AVIATE with Shaesta

• Trip Your Way Forward: Abingdon Mullin on Watches, Aviation, and Not Quitting

  When Abingdon sat at a 99s Christmas dinner in 2006, she thought she was just celebrating her new private pilot certificate. Instead, she discovered a gap no watch company was willing to fill: pilot watches built for women. Within hours she set herself an 11-month deadline to design, fund, and deliver a watch that didn’t exist yet. That deadline became the seed of The Abingdon Co., now an 18-year-old brand serving women across aviation and STEM. In this conversation, Shaesta and Abingdon walk through the full arc: from a 14-year-old chasing free pizza at a high school career talk, to getting a pilot certificate in 34 days, to preselling $400 watches off CGI renderings before a single unit existed. Abingdon explains why you can’t wait for “perfect,” why she swears by “trip your way forward,” and how saying yes to an imperfect start changed her entire path in aviation. They also dig into the reality behind the highlight reel of entrepreneurship—caregiving, near-shutdown moments, investors, and what it looks like to keep a promise to customers when life blows up. Abingdon talks candidly about stepping away to become her father’s full-time caregiver, the pressure to close the company, and why she refused to quit while thousands of women were still wearing her watches. From there, the conversation zooms out: Gen Z as the most entrepreneurial generation yet, where product ideas really come from, and why aviation desperately needs people who can see a problem and build anything better—whether it’s a watch, a system, or an entire mindset around mental health and aeromedical reform. Abingdon also shares her view of aviation in 2035, from autonomous air vehicles and drone logistics to why analog watches are growing in a world of smart devices. If you’re a young innovator wondering where you fit in aviation—or someone sitting on an idea you don’t feel “ready” to launch—this episode is a playbook on starting before you’re comfortable, serving a niche the industry ignores, and staying human in a career that loves to put people on pedestals. CHAPTERS (00:00) A missing watch at Christmas dinner (03:00) Trip your way forward, not perfectly (06:00) From free pizza to pilot in 34 days (11:00) Starting the first women’s pilot watch (18:00) How one product opened aviation doors (24:00) Gen Z, gaps, and building in aviation (30:00) Caregiving, near shutdown, and investors (36:00) Mental health, identity, and aeromed (44:00) Autonomous flight and 2035 aviation (50:00) Why analog watches still matter SPONSORS ⁠Atlantic Aviation | atlanticaviation.com WORK WITH SHAESTA For bookings and inquiries, visit: https://shaestawaiz.com/book MORE ABOUT ABINGDON MULLIN Website: abingdonco.com LinkedIn: Abingdon Chelsea Mullin  IG: @theabingdonco MORE ABOUT SHAESTA WAIZ  Website: shaestawaiz.com  Instagram: @shaesta.waiz LinkedIn: Shaesta Waiz YouTube: www.youtube.com/@aviateplatform TikTok: @shaestawaiz Threads: @shaesta.waiz Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif & Kroo Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MassifKroo.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries/sponsoring: email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• The Cost of Silence: DEI Rollbacks, Safety, and the Future of Aviation with Dr. Kimberly Perkins

  In this episode, host Shaesta Waiz speaks with Dr. Kimberly Perkins—787 airline pilot, research scientist at the University of Washington, and fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society—about the rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion in aviation and why it matters for safety, innovation, and the next generation. Kimberly shares how DEI was often treated as a branding campaign rather than systemic change, why psychological safety is inseparable from operational safety, and how silence in the cockpit or boardroom leads to risk. She explains why inclusion should be embedded into pilot training as a required competency, why emotional intelligence belongs alongside technical skill, and how leaders can shift from “I-frame” individual fixes to “S-frame” system solutions. They discuss how DEI rollbacks reveal which organizations were truly committed, why allyship must extend to all—including men in positions of power—and the fatigue marginalized groups feel carrying the burden of proof. Kimberly closes with practical “micro-allyship” actions and advice for young women in aviation: don’t conform or gaslight, strive to be an ally, and use small, consistent acts of inclusion to reshape the system itself. Chapter Breakdown 00:00 | Opening Reflections on DEI Rollbacks 01:34 | Season Seven Recap & Why This Conversation 04:44 | Introducing Dr. Kimberly Perkins 06:08 | Was DEI Ever on Solid Ground? 09:20 | Safety, Innovation, and Silencing Voices 12:41 | Psychological Safety in Aviation Teams 14:21 | From I-Frame to S-Frame: Systemic Solutions 17:33 | Allyship, Fatigue, and the Burden of Proof 21:21 | Message to Young Women Entering Aviation 24:26 | Micro-Allyship Toolkit: Small Acts, Big Change 27:15 | Rollbacks, Military Aviation, and Funding Gaps 30:46 | Final Thoughts and Call to Collective Action Follow Dr. Kimberly Perkins Website: www.kimberly-perkins.com LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Kimberly Perkins⁠⁠ Follow Shaesta Waiz Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ shaestawaiz.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shaesta Waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @shaestawaiz⁠⁠⁠ Shaesta Waiz on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: YouTube (Aviate Platform)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif Studio & Production & The Tallawah Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠www.massifsp.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Massif Studio & Production⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.TallawahWorldwide.com⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Tallawah Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Purpose-Driven Leadership: Lynda Coffman on DEI, Workforce, and the Future of Aviation

