freedom then, resilience now (05:10) Becoming an MD 530 pilot (06:04) When Afghanistan collapsed (08:10) Starting over and her father (10:42) Helping Afghan women through networks (15:00) Why helicopters chose her (20:10) Inclusion isn’t charity: her message SPONSOR ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Atlantic Aviation⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠atlanticaviation.com⁠⁠ WORK WITH SHAESTA For bookings and inquiries, visit:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shaestawaiz.com/book⁠⁠ MORE ABOUT SABIRA REZAIE ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: Sabira Rezaie - Former Commissioned Officer, Afghan Air Force MORE ABOUT SHAESTA WAIZ  Website: ⁠⁠shaestawaiz.com⁠⁠  Instagram: ⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Shaesta Waiz⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@aviateplatform⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠@shaestawaiz⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif & Kroo Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MassifKroo.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries/sponsoring: email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Veronica Leacock moved from Panama to the U.S., she wasn’t just changing countries. She was rebuilding her entire career—new language, new system, and a licensing process that nearly shut her out. She went hangar to hangar asking for a chance, trained without pay, and kept pushing until an FAA office in Oregon agreed to review her case and sign her paperwork. In this conversation, Shaesta and Veronica walk through the real path: becoming a mechanic young, having a baby during training, immigrating, studying alone at night, and grinding through the FAA written, oral, and practical exams. Veronica shares what it feels like to fail a portion of the test, come back, and finish anyway—because quitting wasn’t an option. They also get blunt about the culture in maintenance: the “sink or swim” mindset, the double standard women face in leadership, and why recruiting women is easier than keeping them. Veronica explains how small signals (like not even having women’s uniforms) send a bigger message: “this wasn’t built for you.” The episode closes with her leadership “identity shift”—moving from proving herself to leading with purpose, integrity, and care for people. Her goal is simple: build others so well that they feel like they can achieve anything when they’re next to her. CHAPTERS (00:00) From proving to purpose (01:41) Meet Veronica + the shortage (04:37) Panama: first spark in a hangar (10:09) U.S. reset: language + studying (16:44) Oregon board signs her 8610s (20:03) A&P O&P: fail, retest, win (24:39) What mechanics really do (29:25) AI, drones, predictive maintenance (40:43) Fixing “sink or swim” culture (55:40) Leading with values and care SPONSOR ⁠⁠⁠⁠Atlantic Aviation⁠ | ⁠atlanticaviation.com⁠ WORK WITH SHAESTA For bookings and inquiries, visit:⁠ ⁠⁠https://shaestawaiz.com/book⁠ MORE ABOUT VERONICA LEACOCK BORCHARDT⁠LinkedIn: Veronica Leacock Borchardt MORE ABOUT SHAESTA WAIZ  Website: ⁠shaestawaiz.com⁠  Instagram: ⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠Shaesta Waiz⁠ YouTube: ⁠www.youtube.com/@aviateplatform⁠ TikTok: ⁠@shaestawaiz⁠ Threads: ⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif & Kroo Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MassifKroo.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries/sponsoring: email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Abingdon sat at a 99s Christmas dinner in 2006, she thought she was just celebrating her new private pilot certificate. Instead, she discovered a gap no watch company was willing to fill: pilot watches built for women. Within hours she set herself an 11-month deadline to design, fund, and deliver a watch that didn’t exist yet. That deadline became the seed of The Abingdon Co., now an 18-year-old brand serving women across aviation and STEM. In this conversation, Shaesta and Abingdon walk through the full arc: from a 14-year-old chasing free pizza at a high school career talk, to getting a pilot certificate in 34 days, to preselling $400 watches off CGI renderings before a single unit existed. Abingdon explains why you can’t wait for “perfect,” why she swears by “trip your way forward,” and how saying yes to an imperfect start changed her entire path in aviation. They also dig into the reality behind the highlight reel of entrepreneurship—caregiving, near-shutdown moments, investors, and what it looks like to keep a promise to customers when life blows up. Abingdon talks candidly about stepping away to become her father’s full-time caregiver, the pressure to close the company, and why she refused to quit while thousands of women were still wearing her watches. From there, the conversation zooms out: Gen Z as the most entrepreneurial generation yet, where product ideas really come from, and why aviation desperately needs people who can see a problem and build anything better—whether it’s a watch, a system, or an entire mindset around mental health and aeromedical reform. Abingdon also shares her view of aviation in 2035, from autonomous air vehicles and drone logistics to why analog watches are growing in a world of smart devices. If you’re a young innovator wondering where you fit in aviation—or someone sitting on an idea you don’t feel “ready” to launch—this episode is a playbook on starting before you’re comfortable, serving a niche the industry ignores, and staying human in a career that loves to put people on pedestals. CHAPTERS (00:00) A missing watch at Christmas dinner (03:00) Trip your way forward, not perfectly (06:00) From free pizza to pilot in 34 days (11:00) Starting the first women’s pilot watch (18:00) How one product opened aviation doors (24:00) Gen Z, gaps, and building in aviation (30:00) Caregiving, near shutdown, and investors (36:00) Mental health, identity, and aeromed (44:00) Autonomous flight and 2035 aviation (50:00) Why analog watches still matter SPONSORS ⁠Atlantic Aviation | atlanticaviation.com WORK WITH SHAESTA For bookings and inquiries, visit: https://shaestawaiz.com/book MORE ABOUT ABINGDON MULLIN Website: abingdonco.com LinkedIn: Abingdon Chelsea Mullin  IG: @theabingdonco MORE ABOUT SHAESTA WAIZ  Website: shaestawaiz.com  Instagram: @shaesta.waiz LinkedIn: Shaesta Waiz YouTube: www.youtube.com/@aviateplatform TikTok: @shaestawaiz Threads: @shaesta.waiz Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif & Kroo Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MassifKroo.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries/sponsoring: email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices