Mandy Hickson

Mandy Hickson is a former RAF fast jet pilot and highly respected keynote speaker who specialises in leadership, decision-making under pressure, and building high-performing teams rooted in trust and psychological safety. As the first woman to fly the Tornado GR4 on the front line, she completed 45 operational missions over Iraq, gaining unmatched insight into what it takes to perform when failure is not an option. Since leaving the RAF, Mandy has become a bestselling author with her memoir An Officer, Not a Gentleman reaching number one on Amazon, founded Inspiring Women For Work to support women returning to their careers, and serves as a Trustee for the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust. Her keynotes equip audiences with practical, actionable strategies drawn from real experience, helping leaders foster cultures of continuous improvement, leverage diverse thinking, and thrive through uncertainty and change.

When Mandy Hickson applied to join the RAF as a pilot, she failed the computer-based aptitude tests twice and was told that avenue was closed. Refusing to accept that verdict, she joined as an Air Traffic Controller in 1994 and spent her officer training making her case, demonstrating her flying skills in the real world until the RAF finally offered her pilot training as a test case. That determination led her to become the first woman to fly the Tornado GR4 on the front line, completing 45 operational missions over three tours of duty enforcing the No Fly zone over Iraq. Today, Mandy Hickson translates those hard-won lessons in leadership, decision-making under pressure, and high-performing teamwork into powerful keynotes that equip audiences across sectors to navigate uncertainty and perform when it matters most.

Mandy's career in the Royal Air Force taught her what it truly takes to lead teams in hostile, high-stakes environments where split-second decisions, risk management, and flawless performance are not aspirational but essential. Since leaving full-time service, she has built a successful career helping organisations apply those principles in business. She works with over 500 schools globally to promote STEM education and diversity, serves as an Aviation Ambassador for the Department for Transport, and holds roles as a Trustee for the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust and Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Her bestselling memoir, An Officer, Not a Gentleman, reached number one on Amazon and offers a candid account of her pioneering journey through a male-dominated world. Mandy also founded Inspiring Women For Work, a programme designed to support women returning to their careers after maternity leave or career breaks, helping them reconnect with their expertise and step back up to the levels they are capable of achieving. Her continued impact beyond the military was recognised when she was shortlisted as a finalist for Inspiration of the Year at the Ex-Forces in Business Awards.

Mandy's keynotes are known for their engaging storytelling, humour, and emotional connection, leaving audiences not just inspired but equipped with actionable tools they can apply immediately. She works with organisations across sectors, from global corporates to public sector teams, helping leaders foster cultures of psychological safety, embed debriefing for continuous improvement, and leverage diverse thinking to drive innovation. Whether addressing senior leadership or inspiring entire organisations, Mandy delivers grounded, real-world strategies that enable people to thrive in fast-paced, ever-changing environments. Her approach is rooted in lived experience, not theory, and her dynamic, down-to-earth delivery ensures lasting impact long after the event.