Captain Emma Henderson MBE is a leading figure in aviation and leadership, with a career spanning over 30 years. As one of fewer than 500 female airline captains worldwide, Emma built her reputation as a Peer Support Mentor, Brand Ambassador, and Fear of Flying presenter.
Her passion for aviation started at university, where she learned to fly with the Yorkshire Universities Air Squadron. Emma’s career took unexpected turns, from aspiring RAF pilot to military wife and then to commercial aviation. She faced major challenges, including a life-threatening illness and a failed first command attempt, but showed remarkable resilience and perseverance.
In 2019, Emma rose to national fame after starring in the ITV documentary Inside the Cockpit, where she became known as “Captain Emma.” Throughout her airline career, she earned widespread respect for her professionalism and leadership. She was nominated for easyJet Captain of the Year in 2018.
When the COVID-19 pandemic grounded the aviation industry, Emma took action. In 2020, she founded Project Wingman Foundation Ltd, a charity that mobilised 6,500 grounded aircrew to support NHS frontline workers across the UK and briefly in the US. For her outstanding contribution, she received an MBE in January 2021.
Today, Emma is an award-winning CEO, Aviation Ambassador, and sought-after speaker. She shares her powerful insights on grounded leadership, decision-making, and building high-performing teams with organisations such as RBS, NatWest, NHS, EDF, and the MOD.
Emma’s leadership style focuses on authenticity, empathy, and a human-first approach. She highlights the power of humanity, humility, and humour, especially in increasingly automated and remote work environments. Her message encourages leaders to lead from the front and inspire their teams to become the best versions of themselves, both personally and professionally.
