Available to book
Mandy Hickson
High Performance
Gender Equality
Team Building
Mandy Hickson, the first woman to fly the Tornado GR4 on the RAF front line, helps organisations build resilient leadership and make confident decisions under pressure. A human factors expert and performance coach, trusted by the Department for Transport.
Inspirational Female
International Women's Day
Women's History Month
Pilot
Thought Leader
Military
Author
Women in Business
Attitude
Mandy Hickson is a trailblazing aviator who became the first woman to fly the Tornado GR4 on the RAF front line. Today, Mandy transforms her extraordinary military experience into practical leadership insights for organisations worldwide.
As a former Royal Air Force fast jet pilot, Mandy completed 45 combat missions over Iraq and served as a Combat Survival and Rescue Officer during her 25-year military career. Her bestselling book "An Officer, Not a Gentleman" chronicles her journey, and she continues to serve as a trustee of the RAF Charitable Trust and Aviation Ambassador for the Department for Transport.
Mandy helps organisations navigate high-pressure environments by translating her cockpit experience into business strategies. Her expertise in human factors, understanding that up to 80% of accidents stem from human error, enables teams to make confident decisions under extreme pressure, build resilience, and develop effective communication systems that prevent costly mistakes.
Audiences gain practical frameworks for building high-performing teams, maintaining focus in uncertain times, and fostering a culture where diverse thinking thrives. Mandy's approach combines real-world combat experience with human performance coaching to help teams operate effectively when stakes are highest.
Book Mandy Hickson and equip your people with battle-tested strategies that transform how your team performs under pressure.
Topics, sessions and talks
In this session, Mandy Hickson emphasises that trust and collaboration are essential in aviation, as their absence leads to team fractures and missed opportunities. She highlights the importance of fostering an environment where diverse thinking thrives through curiosity and shared goals. By encouraging respectful debate and focusing on collective success, leaders can bridge gaps and enhance team dynamics. Attendees will learn how to cultivate trust and collaboration, ultimately laying the groundwork for exceptional performance in any organisation.
In this talk, Mandy Hickson highlights the importance of psychological safety in high-performing teams. She explains that when team members feel free to express their thoughts, challenge ideas, and admit mistakes, collaboration improves significantly. Leaders are essential in fostering a culture of openness, where sharing and trust thrive. This environment not only enhances communication but also boosts overall performance. Attendees will learn how to cultivate psychological safety within their teams, leading to better collaboration and increased success.
Flying fighter jets demands rigorous training and instinct. However, it's the diverse perspectives of Mandy Hickson's team that drive success. In this session, Mandy highlights that teams with varied backgrounds can creatively tackle complex challenges and enhance decision-making. However, fostering diversity of thought requires intentional effort. Leaders must create environments that encourage diverse input, prevent groupthink, and celebrate differences. Attendees will learn how to unlock collective intelligence, driving innovation and improving performance in their teams.
In this keynote, Mandy Hickson discusses how swift and precise decision-making is crucial in high-pressure situations, similar to the challenges faced by business leaders today. Many organisations struggle with slow or poor decisions, which can hinder performance. However, decision-making is a skill that can be cultivated. By understanding decision types, involving the right people, and using effective tools, leaders can combat biases and adopt structured approaches. Attendees will learn how to enhance their decision-making skills to drive progress and improve team performance.
While fighter pilots are often seen as possessing sharp minds and quick reflexes, true success in the cockpit relies heavily on emotional intelligence (EQ). The ability to read situations, resolve conflicts, and foster relationships distinguishes exceptional leaders. In this session, Mandy Hickson reveals that emotional intelligence can be cultivated through practice, enabling individuals to enhance their connections, manage emotions, and tackle challenges effectively. Attendees will learn how to develop these essential skills for leading high-performing teams and achieving success.
Mandy Hickson, the groundbreaking RAF pilot who flew 45 combat missions in the Tornado GR4, transforms high-stakes military experience into practical leadership strategies that help teams make confident decisions under extreme pressure. Book this aviation pioneer today to equip your organisation with battle-tested frameworks for building resilient teams that thrive when the stakes are highest.
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frequently asked questions
Something we've not covered here?
Email mandy.hickson@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Mandy's availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience.
Mandy Hickson draws on her 25-year RAF career, including 45 combat missions over Iraq, to frame leadership principles within first-hand cockpit scenarios. She translates specific military protocols — such as human factors analysis and pre-mission briefing structures — into practical frameworks that teams can apply to decision-making under pressure.
Mandy Hickson's sessions address trust and collaboration, psychological safety, and diverse thinking in high-performing teams. She was the first woman to fly the Tornado GR4 on the RAF front line, completing 45 combat missions over Iraq during a 25-year military career.
No. PepTalk adds no booking fee, so you pay the speaker's fee and nothing beyond it. The service, from shortlist through to contracts and event-day logistics, is included. For repeat or multi-event bookings, PepTalk can agree preferential rates with your procurement team.
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Not all of them, and it makes no difference to your booking. PepTalk's network of 15,000+ speakers covers talent the team works with directly alongside speakers represented by agents and agencies worldwide. PepTalk approaches the speaker, negotiates the fee and handles contracting either way.
Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.
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