Emma Henderson MBE
Leadership expert and former pilot
From being part of an elite group of 500 female airline captains worldwide, having her career grounded overnight, to becoming the founder and CEO of a national charity, Emma is a pioneer when it comes to turning challenges into opportunities, and a true advocate of ‘leading from the front’.
Biography
Emma Henderson MBE is redefining the boundaries of leadership and resilience for modern organisations. In 2025, she was recognised as Bookers Choice at The Speaker Awards and named one of HR Magazine’s Most Influential Thinkers, reflecting her growing impact on leaders across industries—from finance and healthcare to engineering and elite sport.
With over 30 years in aviation - as one of fewer than 500 female airline captains worldwide - Emma brings lessons from both sky and ground.
Her “captain’s mindset” infuses every keynote, workshop and boardroom with actionable wisdom, blending real-world crisis leadership with human-centric management.
She pioneered Project Wingman at the height of a global crisis, exemplifying her philosophy: lead with purpose, adapt with courage, and enable others to thrive against the odds.
Her collaborations with major brands such as BNP Paribas, Marriott Hotels and NATO have delivered lasting transformation and practical strategies to inspire change. She is also the creator and lead instructor of the Whole Pilot® programme for future airline leaders
Speaking
Emma will bring fresh perspectives and lived experience to your conference or event.
Interviews
Emma can talk about transforming career from aviation to charity.
Workshops
Emma delivers wellbeing and resilience workshops.
Topics
With extensive experience in a traditionally male-dominated environment, Emma is well-versed in the transferable skills practised daily by pilots: teamwork, leadership, decision-making, workload management, and communication. These skills have been as much a part of Emma's life as her ability to fly, making her a knowledgeable speaker on a wide range of topics included:
Bomb Proof Resilience
Doing less, well
From Airbus to Carebus
Example Videos
Publications
Emma’s first book ‘Grounded’ was released in May 2024.
What do you get when you book Emma to speak?
Emma is a skilled speaker with her own, sizeable audience and is happy to help you promote your event.
This can include:
Co-operation in pre-event PR and media interviews
Contributed articles for event blogs or programmes
Promotion on social media
Feedback
“Emma shared her experience and insights with us in an engaging and compelling manner. Thoughtful, yet inspirational, she made a profound impact on all those she engaged with during her time with us at the University. I cannot recommend her highly enough.”
Sir David Bell KBE DL, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive, Sunderland University
“Sometimes you meet someone who makes an impact on you and you need to share them because you know how powerful it could be for others.”
Fay Weir, Entrepreneurship Education Manager, NatWest/RBS
