Pioneering female pilot turned motivational speaker and business navigating consultant, Mandy Hickson has developed an enviable skill set in the Royal Air Force that she now translates into valuable workplace tools as a speaker. From failure to history-defining, Hickson’s pilot career was hugely influential, and her frontline experiences meant her understanding of risk management, leadership and human factors is second to none. Combining these qualities with fast-paced stories from the skies, Hickson delivers a truly remarkable talk as a keynote speaker.
As only the second female to fly a Tornado GR4 on the front line, Hickson pioneered the movement of women into the RAF. Much of her remarkable career was spent as the only female aircrew, throughout 45 missions over Iraq and three duty tours, evidencing her mental reliance, bravery and powerful attitude. One of her positions as the Squadron’s Combat Survival and Rescue Officer saw Hickson spearhead a cross-continent effort at the height of risk management. Since becoming a civilian, Hickson has continued to act as an inspirational role model for the RAF, as a Volunteer Reserve on the Air Experience Flight with Air Cadets. Most recently, in 2023, Mandy completed a trek to the Everest Base Camp, demonstrating her persistence and determination.
Achieving ambitions isn’t always plain sailing as Hickson knows all too well from her personal journey to becoming a pilot. After showing early promise, she was awarded the RAF scholarship aged 17 having previously joined the Air Training Corps. However, early success, and awards with her University Air Squadron did not prepare Hickson for failing her RAF flying aptitude test, which she failed on two occasions, setting her back from her pilot goal. Undeterred by the failure, Hickson persevered and her determination and reliance paid dividends when she was selected as a test case by the RAF.
Currently, Hickson is offering transformative talks across a range of popular topics and to a number of demographics. For corporate clients, her personal experience of teamwork, leadership, crisis management and human error translates seamlessly into the boardroom, delivered to audiences through a dynamic speech. Additionally, Hickson’s recently published book ‘An Officer, Not a Gentleman’ further emphasises her journey as a female in a male-dominated profession and how she developed the necessary mental and physical skills to handle the fast-paced life of a pilot and mother. Highly acclaimed for the achievements she has made throughout her career, Mandy was most recently shortlisted as a finalist in the Inspiration of the Year category at the Ex-Forces in Business Awards. This inspirational career lends itself to motivational talks and her recent involvement in female groups, such as the Inspiring Women for Work proves how her story can offer audiences tangible value.
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.
Most recently, Mandy Hickson was inducted into the Best International Women's Day Speakers to Hire, recognising her talent as an incredible female pilot.
How to hire Mandy Hickson
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Mandy Hickson for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do not accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
When she's at corporate events, Mandy is known to cover the following topics:
- The building and empowerment of effective teams
- Inspired goal setting and ultimate focus
- Decision-making under extreme pressure
- Maintaining momentum despite losing top talent
- Nurturing a culture of self confidence and aspiration
Official Feedback from In-Person & Virtual Events
Feedback from In-Person Events:
"I just wanted to let you know that Mandy was truly amazing yesterday. The feedback we have had was incredible and everyone agreed how inspiring she was and in awe of what she has achieved. I didn’t get to say goodbye to Mandy, but please pass on my thanks to her and it was a pleasure to meet her. I know we will all really enjoy reading her book." - Liz, Team PA, Quintain
"She was amazing, thank you! The perfect end to our conference. Everyone was really inspired and had a lot to say after her presentation. Thank you for your help in arranging" - Jennifer, Personal Assistant, Group Legal - Corporate, Commercial & Compliance, Vodafone
"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 highly 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!" - Miriam, Partner, Dechert LLP
"Much like the fighter jets you flew, the noise (feedback) about your presentation can still be heard. The feedback has been fantastic with many saying “Mandy was the most inspirational speaker I have ever heard”. You are extraordinarily talented, hugely determined and beautifully funny with a great ability to connect with people - for such a high flier you are very grounded! Thank you for sharing, it was a great pleasure." - Peter, Managing Director, Old Mutual International
"Mandy, great to meet you. Your session was particularly well received. I am delighted I was able to stay to hear you talk. Your story is very inspirational and I recognised many of the challenges you have faced as a woman in a predominantly male world as these issues are industry-agnostic. I am sure we could spend hours sharing our war stories (literal and metaphorical !). I do all I can to help the next generation navigate these challenges and not experience the same difficulties as those who have gone before. You are clearly doing the same." - Sue, CEO, M&S Bank
"I just wanted to say thank you once again for a fabulous talk at our execs conference. They were buzzing afterwards, just as the partners were, and it really made the day. Funny, human and relevant with an appropriate dose of self-deprecation. You went down a storm! Thank you." - Jonathan, Managing Partner, Russell-Cooke International Law Firm
"I just wanted to say following yesterday that I have been approached by so many people, telling me that you were the best speaker we have ever had. Not only were you very motivational and inspiring, but you were also very amusing with it which brought a really nice atmosphere to the room. If I could have the same speaker each year, you would be top of my list!!" - Orbit Group
"Mandy was absolutely amazing. She was really able to connect her story to ours and left the audience with nuggets to take away as well as inspiration and motivation." - Quilter
"Also, just wanted to drop you a note saying thank you for recommending Mandy to us … she was fantastic, the audience soaked up everything she had to say … brilliant suggestion"- Greencore
"She was amazing, thank you! The perfect end to our conference. Everyone was really inspired and had a lot to say after her presentation. Thank you for your help in arranging." – Jennifer, Personal Assistant, Vodafone
"Mandy was perfect for our meeting, she has a great story that resonated with everyone in the room. As I said to her at the end, she didn’t need to ask for feedback on the day as I’m sure she could tell looking at the audience from the stage just how engaged they were! We also had similar feedback from those that watched the video afterwards (which we deleted after 2 weeks as agreed)." - Shell
"Mandy Hickson was incredible. I think most of the crowd was completely captivated by her talk. She also has an approachable personality/character, which can often not be the case with some speakers and is super interesting to talk to. She was very happy to share all her flying stories! She socialised with our guests and colleagues and the feedback was nothing short of exemplary. Her talk was fascinating and powerful and gave a great insight into what it was like for her to start a career in the Royal Air Force as a woman and her journey to now. She had the audience hooked from the first minute. It was insightful and engaging." - Quintain
"It all went off without a hitch last night. Mandy was fantastic." - Stepstone Group
- 2020 - Published an Officer not a Gentleman
- 2012 - Founded and became Co-Director of Inspiring Women for Work
- 1994 - Joined the RAF
- Served for 17 years in the RAF
- The UK's second female fast jet pilot
