Flying High and Staying Grounded: Leadership Lessons from the Cockpit with Emma Henderson

Fasten your seatbelt—this episode is about to take off! Anne Bonney welcomes Emma Henderson (www.emma-henderson.com), a former airline captain, leadership expert, and charity founder, to share her journey of resilience, leadership, and making a difference. Emma’s story takes you from the skies to the frontlines of the pandemic, with lessons that will inspire you to lead with humanity, humility, and humor.

What You’ll Discover in This Episode

• How a 10-Year-Old Girl Dreamed of Flying High:
  Emma’s fascination with aviation began at age 10 with a chance encounter at an airport. Find out how her unconventional path led her to the captain’s seat in a male-dominated industry.
• Grounded but Not Defeated:
  A neurological disorder once clipped her wings, but Emma turned failure into fuel for growth. Curious about what she learned from being grounded? Tune in to hear her take on resilience and the value of embracing setbacks.
• The Birth of Project Wingman:
  When the pandemic grounded planes, Emma co-founded a charity that brought airline crews together to support frontline medical staff. Discover how this initiative grew into a nationwide movement, complete with mobile lounges and even an MBE from the Queen!
• Leadership Lessons from 35,000 Feet:
  Emma’s time as a captain taught her the power of decision-making, teamwork, and leading under pressure. She now shares her principles of "Grounded Leadership" that prioritize humanity, humility, and humor.
• Life Beyond the Skies:
  From writing her book Grounded to planning a new project about pandemic resilience, Emma’s story is still unfolding. Could her leadership insights change how you approach challenges?
• Plans Over Resolutions:
  Emma’s philosophy? Purposeful plans beat fleeting resolutions every time. How does this approach shape her leadership style and personal growth? Listen to find out!

Why You Need to Tune In

This episode is packed with wisdom, inspiration, and plenty of surprises. Emma’s story isn’t just for aspiring pilots—it’s for anyone who wants to rise above setbacks, lead with purpose, and make a lasting impact.

🎧 Ready for takeoff? Hit play now to uncover Emma’s secrets to resilience, grounded leadership, and turning challenges into opportunities to soar.

Want more from Emma?
www.linkedin.com/in/emma-henderson-speaker
www.emma-henderson.com
Book: https://www.emma-henderson.com/store/p/nv1ngu6mup4daujb7r8i0yc9csrwdw

Until September 2020 Emma was one of fewer than 500 female airline captains
in the world and had made her mark on the industry as a Peer Support Mentor,
Brand Ambassador, Fear of Flying presenter, and had become known as
Captain Emma in ITVs fly on the wall documentary Inside the Cockpit.
It was this platform and the niche she had carved for herself as a natural and
empathetic leader, that allowed her to launch Project Wingman in response to
the global pandemic, mobilising thousands of grounded aircrew across the
country to provide well-being support to frontline NHS staff.
Now, an award winning CEO of the charity she founded, and with an MBE to her
name, Emma draws on her experiences over more than three decades in the air
deliver lessons that transfer from the flight deck to the board room, inspiring all
who hea