Mandy Hickson

Mandy Hickson has continually fought to reach her goals and is a role model for anyone pursuing a career in the armed forces. At the age of 17, Mandy was awarded an RAF scholarship which gave her the opportunity to fly planes well before she started driving on land. Although Mandy showed immense promise in the skies, she failed to pass the computer-based test for future RAF pilots. Despite this major setback, Mandy used her persuasive and determined nature to encourage the RAF to take her on as a test case, ultimately saving her career in the skies. Since then, Mandy has become the only female pilot in the Frontline Tornado Squadron and the second female to ever fly a Tornado GR4. Over the course of her flying career, Mandy has navigated some of the most hostile environments, including operating in a 'No Fly' zone, completing 45 missions and three tours of duty by the end of her RAF career. 

After an impressive 17 years of service, Mandy moved into a volunteer reservist role for the RAF before retiring in 2019. Mandy has since dedicated her time as a freelance consultant for TAG Aviation and a freelance Crew Resource Management Facilitator for Global Air Training. Mandy has also been a Civil Aviation Authority Accredited Human Factors Facilitator, a role in which she used her aviation expertise of strategic risk-taking and remaining calm under immense pressure to inspire audiences in corporate boardrooms.

Mandy is also the founder and Co-Director of Inspiring Women for Work. Inspiring Women for Work was created as a means of empowering women to have more confidence, feel more motivated and develop a more focused mindset alongside helping them in their professional lives. Mandy formulated courses that help to enhance women's confidence in both personal and professional settings and top tips on interview techniques and CV writing. A captivating motivational speaker, Mandy engages with her audience through highly interesting personal stories of how persevering leads to success. Recently, Mandy has also authored An Officer, Not a Gentleman- in which she shares her inspirational journey as a female pilot in the Royal Air Force. 

Now working as a performance coach for Sandstone Communications, Mandy shares her stories from her service in the Royal Air Force, all of which will have your heart racing. Commended for her enthusiastic presenting style, Mandy eagerly shares her story of overcoming setbacks and handling pressure no matter the circumstance. Audiences lucky enough to witness Mandy speak won’t just be privileged to hear her witty anecdotes but can also learn from her first-hand life advice too. Having formerly spoken for the likes of the Royal Bank of Scotland, the Co-operative Group and M&G Investments, Mandy is a seasoned speaker and covers topics such as empowering effective teams, goal setting, ultimate focus, maintaining momentum and nurturing self-confidence. 

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. 

"As managers we were left with a powerful impression of the importance of making decisions that actively empower our teams to step up and to learn, first on safe 'training ground' and ultimately in high stakes contexts" - Learning & Talent Development Manager, M&G Investments 

"Mandy spoke with such passion, energy and enthusiasm; had the audience laughing at times and in total silence at others, as she linked her personal experience in the RAF with nursing. She had taken the time to understand the values our staff developed, and was able to thread those through her whole speech. It was truly inspirational and I would not hesitate to recommend her" - Head of Communications, University Hospital Bristol 

"Particularly appreciated the external perspective on overcoming challenges and preparing for them" - Royal Bank of Scotland 

"Mandy was absolutely fantastic, so engaging. Her presentation was both personal and professional and had everyone gripped" - Co-operative Group 

"With energy, passion and humour, Mandy took our members into her world: anything is possible just so long as you commit and focus" - The Athena Network

"Professional, very well prepared, engaged with the overall event, linked in key messages, engaging, on message and humourous" - PGS Team 

“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, International Law Firm

“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 I 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

• 2020 - Performance Coach for Sandstone Communications 
• 2020 - Author of 'An Officer, Not a Gentleman'
• 2017 - Member of the Board of Trustees for Victory Services Club  
• 2014 - Chairwoman of Kingsgate Tennis Club 
• 2012 - Founder & Co-Director of Inspiring Women for Work 
• 2011 - Civil Aviation Authority Accredited Human Factors Facilitator 
• 2011 - Volunteer Reservist for the Royal Air Force 
• 2011 - Freelance Crew Resource Management Facilitator for Global Air Training 
• 1994 - Tornado GR4 Pilot in the Royal Air Force