Fly Girls' Guide to Aviation Careers

Fly Girls' Guide to Aviation Careers

Hosted by aviation CEO, FAA board alum, and high-performance business coach René Banglesdorf, Fly Girls’ Guide is the go-to podcast for women who want to launch, grow, or pivot their careers in aviation. From the cockpit to the control tower, you’ll hear candid conversations with female pilots, mechanics, executives, air traffic controllers, and more—each sharing their stories, struggles, and the bold moves that got them where they are. Whether you’re just discovering the skies or already leading at 30,000 feet, this show will equip you with real mentorship, practical insights, and the inspiration to chart your own course in the aviation industry. Let’s build the future of aviation together—one Fly Girl at a time.

Episodes

December 1, 2025 25 mins

In this episode, René interviews Megan Knox, Senior Operations Manager at a Part 135 charter company in Centennial, Colorado. Megan’s career started with a love of flying, earning her private, instrument, and commercial ratings. But after 9/11, she pivoted into scheduling, dispatch, and compliance roles. That decision opened the door to a long and impactful career behind the scenes, where she ensures flights, crews, and operations ...

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In this episode of the Fly Girls’ Guide Podcast, René sits down with Sarah Heugel, an aviation professional whose career has spanned dispatch, operations, and leadership. From her early days in scheduling to taking on complex safety and management responsibilities, Sarah shares her path through the industry and the lessons she’s learned along the way.

Tune in as they discuss:

  • How Sarah transitioned from dispatch into operations l...
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In this episode, René chats with Liz Moscrop about her unique career combining aviation, messaging, and video production. From early days in journalism to building a global media company focused on the aviation sector, Liz shares what it takes to simplify complex topics, lead with purpose, and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry.

Tune in as they discuss:

  • How Liz turned a background in media (and even stand-up comedy!) into ...
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In this episode of the Fly Girls’ Guide Podcast, René sits down with Kellie Roby, Vice President of Polaris Aero, a safety services software company. Kellie’s career began with flying and evolved into a leadership role that now impacts how flight departments think about safety, audits, and culture. She shares how she balances technical expertise with the human side of aviation and why listening and emotional intelligence are at the...

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In this episode of the Fly Girls’ Guide Podcast, René sits down with Ryan Bass, who began her aviation career as an F-18 engine mechanic in the Navy and now works on Lockheed Martin’s F-35 flight line. From helping launch the very first test aircraft to supervising a team of maintainers, she shares how grit, technical skill, and determination shaped her path.

Tune-in as they discuss:

  • How she went from a small-town graduate to wor...
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In this episode of the Fly Girls’ Guide Podcast, René interviews Sharlotte Yealdhall, an air traffic controller and traffic management coordinator with decades of experience across towers, centers, and one of the nation’s busiest airspaces. Sharlotte shares how her journey began at a high school career day in South Africa, the training and persistence it took to qualify in the U.S., and the daily decisions that shape how safely and...

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In this episode of the Fly Girls’ Guide Podcast, René sits down with Cassidy Moore, an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) and Inspection Authorized (IA) mechanic who has spent more than a decade building her career in aircraft maintenance. From general aviation hangars to running her own business, Cassidy shares what it takes to thrive in a demanding field where precision, communication, and accountability are non-negotiable. She op...

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In this episode of the Fly Girls’ Guide Podcast, René talks with Tammy Barlette, a retired U.S. Air Force fighter pilot who spent the highlight of her career flying the A-10 Warthog. From missions overseas to training the next generation of pilots, Tammy shares what it really takes to strap into a jet that’s built for combat and carry the responsibility of protecting lives on the ground.

Tune in as they discuss:

  • Tammy’s journey i...
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In this episode of the Fly Girls’ Guide Podcast, René talks with Bobbi Wells, Vice President of Inflight at American Airlines, where she leads a team of 28,000 flight attendants and hundreds of support staff. Bobbi reflects on her career path—from Army service to head of safety at FedEx to a major passenger airline—and what it takes to lead at the highest levels of the aviation industry.

