Breaking the glass ceiling: Women taking the lead in aviation

While progress is being made, aviation, like many industries, still grapples with a stark gender imbalance, with women remaining underrepresented in senior roles, particularly where critical decisions are made. Globally, only a third of countries have ever had a female leader and women own only 33% of the world’s wealth (BCG).

Last week, during the Airport Show’s Women in Aviation International Middle East Forum in Dubai, panelists gathered to discuss the real meaning of leadership and whether the industry is progressing beyond symbolic diversity to meaningful inclusion of women.

From titles to true power

It’s one thing to hold a title, but another to drive strategy, lead change and influence outcomes. During the session, Zeina Mehyou, Hind AlBudoor and Rajani Maniyanghat dove into the heart of the issue: Leadership inspires people to raise their own standards. You can be a woman, a mom, an employee and excel at all levels if you never give up. Real power doesn’t reside in hierarchy and is defined by action, impact and integrity.

At Jetcraft, women within the organization don’t just have seats at the table, they shape the direction of the business. Career advancements are driven by performance, not quotas, and this is our commitment to authentic change. Over the past three years, the company has promoted four women to senior roles, including Jennifer Jewett, who was recently promoted from Controller to SVP of Finance.

Progress or performance

Some companies chase optics and fill diversity metrics without empowering the people behind them. Tokenism remains a challenge, but at Jetcraft, progress is measured differently. It’s about leading initiatives, making strategic decisions and mentoring others. We are now seeing more and more women at either end of the industry, whether providing services or on the other side business jet owners themselves. (Ever Forward)

During the panel session, we urged the industry to push for true inclusion by being persistent and obsessed. That’s how we can create change. With more women now entering aviation at earlier career stages and staying longer, there’s cautious optimism. Regardless of gender, advancements and hiring should be based on performance, and this should be the norm in the industry too. The pace of change may not be fast enough, but the direction is right.

Visibility matters and advice

Having women in leadership is inspiring and essential. Visibility helps break stereotypes and set new standards for what’s possible. But as pointed out during the panel, seeing someone like you at the top isn’t a guarantee of change. Opportunities come when women show up, stay focused and not to justify themselves about where they are, a mindset that was echoed by every panelist.

Looking ahead, the greatest opportunities for women in aviation may lie in emerging markets, next-gen technologies and roles where innovation meets leadership. The one piece of advice panelists offered to women of the next generation: show up, speak up and don’t wait for permission.

Women in aviation aren’t just filling roles, they’re shaping the future and at Jetcraft, they’re doing so with confidence.