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Mandy Hickson is a pioneering female pilot whose story has become a source of strength for women aiming to rise in demanding environments. Her path from ambitious teenager to frontline fast jet pilot in the Royal Air Force shows the power of persistence, courage and self-belief. Mandy shares this journey with honesty and heart, offering audiences practical lessons in confidence and leadership grounded in real experience. Her work now focuses on empowering women to trust their abilities, back their decisions and progress with purpose.
Mandy began flying at 17 after earning an RAF scholarship, yet her early route into the service was far from smooth. She failed the RAF flying aptitude test twice, a setback that would have ended most applications. Refusing to lose sight of her goal, she pushed on and was later selected as a test case, proving that capability can surpass convention. Her success led to her becoming the second female pilot to fly the Tornado GR4 on the front line, completing 45 missions over Iraq and serving three operational tours. Much of her time in service was spent as the only woman on her squadron, which demanded resilience, technical excellence and an unwavering belief that she belonged in the cockpit.
Her operational work extended beyond flying. Mandy served as Combat Survival and Rescue Officer, planning and delivering complex missions that required calm judgement, detailed preparation and strong leadership. After leaving the RAF, she continued to inspire young aviators as a Volunteer Reserve pilot on the Air Experience Flight, guiding cadets through their first experiences in the air. Her commitment to developing others grew further when she joined the LBC2 Programme as a Faculty Lecturer, helping emerging leaders strengthen their decision-making and performance. Away from aviation, Mandy’s determination saw her complete a trek to Everest Base Camp in 2023, a challenge that reflected her appetite for growth. Her book, ‘An Officer, Not a Gentleman’, shares her story of breaking barriers while balancing life as a pilot and mother, and her work supporting women returning to work earned her the Champion of Women Award at the 2025 Business Veterans Awards.
Today, Mandy brings her experience to stages across the world. She tailors her talks to real organisational pressures, helping teams build confidence, improve communication and stay composed when challenges escalate. One example includes her contribution to Inspiring Women for Work, where she helps women rebuild confidence after career breaks. Through vivid stories from the cockpit, relatable lessons and an encouraging tone, Mandy leaves audiences motivated to act. Her sessions combine practical guidance with a message of possibility: with clarity, courage and commitment, progress is always within reach.
We sat down with Mandy and discussed her new book, working with an all-male squadron and what it’s like to fly a fighter jet on the front line. Read our interview with Mandy or watch our exclusive Q&A with Mandy Hickson, conducted by our Senior Content Executive, Megan Lupton.
Mandy Hickson is regularly booked to engage audiences at events, read their latest feedback below:
“As managers, we were left with a powerful impression of the importance of making decisions that actively empower our teams to step up and to learn, first on safe ‘training ground’ and ultimately in high stakes contexts”
“Mandy spoke with such passion, energy and enthusiasm; had the audience laughing at times and in total silence at others, as she linked her personal experience in the RAF with nursing. She had taken the time to understand the values our staff developed and was able to thread those through her whole speech. It was truly inspirational and I would not hesitate to recommend her”
“Mandy is a fantastic public speaker. She is both inspirational and extremely well prepared. Her ability to relate her own experience working under extreme pressure and in high performing teams to everyday situations is most impressive. She tops it all with a wonderful sense of humour and great modesty. Listening to her talking about the many challenges that she has successfully overcome should be compulsory for all girls”
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