Tune in as they discuss:

  • Bobbi’s path from...
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On this episode of the Fly Girls’ Guide to Aviation Careers podcast, René interviews Amy Spowart, CEO of the National Aeronautic Association, to talk about the importance of history in shaping aviation’s future. From her early career in the arts to leading national organizations, Amy has dedicated her work to preserving aviation’s heritage while ensuring lessons from the past help guide the industry forward.

Tune in as they discuss:

...
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    In this episode, René sits down with Nicki Harricharan, Operations Program Manager at CANSO (Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation), whose career has spanned from the FAA control centers to leading global conversations about the future of air traffic management. Nicki shares her journey from growing up in Trinidad with a fascination for travel to navigating the complexities of international aviation and integrating new technol...

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    In this episode, René interviews the esteemed Dr. Rebecca “Becky” Lutte, Department Chair and Associate Professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. From commuter airline pilot to educator, researcher, and advocate, Becky’s career showcases the many ways aviation professionals can shape the industry from the classroom to Capitol Hill.

    Tune in as they discuss:

    • Becky’s path from professional pilot to professor and department ...
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    In this episode, René interviews Jamie Munoz, General Manager at Galaxy Aviation in Addison, Texas. With over two decades in aviation, Jamie’s path has taken her from customer service and charter sales to business development, software, and now leading a 30-person team at the nation’s busiest single-runway airport. She shares the lessons she’s learned about leadership, resilience, and why the smell of jet fuel still makes her smile...

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    In this episode of the Fly Girls’ Guide Podcast, René talks with Crystal Barrois, Delta Air Lines captain and General Manager of Aircraft Acquisitions. From her early days as a regional and cargo pilot to leading Delta’s entry-into-service programs, she shares how curiosity, relationships, and intentionality have shaped her career. She offers an inside look at what it really takes to bring a new aircraft into an airline’s fleet—and...

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    In this episode, René sits down with Stacey Brown, General Manager of Technical Operations at CVG. Stacey shares her journey from being one of the few women in the Marine Corps aviation maintenance ranks to leading hundreds of mechanics today. With a career shaped by problem-solving, mentorship, and resilience, Stacey proves that aviation leadership isn’t just about technical skills, it’s about people, preparation, and courage.

    Tune...

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    September 30, 2025 24 mins

    In this episode of the Fly Girls’ Guide Podcast, René interviews Cat Wren, Vice President at ENG Organ Recovery, whose career spans from playing college basketball to fueling jets on the ramp to leading aviation teams that facilitate life-saving organ transplants. Cat shares her journey, the skills that helped her rise in aviation, and why purpose-filled work keeps her motivated.

    They discuss...

    • How Cat went from the flight line ...
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    In this episode, René chats with Maddie Glassett, a flight instructor who has made the art of teaching her career focus. From Warriors and 172s to seaplanes and Cirrus aircraft, she brings energy, honesty, and heart to every lesson. She shares her journey, what makes an effective instructor, and why passion for training the next generation of pilots is what drives her forward.

    In this Episode You’ll Hear: 

    • How flight instruction ...
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    In this episode of the Fly Girls’ Guide to Aviation Careers, René interviews Megan Knox, Senior Operations Manager at a private jet charter company in Centennial, Colorado. From earning her pilot certificates to finding her calling in operations and compliance, Megan shares how she built a career that combines aviation expertise with leadership and mentorship.

    In this Episode You’ll Hear:

    • How Megan shifted from flying to operatio...
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    In this upcoming episode, René chats with Liz Moscrop, an aviation media entrepreneur who has carved out a niche at the intersection of aviation, branding, and storytelling. Liz talks about how she built a career communicating complex ideas in a highly technical industry, and why clarity and innovation are key drivers of aviation’s future.

    In this episode you’ll hear:

    • How Liz blended communication and aviation into a meaningful c...
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    In this upcoming episode of Fly Girls’ Guide to Aviation Careers, René sits down with Kellie Roby, Vice President of Polaris Aero, a software company specializing in safety services. From conducting safety audits to shaping safety culture across flight departments, Kellie shares how her career in aviation has grown through problem-solving, leadership, and a passion for protecting people.

    In this Episode You’ll Hear:

    • What safety s...
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