Meet the Women Making History at Pilot John International
In honor of Women’s History Month, Pilot John International® (PJi®) proudly celebrates the women who are redefining leadership across our company. We’re thrilled to share the stories of five incredible women from Sales, Operations, Finance, and Order Management who are making waves in traditionally male-dominated industries like aviation and aerospace. These women are not only leading with purpose and passion but are also paving the way for innovation, growth, and a more inclusive future in our industry.
In this feature, we sit down with Jessica Davenport, Emily-Jane Meade, Hannah Neal, Trisha Crawford, and Emily Hudson as they reflect on their unique journeys, the challenges they’ve faced, and the advice they would give to others looking to break into the aviation and aerospace fields. Their stories are a testament to resilience and the transformative power of leadership.
Let’s start by having each of you introduce yourselves...
JESSICA – My name is Jessica Davenport, and I am the Chief of Staff at Pilot John International.
EMILY – My name is Emily Hudson, and I’m the Director of Operations at Pilot John.
HANNAH – My name is Hannah Neal, and I’m the Sales Manager at PJi.
EMILY-JANE – My name is Emily-Jane Meade, and I’m the Order Management Lead here at Pilot John.
TRISHA – My name is Trisha Crawford, and I’m the Controller at Pilot John International.
What do you love about working in aviation?
EMILY – Every day is different, and no two customers are the same. I’ve gotten to travel a lot and meet many different people who work for other companies. So, getting to meet everyone has been great.
TRISHA – I love a lot of things about working in aviation, especially talking to customers and hearing their enthusiasm. I’ve never worked in this industry before, and I’m learning so much more than I ever thought I’d be exposed to.
HANNAH – What I love about working in aviation is all the great people. Being in sales has allowed me to meet different people in their hangars and at their operations. The aviation industry is always full of wonderful people with lots of cool stories.
JESSICA – What I like most is asking questions and learning new things. And there’s always something new to learn in aviation.
What's something about your day-to-day now that would completely surprise your younger self?
EMILY – Something that would surprise my younger self would be how much I get to use my voice in this industry. I don’t think I would ever have thought I’d be sitting at a table where my ideas would help influence real decisions.
EMILY-JANE – When I started working here, I was in marketing. So, I’ve gotten to see a lot of changes firsthand. I worked on rebranding from Carolina GSE to Pilot John International. My day-to-day is definitely more structured now than when I first started on the marketing team. After working in sales and now order management, I’ve seen myself grow tremendously throughout the six years I’ve been here.
JESSICA – Well, my younger self had a whole career in television and journalism. I think that’s why I like asking questions and learning. But my younger self never would have thought it would lead to a career in aviation. My father was an Army helicopter pilot, and it hearkens back to my childhood of hearing stories about my dad flying. To me, it’s a fascinating industry to be in for those two reasons.
HANNAH – Something about my day-to-day now that would surprise my younger self is probably the number of presentations I do. Growing up, I always hated public speaking, and I think I would be surprised at how much I do now and how comfortable I’ve become with it.
TRISHA – In my younger years, I never imagined I'd have the opportunity to collaborate with such a diverse group of people, but now I get to work with every department in the company. Whoever thought I’d be working with marketing, the service team, or helping operations with certain decisions? I never thought I’d be hands-on, working so closely with every department.
What is your go-to hype song before a meeting or presentation?
JESSICA – If I had to pick one favorite song to listen to before a presentation, it would be LL Cool J’s “Mama Said Knock You Out.”
EMILY – Beyoncé, “Formation.” And T.I., “Ready for Whatever.”
HANNAH – I don’t think I have a go-to hype song, per se, but I do have an ‘80s playlist that, if I need to get stuff done or I need to get hyped up, is always on rotation. Anything from AC/DC to Guns ‘N’ Roses, Elton John…maybe even some yacht rock thrown in there.
EMILY-JANE – My go-to hype song, currently, is “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar.
TRISHA – When I was growing up, I was a runner, and the song that always popped into my head was “Wannabe“ by the Spice Girls. Now, whenever I need a hype song, that one is so ingrained in me that it’s the first one that comes to mind.
