Recap: 2nd Annual AMAC She SOARS — Women in Aviation Summit

Day 1 Recap: Thursday, September 18, 2025

Day 1 set a vibrant and intentional tone, focusing on personal empowerment and professional foundational knowledge.

The summit got “off to the races” thanks to the inspired opening remarks from Ricky Smith, General Manager of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, LaChandra Burks, Chief Operating Officer of the City of Atlanta, Eboni Wimbush, President & CEO of AMAC and Andre Dickens, Mayor of Atlanta, via a virtual address. Throughout the day, participants were encouraged to engage in self-care. Attendees took advantage of express manicures and massages for moments of relaxation. They could also get fresh professional headshots sponsored by Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, with makeup artistry provided by Lamik Beauty.

The opening panel, She Sets the Agenda, featured Marci Collier Overstreet, Councilmember for Atlanta City Council District 11, and Margaret Mitchell, CEO of YWCA USA, who emphasized how women are reshaping the aviation sector not only through operational roles but also by influencing policy, governance and civic leadership. Panelists spoke candidly about advocacy, institutional shifts and the vitality of bridging lived experience with structural change.

The Power of Knowing You, a deeply emotive and insightful DISC session, featured speaker Dr. Karen Philbrick, Executive Director of the Mineta Transportation Institute. The session focused on self-understanding and how we engage with the world, both of which are considered key to growth. The conversation bravely touched on sensitive topics, including menopause and recognizing when others are at risk. Building on the DISC discussion, a session highlighted a critical, often-overlooked challenge: 17% of women are leaving the workforce due to menopause-related issues. The call to action for leaders was to normalize support, give grace, and create environments of understanding by being open and leading the conversation at work.

Dr. Flo Falayi, Senior Client Partner for Korn Ferry, led Designing Your Career Journey with Purpose, introducing a new way of understanding headwinds and tailwinds and challenging attendees to find meaning in their personal journeys. Participants were encouraged to harness the power of articulating their many strengths and leveraging them in their environments. A key phrase to remember: “Don’t be afraid of headwinds, that’s how planes fly.“

Also running during this time was In Her Footsteps, moderated by Inez Daniels Lampley, Founder & CEO of Fresher ATL, LLC. This session showcased family enterprises and cross-generational leadership pairs (Lachele Mangum and Lauryn Mangum Reed of TMG Hospitality USA and Raquel Olivier and Devin Roy II of Olivier, Inc.), revealing how identity, innovation and continuity intersect.

Lisa Sun’s keynote Choosing Self-Confidence & Finding Your Superpower, challenged participants to see confidence not as arrogance but as grounded clarity. She urged everyone to lean into their unique strengths and articulate value unapologetically—a timely reminder for every woman navigating high-stakes spaces.

Mentored to Mentioned, moderated by Nedra Swift, Senior Human Resources Consultant for ADK Consulting & Executive Search, dug into the nuanced but critical distinction between mentorship and sponsorship. Natasha Biswas, Global Senior Vice President of Culture, Engagement & Development for Avolta, Alea LaRocque, Vice President of Business Development for WHSmith North America, Tracey Payne, First Deputy Commissioner of the  Chicago Department of Aviation, emphasized how intentional sponsorship can be a career inflection point—and how participants might evolve from mentees to sponsors themselves.

Speed Mentoring offered quick, meaningful exchanges with industry pros. In rapid 10-minute rotations, participants engaged with senior leaders across aviation. Many left this energizing session with new perspectives, actionable feedback, and at least one person willing to walk alongside them in the next chapter.

We closed out Day 1 with the Circle of Influence Reception, sponsored by the AMAC Atlanta Chapter and United Airlines. This space was for deepening relationships, celebrating wins, and setting intentions for the rest of the summit.

Day 2 Recap: Friday, September 19, 2025

Day 2 kept the energy high, focusing on leadership, negotiation, and building bridges for the next generation.

The energy from Day 1 carried over. Over breakfast, friends reunited, new acquaintances were made, and the summit’s momentum recommenced. Diana Leon Brown, Deputy General Manager of External & International Affairs for the Marketing and Air Service Development at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, delivered a welcoming address that set the stage for Day 2’s focus: storytelling, strategy, soul care, and financial fluency.

We opened with ATL Under the Canopy Live Podcast — Women Who Build U.S. Airports. This live-podcast-style session, moderated by Monica Coleman and Jennifer Walters, featured candid stories from women on the frontlines of airport design, engineering, operations and transformation. Adrienne Ayers, Assistant General Manager of Planning and Development for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Dana Blackwood, Business Manager for Turner Construction Company, Corinne Morgan, Project Manager for JE Dunn Construction, and Joy Rohadfox, CEO & President of Rohadfox Construction Control Services Corporation, brought forward lessons on navigating visibility, organizational politics and leading large-scale infrastructure projects with agility. Panelists stressed that while the industry is still “male-populated,” it’s no longer “male-dominated.” Toughness and using your voice are essential, and the advice was to “advocate up“—don’t just identify problems, bring solutions. The consensus is that the work of proving yourself never fully ends, but strong allies and sponsors make all the difference.

