Keynote SpeakersMandy Hickson is a former Royal Air Force (RAF) fast jet pilot, leadership speaker, and expert in high-performance teamwork.
She was one of the first women to fly the Tornado GR4 on front-line operations. During her RAF career, she patrolled high-risk areas, including the ‘No Fly’ Zone over Iraq, operating in high-pressure, hostile environments.
With more than 30 years of aviation experience, Mandy is a recognised authority on:
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Decision-making under pressure.
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Resilience and mental toughness.
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Leadership and team performance.
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Managing risk in dynamic environments.
After retiring from active service, Mandy Hickson became a professional motivational speaker, facilitator, and leadership coach. She now works with global organisations, helping teams improve performance, communication, and accountability.
Her insights are drawn directly from real-world fast jet operations, where trust, clarity, and split-second decisions are critical. She translates military leadership principles into practical strategies for business success.
Mandy is an Aviation Ambassador for the Department for Transport and also a Trustee of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust. She is passionate about inspiring future generations, particularly young women pursuing careers in aviation and STEM.
Her bestselling memoir, An Officer, Not a Gentleman, shares her journey from a determined young cadet to a pioneering RAF fighter pilot. The book continues to inspire readers worldwide.
Beyond aviation, Mandy has also summited Mount Kilimanjaro and trekked to Everest Base Camp – reflecting her commitment to courage, perseverance, and pushing boundaries.
A Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and a highly sought-after keynote speaker, Mandy Hickson empowers audiences to build confidence, lead with clarity, and perform at their best – even under pressure.
“Mandy Hickson was brilliant. We hung on every word.”
Taylor Wimpey
Why Book Motivational Speaker Mandy Hickson?:
Mandy discusses the skills and strategies she used to succeed in her challenging environment with frankness and humour.
Coupled with boundless energy and an overriding purpose of the end goal, Mandy believes that anyone can achieve their ambitions with hard work, determination, and self-belief.
As a motivational speaker, fighter pilot Mandy Hickson invests tremendous energy, creativity, and passion into her work. Working with clients individually enables her to create unique and memorable events.
As a result, she brings a wealth of anecdotes and insights from her years of serving on the operational front line, where a good sense of humour has been the key to her success and survival.
Speaking Topics
- Critical Success Factors – learning from the extremes of a career as a fast jet pilot
- Selecting a career against the grain
- Overcoming barriers
- Motivation
- Conquering the Fear of Failure
- Goal Setting
- Self-Belief and the Power of Positive Thinking
- Teamwork
- Planning
- Threat/Threat analysis
- Risk-Taking
- Decision-Making Under Intense Pressure
- Empowerment of junior team members
- Leadership
- Trust in your Team
- Debriefing and the need to be open to learning
How to Book Mandy Hickson
To book Mandy Hickson as the speaker at your event, please get in touch with Mandy’s agent at the Gordon Poole Agency on 01275 463222 or email us at agents@gordonpoole.com
Alternatively, please complete this enquiry form for Mandy, and one of our agents will contact you shortly.