  In this episode, host Shaesta Waiz speaks with Lynda Coffman—CEO of Women in Aviation International, former United Airlines executive, and Northwestern adjunct professor— about sustaining a qualified aviation workforce while navigating the rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Lynda shares her journey from being the first female engineer in United’s powerplant group to leading airport operations across 63 stations and founding United Ground Express. She reflects on how DEI has been misunderstood, why access is not about lowering standards, and how systemic, purpose-driven action strengthens aviation’s safety and growth. They discuss why shrinking the pipeline hurts everyone, how leaders can challenge unconscious bias in real time, and why support networks and “personal boards of directors” are essential for women entering aviation today. Lynda closes with advice to stay rooted in passion, build strong communities, and never let others decide what you are capable of. Chapter Breakdown 00:00 | Why Workforce Strength Depends on Access01:49 | Why This Season: DEI Rollback in Aviation06:18 | Lynda’s Early Career at United Airlines10:26 | From Engineering to Executive Leadership14:29 | DEI as Access, Not Lowered Standards17:06 | Purpose-Driven Action in Corporate Strategy20:49 | Building Diverse Candidate Slates23:32 | Leadership, Culture, and Challenging Bias28:37 | Responding to “Lowering Standards” Narrative31:34 | Pilot Shortages, Economics, and Safety Risks35:11 | Advice for Young Women in Aviation38:09 | Building Sisterhood and Support Networks39:47 | Leading with Passion for Industry and Members Follow Lynda Coffman Website: Women in Aviation InternationalLinkedIn: ⁠Lynda Coffman⁠ Follow Shaesta Waiz Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠ shaestawaiz.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shaesta Waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠ @shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠ @shaestawaiz⁠⁠ Shaesta Waiz on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube (Aviate Platform)⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif Studio & Production & The Tallawah Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠www.massifsp.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠ Massif Studio & Production⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.TallawahWorldwide.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Tallawah Group⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• “Don’t Wait for the Invitation” — Aircraft Mechanic & Advocate Samantha T. Mitchell on Owning Your Path in Aviation

  In this episode, host Shaesta Waiz speaks with Samantha T. Mitchell—licensed A&P mechanic, author, and founder of Black Women in Aviation—about building a career where women are still drastically underrepresented, especially in maintenance. Samantha recounts finding aviation through a college brochure, nearly losing a dream role over citizenship status, becoming the first female mechanic for Air Jamaica at JFK, and learning to navigate rooms where she was often the only one. They discuss how the DEI rollback is affecting funding, visibility, and community support, why “we are more than letters,” and practical ways women can persist: invite yourself in, anchor to one ally, reprogram limiting blueprints, and lead with demonstrated competence. Samantha closes with a vision of progress defined not by headcounts but by a domino effect of inspired “yeses.” Chapter Breakdown 00:00 | Don’t Wait—Invite Yourself 01:20 | Why This Season: DEI Rollback 04:18 | Finding Maintenance at Vaughn 07:45 | Boeing Setback, Air Jamaica Pivot 09:25 | Being the Only One in the Room 14:13 | “More Than Letters”: DEI Reality 17:54 | Build the Turbulence Muscle 20:23 | One Ally, Faith, and Mentors 25:03 | Own Your Gifts, Own Your Path 29:12 | Progress as a Domino Effect Follow Samantha T. Mitchell LinkedIn: Samantha T. Mitchell Website: www.samanthatmitchell.com Follow Shaesta Waiz Website:⁠⁠⁠ shaestawaiz.com⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠ Shaesta Waiz⁠⁠⁠ Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ @shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠ TikTok:⁠⁠⁠ @shaestawaiz⁠ Shaesta Waiz on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube (Aviate Platform)⁠⁠⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif Studio & Production & The Tallawah Group⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠www.massifsp.com⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠ Massif Studio & Production⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠ www.TallawahWorldwide.com⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠ The Tallawah Group⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• A Business Case for DEI in Aviation with Jennifer Pickerel

  In this episode, host Shaesta Waiz speaks with Jennifer Pickerel—President of Aviation Personnel International and a veteran executive search consultant—about the rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in aviation and its real-world impacts. Drawing on over two decades of experience in recruitment, leadership development, and organizational culture, Pickerel examines how performative DEI, policy softening, and cultural misalignment can undermine both safety and profitability. They explore the business case for genuine inclusion, the mechanics of effective mentorship, sponsorship, and allyship, and share concrete tactics for women to advocate for themselves by reframing their requests around company goals. Pickerel also offers practical tools for researching organizational culture, building strategic networks, and sustaining resilience when formal DEI programs recede. Episode Notes Shaesta Waiz sits down with Jennifer Pickerel to unpack: The current state of DEI in business aviation Why superficial diversity initiatives falter The role of culture in hiring and retention Building mentorship, sponsorship, and allyship organically How women can present a business case for their own advancement Tools for assessing company culture before you apply Strategies for young women to stay and thrive in aviation Chapter Breakdown00:00 | Diversity in Aviation07:22 | Women in Pilot Statistics10:00 | Shifts in DEI Commitments12:45 | Culture’s Role in Hiring15:08 | Mentorship and Sponsorship17:42 | Defining True Allyship20:13 | Overcoming Industry Challenges22:56 | Assessing Organizational Culture25:20 | Inspiring Young Aviators Follow Jennifer Pickerel LinkedIn: Jennifer E. Pickerel - President - Business Aviation API: Jennifer Pickerel - President - Recruiter Follow Shaesta Waiz Website:⁠⁠ shaestawaiz.com⁠⁠ LinkedIn:⁠⁠ Shaesta Waiz⁠⁠ Instagram:⁠⁠ @shaesta.waiz⁠⁠ TikTok:⁠⁠ @shaestawaiz Shaesta Waiz on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube (Aviate Platform)⁠⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif Studio & Production & The Tallawah Group⁠⁠ Website:www.massifsp.com⁠⁠ LinkedIn:⁠⁠ Massif Studio & Production⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠ www.TallawahWorldwide.com ⁠⁠LinkedIn:⁠⁠ The Tallawah Group⁠⁠ For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email ⁠[email protected]⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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