We segwayed into Table Talk: Let’s Talk About It—an interactive roundtable session that offered a safe space for vulnerability, wisdom, and encouragement. Conversations were raw. Facilitated by Elysia Doumbalian, Assistant General Manager of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Airports at Los Angeles International Airport, Maryam Khatoon, Talent Pipeline Coordinator for San Francisco International Airport, Tia Perry, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships & Membership for AMAC and Jeanette Saunders, Vice President of Education & Advisory Services for AMAC, prompted attendees to lean in and share what they often hold back. Women across all career levels shared honest conversations on career challenges, lessons learned and resilience. The atmosphere of support was palpable, reinforcing the powerful message: you are not alone—there’s always someone who’s been there and is ready to lift you up.

After taking some time to stretch, swap table talk reflections and refuel, we resumed with the AMAC ALC Fireside Chat moderated by Angela Gittens. This fireside chat featured CEOs of major U.S. airports (Thella Bowens, Shannetta Griffin, Cynthia Guidry and Cindy Nichol) reflecting on how they navigate transformational change—whether infrastructure, workforce evolution, community engagement or resilience. It felt like a masterclass in leading through disruption. Panelists stressed that Leadership builds bridges—don’t “slam the door” behind you; bring others through with you.

Next, we had Lunch & Mandatory Soul Care with P.A.S.S.I.O.N. Diana Patton, CEO of Rise with Diana, reframed self-care as leadership care—this session combined storytelling, interactive reflection and pause practices. In a room full of high achievers, attendees were reminded: tending to your inner life is not optional—it is essential.

We then paused for a small moment of breathing room before heading into negotiation and financial sessions. Own Your Value & Negotiate with Power was electric. Through anchored examples, role-play and radical reframes, participants re-examined negotiation—whether salary, title, time or resources—with fresh courage and language to advocate for their true worth. Moderated by Adrienne Washington, Vice President of Human Resources for Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority,  Kimberly Carlisle, General Counsel for Jackson Municipal Aviation Authority, Jil Greene, Chief Human Resources Officer for Paradies Lagardère, Maria Meleandez, Chief of Staff of Denver International Airport and Tosha Sorenson, Director of CRE Business Optimization for United Airlines, highlighted the ongoing 17% gender pay gap and the importance of knowing your value both in your role and in the market. Attendees learned practical strategies, from using tools like LinkedIn’s AI salary benchmarks to asking HR about promotion paths and pay. Beyond salary, the importance of non-compensation factors like titles and high-visibility projects was emphasized. The definitive takeaway: “nothing bad happens when you ask.“

Deborah Owens, CEO of WealthyU, led the final session of the summit, The Financial Side of Career Power, and challenged participants to fundamentally shift their mindset from an “earner” to an “owner“. Owens emphasized that true wealth comes from turning income into assets—investing rather than merely saving—and reminded attendees, “you can’t save your way into wealth.” She urged women to embrace risk during times of disruption, contribute at least 15% of earnings to retirement, and aim to have saved seven times their salary by age 55.

Bridget Biagas, Vice President of Business Development for Hudson by Avolta and Andre Titus, Senior Manager of Programs & Operations for AMAC, wrapped the summit with reflections, gratitude, and a charge to carry forward the momentum—into work, community, mentorship and leadership spaces. The summit concluded with a powerful charge for the future: Visible impact changes systems. The path forward will be built by those who are deliberate about equity, visibility and voice, who include others, support growth and “lift as they rise.

Key Thematic Takeaways

• Policy & Industry: While meeting compliance is imperative in the highly regulated industry, policy must strive to fill systemic gaps, not just “check the boxes.”
• Transportation Equity: The goal is to create a fair playing field for all and ensure everyone has a seat at the table. This must be addressed with a focus on education, inclusion, and opportunity.
• Leadership Principles: Strong leadership starts with self-awareness. Leaders must know their direction (vision + blueprint), build with intention and inspiration, and give employees the room to grow—and even fail—by providing a safety net.

Post-Summit Highlight: Mayor’s 5K on the Runway

The excitement continued the day after the summit with the Team She SOARS 5k Race Group! On Saturday, September 20, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens hosted the Mayor’s 5K on the Runway. The event transformed Hartsfield-Jackson’s 5th Runway into a flat, fast racecourse. Runners enjoyed a unique behind-the-scenes experience, racing down the tarmac amid airport fire engines at sunrise in an event that combined fitness, aviation and purpose.