Meet Lynda Coffman, CEO of Women in Aviation International (WAI).

She leads the business development and strategic direction of the 20,000-member strong nonprofit organization while partnering with the board of directors and overseeing staff and daily operations.

Prior to joining WAI in January 2024, Lynda served as vice president of United Airlines and president of United Ground Express, a wholly owned airport operating subsidiary of United Airlines. Lynda has more than 30 years of successful leadership positions at United in various roles that highlight her passion for financial management, operational oversight, strategic planning, and talent retention. She has served on multiple private company and nonprofit boards and has received several awards for her influential contributions. A strong communicator dedicated to inspiring youth in aviation and aerospace, Lynda has also held numerous leadership and sponsorship roles supporting initiatives to champion diversity.

Lynda has a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Santa Clara University and a Master of Management from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. Lynda resides in Barrington, Illinois, with her husband, and they have a daughter.

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A 2019 National Women's Hall of Fame inductee and former Presidential appointee, Col. Nicole Malachowski (USAF, Retired) has over 21 years of experience as an officer, leader, and fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force. Upon her commission into the military, she was competitively selected to fly combat aircraft and embarked on an adventure among the first group of women to fly modern fighter jets. Nicole served as a mission ready fighter pilot in three operational F-15E squadrons and accumulated over 2,300 flight hours, including 188 hours in combat. She has had the honor of commanding a fighter squadron, flying as a USAF Thunderbird pilot, serving as a White House Fellow, and as an advisor to the First Lady of the United States.

🎧 Available on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.

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Stephanie Chung is not just the #1 international best-selling author of ALLY Leadership, How to Lead People Who Are Not Like You: she's also a force of strategic innovation, a beacon of change, and a titan in the world of business growth and human capital management. With over 30 years of experience, Stephanie has cultivated a reputation for turning challenges into opportunities and transforming growing businesses into thriving hubs of success.

As a former chief growth officer for Wheels Up, Stephanie spearheaded a growth strategy that not only elevated revenues but also fostered market expansion, resulting in a significant increase in diverse membership. Prior to her tenure at Wheels Up, Stephanie blazed trails as the first African American to helm a private jet company, JetSuite. Under her visionary leadership, JetSuite evolved from a mere service provider to a symbol of luxury and excellence.

Stephanie's illustrious career also includes pivotal roles at American Airlines, Flexjet, and Bombardier Aerospace, where she engineered revenue generation strategies that achieved remarkable success.

Stephanie's impact extends far beyond the boardroom - beyond her professional achievements, she is a dedicated advocate, serving on the Make-A-Wish Board and the Advisory Council for the National Business Aviation Association among others.

Her journey is a testament to the power of strategic thinking, resilience, and unwavering dedication to excellence. Meet Stephanie at WAI2026 in Dallas, Texas, when she closes the general session on Saturday, March 21, 10:30-11:45 a.m. with an engaging keynote presentation.

🎧 Available on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.

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Meet Joan Sullivan Garrett, founder of MedAire and a pioneer in aviation telemedicine. Working as a critical-care flight nurse in the early 1980s, Joan was regularly called into high-stakes emergency evacuations in remote regions. A life-altering mission to rescue victims of a traffic accident in rural Arizona inspired her to reimagine how medical care could be delivered in inaccessible environments. She founded MedAire from her garage, developing the first in-flight medical kits for business aviation. Today, MedAire continues to deliver innovative solutions and aviation safety and support for over 40 years.

🎧 Available on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.

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Meet Stephanie Goetz, a businesswoman, leadership coach, philanthropist, professional pilot, TEDx speaker, and professional singer.

Stephanie Goetz is a modern-day Renaissance woman. She is an award-winning former news and sports anchor at NBC, CBS, and ABC, a businesswoman, executive communication, leadership coach, philanthropist, professional pilot, TEDx speaker, and professional singer. As a keynote speaker, coach and mentor, she guides leaders and professionals on their personal development journeys, helping them to discover their potential, shatter their own glass ceiling, and achieve their goals.

