Nicole Malachowski
Transform barriers into breakthroughs with Nicole Malachowski, speaker, combat fighter pilot and resilience expert. Nicole works with organizations to develop leadership excellence and navigate adversity, delivering powerful insights as the first woman USAF Thunderbirds pilot and White House policy advisor.
Denver, United States
Enquire Now
Send us your event details
.svg){kind=icon}
Nicole Malachowski is a retired United States Air Force Colonel and combat fighter pilot who broke barriers as the first woman to fly with the USAF Thunderbirds, the military’s premier air demonstration squadron.
With over two decades of service, she has led elite units, advised national leadership, and championed resilience in the face of complex personal and professional challenges.
Nicole was among the first group of women to fly modern fighter jets in the US military, earning her place in operational F-15E squadrons and accumulating over 2,300 flight hours, including combat missions in Operation Deliberate Forge and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Her leadership roles included commanding the 333rd Fighter Squadron and directing multimillion-dollar flying hour programmes.
Beyond the cockpit, she served at the highest levels of government, including as a White House Fellow and later as Executive Director of the national ‘Joining Forces’ initiative, where she advised the First Lady and Dr Jill Biden on policy affecting service members and military families.
Her career took a turn following a medical retirement due to late-stage Tick-Borne Illness. Rather than retreat from public life, Nicole became a powerful advocate for patients with complex medical conditions.
She has served on the Department of Health and Human Services Tick Borne Diseases Working Group and the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, offering valuable insight into research and care for affected populations.
Nicole's journey is marked by persistence, service, and a commitment to challenging convention. She remains active in mentoring wounded service members and shaping policy for those navigating chronic health issues.
Her story is not only one of military excellence but also of personal transformation, making her a compelling voice on leadership, adversity, and the evolving role of women in high-performance environments.
Book Nicole to inspire your team with proven strategies that transform barriers into breakthroughs and uncertainty into opportunity.
Book Nicole Malachowski to inspire your team with proven strategies that transform barriers into breakthroughs and uncertainty into opportunity. Her story of military excellence and personal transformation offers a compelling perspective on leadership and resilience.
Topics, Sessions And Talks
.svg)
Book
.svg)
.svg)
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about booking an expert speaker, facilitator, host or entertainment for your event.
- If you'd like to book one of our expert speakers, email us at hello@peptalk.com, send us a chat message or give us a call, and we’ll help you out.
- We’ll take your event details — topic, audience, budget, date, and location — and create a custom speaker proposal for you within 48 hours.
- If you already have someone in mind, that’s okay too; just let us know their name! Even if they aren't listed publicly on our website, we have a huge network and work with almost everyone.
- Once you've reviewed our speaker propsal and have selected and expert shortlist, we'll double check availability and fees with your chosen expert.
- You're welcome to have a chemistry call with the speaker before making the final decision, too.
- Next, we'll send out contracts to confirm the booking. One of our experienced event producers will liase with both you and the talent on the finer details, and arrange travel if necessary, taking the stress off your plate.
Not necessarily. While the speakers listed on our website may not have worked with PepTalk in the past, they are recognized professionals in the industry and known to engage in similar events and engagements. We work with a wide variety of speaker agents and talent agencies to ensure we have the best selection of speakers, hosts, comedians and entertainers available.
We work with speakers across a variety of fee ranges, giving you the flexibility to choose someone who fits your event's needs. Virtual keynote fees in the UK and Europe typically start at £2,000, while in-person top-tier speakers can reach £25,000. In the US, virtual in-person fees range from $5,000 to over $100,000, depending on the speaker and format, such as after-dinner talks, conference keynotes, Q&As, or podcasts. Comedians generally start at £1,500 or $2,000 for a 20-minute set.
Our goal is to help you find the speaker who best matches your event’s goals and budget. We take the time to understand your event, objectives, and audience to recommend the right fit. The most expensive option isn’t always the best one, and our priority is finding the ideal speaker or expert for your needs; not the highest-priced one.
Reach out for personalised recommendations and detailed information on specific speaker fees. We’re here to offer a tailored service and are always happy to discuss your unique requirements!
There’s no additional cost for our services beyond the speaker fee — simply contact us to find the right speaker for your next business or team event. We can also work with your corporate procurement team to negotiate favourable long-term rates, simply email hello@getapeptalk.com for more information.
Partnering with PepTalk means elevating your events with our curated roster of top motivational speakers, industry experts, delivering punchy keynotes that leave a lasting impact. From talent selection, to contracts and logistics, we handle it all. We have global expert network, with over 3000 speakers from over 33 countries on our line-up.
We also provide a full range of talent, from event hosts and moderators to interviewers and corporate entertainment, ensuring your event’s success from start to finish.
If you notice something that needs attention or have any queries regarding an expert speaker profile, feel free to email us at experts@getapeptalk.com, and we’ll be happy to assist.