Can you share a time when you were the only woman in the room – or underestimated because of it – and how you navigated that moment?
HANNAH – That has definitely happened in external meetings. My way to navigate that would be just to believe in yourself. There's a quote that says, “Believe in yourself, and the rest will fall into place.” And that's where it starts for me. If I know the facts and am confident in what I'm talking about, it doesn't matter what anybody else believes.
TRISHA – I have been the only woman in the room quite often. I’ve worked in male-dominated industries quite often, and my go-to is facts. As long as I have a vast knowledge of the topic, I just come in and start answering questions. When you answer questions in front of a big group of people, you’re immediately deemed a resource in the room.
JESSICA – Many times, I am the only woman in the room. I’ve had those internal thoughts at times, although they don’t come to me that often, because I really just see people as people. But there have been a couple of times when I've looked around and realized, okay, I'm the only woman in here. Fortunately, I don’t feel – at my age and with my experiences – that I’ve had the pressure to prove myself. At Pilot John, I feel like my voice is valued. All voices are valued. And that’s just the way that I think about most business meetings. When I go in, I like to listen, hear, and ask questions, and I also feel confident that I can be heard.
EMILY – There have been a few times when I’ve been the only woman in the room. In those situations, I walk in confidently, knowing the facts and having done my research. When I’m asked a question, I know what I’m going to say, and I don’t hesitate to speak up. I don’t just sit back when questions are asked – I jump right in.
What is one outdated idea in our industry that you would love to retire?
HANNAH – Something we've done a really good job with at Pilot John is putting women in leadership roles, which helps showcase our strength and diversity. There have been a few times when I've been at a trade show or conference with another female lead from our company, and we're often the only duo of female leads. We’re very proud of that.
EMILY – One idea I would love to retire is that change in the aviation industry has to be slow. While safety precautions must be taken very carefully, technology and innovation do not have to move slowly. Staying current with the latest resources and technology helps us move forward, better serve our customers, and remain at the forefront.
TRISHA – So, the biggest outdated idea in all industries right now is paper. Can we be 100% electronic, please, and get rid of paper? I will be so excited when that day comes.
JESSICA – An outdated idea in our industry is that any kind of person cannot be in our industry. Not just if you’re a woman, but anybody. What I’ve seen from working at Pilot John is that anyone with an interest, passion, drive, and curiosity can be in this industry. And those are the people who are truly successful.
Do you have any advice for other women who may be pursuing a career in aviation or another traditionally male-dominated industry?
EMILY-JANE – My advice for women in the aviation industry is to use your voice. Because no one else will do it for you.
TRISHA – Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Seek to understand. Knowledge is power. The more you understand and the more thorough your knowledge of a topic, the further you’ll go in life.
JESSICA – If you're in a traditionally male-dominated industry or just an older industry, go for it. Do it. Ask the questions. Put yourself out there unapologetically. There's some advice that I've given other women here at Pilot John that I got from a professor when I was in college, and it's always stuck with me. And that's this: don't apologize for things that you're not sorry for. Just go into a room, be yourself, own it, ask questions, and be a professional.
EMILY – Don’t be scared. Jump right in, learn, and be open to all the advice other women can give you. We need more women in all industries, and the more of us who support each other, the stronger we become.
HANNAH – A great way for women to get their foot in the door in the aviation industry, I believe, is through a strong work ethic and not being afraid to ask questions. Those two pieces paired together are the secret to success. I’d also like to say that if you’re in a male-dominated industry, like aviation, be supportive of other women. And if you’re in a place where women are not supported, be the person who starts that chain reaction.
Check Out the Full Video of Our Interview with the Women of PJi!
The Bottom Line
As you’ve seen from the inspiring stories of our five leaders, the women of PJi continue to lead with confidence and vision, ensuring the future of aviation and aerospace is inclusive, innovative, and limitless. Their unwavering commitment to excellence and their drive to inspire change are shaping the next generation of leaders in our industry. We are incredibly proud to celebrate these trailblazers, and as we look ahead, we know their impact will continue to influence and guide the evolution of aviation for years to come.