Stephanie’s multifaceted career and commitment to personal growth serve as a powerful inspiration to all. Professionally, she has five jet type ratings and is qualified to fly multiple
aircraft types. She flew the Bombardier Global 6000/5000/5500 for the world’s largest and most prestigious private jet company. She performs in air shows and competes in aerobatic competitions. Stephanie is also a flight instructor and flies an L-39 Albatros – a military trainer jet.

Stephanie has a storied past of perseverance, determination, and overcoming significant obstacles. At a young age, she tragically lost her only siblings – her beloved older brothers – followed by the loss of numerous family members. Stephanie was able to dig deep and persevere through immense loss and build multiple successful careers in broadcast, entrepreneurship, aviation, singing, and more. She discovered how to be limitless. And she now teaches others how to LEVEL UP and go from dreaming to doing and achieving anything they desire.

Stephanie rose quickly in business aviation and was awarded the distinguished NBAA (National Business Aviation Association) Top 40 Under 40 Award as one of the outstanding professionals in that field.

Stephanie and her husband are deeply committed to building up and empowering the next generation of professionals and aviators. Stephanie, in particular, has been instrumental in starting a non-profit to empower mental health called Imagine Thriving which has helped thousands across the upper Midwest. She and her husband have also donated tens of thousands of dollars in multi-engine scholarships to underrepresented groups in aviation (OBAP - Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, Women in Aviation, Sisters of the Skies, NGPA - National Gay Pilots Association) and even donated an airplane to the Luke Weather Flight Academy. Philanthropy is not just a part of their lives; it’s a driving force. And they strongly encourage others to follow suit.

Stephanie is not just a successful professional; she is also a mentor, advisor and guide. She understands the courage it takes to step out of your comfort zone and pursue your dreams because she’s done it herself—multiple times. Her journey is a source of inspiration, encouraging audiences to break through their barriers, chase their dreams, and move confidently toward their passions. Her words resonate, reminding us all that we have the power to shape our own destinies no matter our skills or where we come from.

🎧 Available on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.

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As we wrap-up 2025, WAI Director, Communications Kelly Murphy, and Communications Coordinator Suprina Kaur, take our listeners on a reflective tour of the 13 episodes of the Season 1 WAI On Air podcast. A special thanks to this year’s strategic partners, Amazon and United, for their generous support during the WAI On Air Podcasts. 😍🎙️

🎧 Available on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.

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Meet the mother-daughter duo Katie and Willa Clark, BETA Technologies.

Learn more about the various backgrounds and talents the Clark family brought together to build Vermont-based BETA Technologies—an aerospace company manufacturing electric flight.

You’ll meet the mother-daughter duo Katie and Willa Clark, featured on the cover of Aviation for Women Q2 2025 issue, and hear how the power of family grew the company from a handful of volunteers to over 800 employees to manufacture the BETA ALIA aircraft. Visit BETA.team to follow the progress of the company.

🎧 Available on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.

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Meet Jackie Ruiz, founder of Latinas in Aviation.

Jacqueline calls herself a visionary social entrepreneur. Born in Mexico City, she moved to the United States at age 14, where she learned English and German. She has created two successful, award-winning companies, established two nonprofit organizations, published 16 books, created over 10 products, and held dozens of events around the world in just the past decade.

Jackie is a regular guest on TV and radio, including CBS World News, CBS Chicago, WGN-TV, ABC7 News, WGN Radio 720, and has been featured in Forbes Magazine, Inc., and others. She is one of the few Latina sports airplane pilots in the United States, and Jackie believes that “taking off is optional, landing on your dreams is mandatory.”

The book Latinas in Aviation is available on Amazon. 100% of book proceeds will go to the Pilotina Scholarship for young women aged 17 to 24.

🎧 Available on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.

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#WomeninAviationInternational #IamWAI #WeAreWAI #Aviation #Aerospace #WAITogether #WAIOnAir #WAIPodcast #femalepilot #LatinasinAviation