Mandy Hickson is an inspirational leadership keynote speaker whose story carries both weight and warmth. Her career in the Royal Air Force placed her in some of the most demanding environments imaginable, where quick thinking, clear communication and absolute trust were essential. As one of the first women to fly a fast jet on the front line, she learned how to stay calm when the margins for error were razor thin. She now brings that experience into boardrooms, training rooms and conference stages, helping leaders make confident decisions under pressure and build teams that perform when it matters. Mandy’s talks blend vivid cockpit moments with leadership principles that work just as well in business as they do at 30,000 feet.
Mandy’s path into aviation was shaped by persistence. She earned an RAF flying scholarship at seventeen, yet her early progress was far from smooth. After failing the flying aptitude test twice she was selected as a test case, proving her potential and opening a route into front line operations. She went on to become only the second female pilot to fly the Tornado GR4 on the front line, completing 45 combat missions over Iraq and serving on three duty tours. Much of her service was spent as the only woman on her squadron, which sharpened her confidence and sense of responsibility. As the Combat Survival and Rescue Officer she planned and led a cross continental initiative during active operations, coordinating teams and resources under intense pressure.
Mandy’s influence continued to grow after leaving the RAF. She volunteers with the Air Experience Flight, guiding young cadets and encouraging women to step into aviation. In 2022 she became a Faculty Lecturer on the LBC2 Programme, where she teaches emerging leaders about resilience, performance and judgement. She completed a trek to Everest Base Camp in 2023, a personal challenge that shows her ongoing commitment to testing her limits. Her bestselling book, ‘An Officer, Not a Gentleman’, charts her journey with honesty and insight. Her impact has been recognised with a finalist position for Inspiration of the Year at the Ex Forces in Business Awards and the 2025 Champion of Women Award at the Business Veterans Awards.
Today Mandy is a trusted voice for organisations seeking stronger leadership and a more resilient culture. She uses stories from the cockpit to show how clarity, trust and collective discipline drive results in high stakes moments. Audiences value her ability to translate fast jet principles into practical tools, such as how to stay composed when priorities shift or how to communicate with precision during uncertainty. Her grounded style makes challenging ideas feel accessible, and her experience gives those ideas weight. Mandy leaves teams with renewed confidence, a clearer sense of responsibility and a deeper understanding of what effective leadership looks like when the pressure is real.
