To celebrate the one-year anniversary of our Women in Aviation network, we invited guests to join us as we came together, chatting over warm pastries and coffee, to hear from a panel as they shared their invaluable learnings and experiences of rising through the ranks in aviation. 

Alongside myself, our panel included: Hilary Dennehy (Head of Transaction Legal - Americas, Avolon), Suzanne Glatthaar (Director, Aircraft Finance, KLM), Lindsay Watson (Head of Legal, Falko), Alice Gondry (Director, Aviation Research, MUFG Aviation Group), and Martina Glaser (Member of our Women in Aviation Group and Counsel, Norton Rose Fulbright).

Here are some of my takeaways from their discussion:

“Sing your own praises”

• In a male-dominated industry, self-promotion and self-belief are key.
• The power of visibility shouldn't be underestimated, and the personal brand you develop for yourself can be crucial in granting you wider exposure.
• Recognise when we have plateaued, and never be afraid to be agile and embrace new challenges.
• No person is ever the finished product - focus on the strengths you have while you develop the skills you don't yet have.
• Don’t underestimate your own power, resilience, or belief in yourself. Even if you find yourself in rooms where no one looks like you or sounds like you, there’s something to learn in every step. 
• Trust yourself, and trust the journey, even when it feels uncertain.

“Look around, take the cards you want and play your own deck”

• Pay attention to the attributes of others, and identifying those which we do and do not want to adopt.
• Lindsay emphasised the South African Ubuntu philosophy, “I am because we are” to demonstrate how values like mutual respect, dignity, and collective support allow us to build and sustain inclusive professional communities.
• Progress isn’t just about individual achievement, but about how we lift others as we move forward - especially the next generation.
• Create space for different perspectives and cultural values, as this only strengthens the way we work and the way we lead.

“Change is happening in our industry … a testament is these initiatives”

• Whilst it may be late or slow, change is happening in the aviation industry and women have a role in this too.
• Be proud of our identity because diversity of thought in decision-making spaces will lead to better outcomes.
• Workplaces share responsibility for supporting this change, by providing flexibility and tackling unconscious bias.
• For change to continue in the industry, it is fundamental for women to champion other women, but to also find the confidence to champion ourselves.

The session was a powerful reminder of the importance of visibility and representation in not just the legal sector, but in the wider world of business. As Hilary aptly put it, “if you can’t see it, you can’t be it.” For women at any stage of their career, seeing women in senior roles helps normalise ambition and leadership in spaces where representation has historically been limited. 

It’s not just about following in others’ footsteps – it’s about building your own path while contributing to a broader shift that makes space for more women to do the same.

A special thank you to Kathy Williams and Anna Kelly, both Trainee Solicitors at the firm, for their contributions to the takeaways included above.