Emma Henderson
Emma Henderson MBE – Former Airline Captain and Inspirational speaker
Watching the Space Shuttle Enterprise touch down at Stansted airport on the back of a Boeing 747, aged ten, was the moment Emma Henderson decided that she wanted to fly. What she didn’t know then was that she would go on to become one of fewer than 500 female airline captains in the world, flying passenger jets for one of Europe’s largest airlines.
Working in a high-pressured, male-dominated environment she had to learn patience and resilience; she juggled flight training with life as a military (RAF) wife, raising three young children and living across the world from family and friends.
Flying multi-million pound passenger jets across Europe for over a decade was her dream job. She flew celebrities and royalty, watching sunrises and sunsets from the best seat on the plane. But in 2020, the pandemic grounded flights worldwide and her dream career ended abruptly.
Taking voluntary redundancy, she knew she had so much still to offer the aviation industry and was determined to do something to help those on the frontline – the NHS. She founded Project Wingman, now a global charity – an initiative staffed by her airline colleagues, providing a ‘first class lounge’ experience to offer rest and recuperation for thousands of NHS staff nationwide.
In recognition of her work, she was awarded an MBE in the 2021 New Year’s Honours list. He first book Grounded is now available online.
Speaking Work
Now Emma inspires audiences across the world, sharing her stories of leadership, decision making, and having the mindset to build resilient, high performing teams (at pace), offering strategies, behaviours and inspiration to break through challenges and reach their full potential.
From the Flightdeck to the Boardroom
From a wide range of motivating and engaging keynote speeches, Emma offers audiences an insight into an exceptional and challenging job and shares the leadership qualities and fundamentals learned from life in the cockpit.
Drawing on the leadership lessons and skills she used every day in the flight deck, she translates them into tools that can be applied to any people-centred business or organisation.
As Founder and CEO of renowned charity, Project Wingman, Emma will show you how to lead with empathy, share your vision with clarity and confidence, empower teams and communicate effectively with your people.
Built around the themes in her book “Grounded”, Emma also speaks on Grounded Leadership. In an increasingly unstable world that is driven by AI and automation, Emma speaks on the importance of Humanity, Humility and Humour and keeping people at the heart of everything.
"Thank you for sharing your very inspiring story with us. I appreciated the level of self-disclosure you gave in highlighting the challenges you have faced in your personal & your professional life and your honesty in how you faced them. I loved the message that it is ok to fail and how this develops your perspective as a leader and keeps you grounded." -
— Arlene, Local Director, RBS
"Emma's story perfectly reflects the genuine and inspirational person that she is. Told in a refreshingly transparent and humorous way, from take-off to landing she captivated our global audience with a warmth and drive that clearly resonated with all. A special person who makes a big difference."
— Darren, Managing Director - Global Aviation & Space, WTW
"I cannot recommend Emma enough for your speaking events. She has worked with me twice now and I have been massively impressed by her professionalism, calmness, clarity of thought, humility and gentle humour. She consistently goes well above and beyond the brief and the members of my audience love her to bits. If you are thinking of someone to delight your audience, you must speak to Emma Henderson."
— LoveFly
