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Former airline captain & crisis leader

Emma Henderson

Equip your leaders with the ability to stay calm and make confident decisions through crises with Emma Henderson MBE, former airline captain. Emma provides leaders with practical frameworks to manage through change, allowing them to think clearly and act decisively when it matters most. Named among HR Magazine's Most Influential Thinkers 2025 and trusted by Natwest, Marriott Hotels, and NATO.

Trusted by Citywire, SugarCRM, Natwest, Marriott Hotels, NATO

Emma Henderson MBE, Speaker | Former Airline Captain
Emma Henderson

Emma Henderson

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Typical fee range

£6–10k

This is an estimated fee range for local in-person events. Location and format affect the final fee.

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Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Starting from

£6–10k

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loading@getapeptalk.com

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+44 203 835 2929

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Emma Henderson's biography

At a glance

  • Former airline captain with over 30 years in aviation
  • Creator of the AVIATE™ decision-making model for leaders
  • Bestselling author of GROUNDED and featured on ITV's Inside the Cockpit
Emma Henderson MBE combines decades of aviation leadership experience with practical business insights to transform how leaders navigate complexity and change. As one of fewer than 500 female airline captains worldwide, Emma brings over 30 years of experience from the cockpit to her speaking engagements. Her presentations blend technical expertise with engaging storytelling that resonates across industries. Through her keynotes, Emma translates aviation's rigorous protocols into actionable business strategies, helping leaders to make confident decisions under pressure. Her AVIATE™ decision-making model reveals how leaders can move from reactive to resilient, panic to purpose, and chaos to clarity, giving them the tools to think clearly, act decisively, and communicate confidently when it matters most. Emma is also the founder and CEO of the national charity, Project Wingman Foundation Ltd, an initiative which provided a ‘first class lounge’ experience to offer rest and recuperation to thousands of NHS staff nationwide. In recognition of her work, Emma was awarded an MBE in the 2021 New Year’s Honours list. Emma has shared the insights gained from her trailblazing career in her bestselling book, GROUNDED, and in her TEDx talk. She has been recognised as the Booker's Choice at The Speaker Awards and named among HR Magazine's Most Influential Thinkers in 2025. She has also collaborated with major brands and organisations including Natwest, BNP Paribas, the NHS, Marriott Hotels, RBS, EDF Energy, and NATO. Book Emma Henderson MBE when when your leaders require practical strategies to navigate turbulence and emerge stronger on the other side.

Emma's showreel and videos

Topics, sessions and talks

Leading Beyond Limits To Elevate Performance
Emma Henderson MBE discusses how leaders and organisations can overcome invisible barriers and entrenched assumptions, emphasising the need for courage and recalibration to defy our perceived limitations. Attendees will learn to identify and challenge cultural and systemic "gravity," manage expectations in high-stakes situations, and utilise a practical 3-step "lift-off" checklist. Leaders will leave with a clearer sense of how to reframe what’s “normal” in their organisation so they can build transformative momentum and elevate performance under pressure.
Navigating Turbulence When The World Is On Fire
In her signature talk, Emma Henderson MBE draws on 30 years of experience in aviation and leadership to teach leaders how to stay calm and make confident decisions through crises. Key takeaways include Emma's proven AVIATE™ decision-making framework, insights on Grounded Leadership, an understanding of how your atmosphere becomes your team’s climate and culture, and strategies to reframe challenges as opportunities.
How To Create A Culture That Lets Your Team Fly
An organisation’s culture is like the atmosphere: mostly invisible, yet entirely decisive for performance. In this talk, Emma Henderson MBE explains how leaders influence the cultural climate and how teams thrive in an environment of trust and clarity. Attendees will learn to conduct a “pre-flight check” on their culture, covering mindset, team, and environment. They’ll also learn how to implement practical language and rituals for shifting the atmosphere to create a safe and motivated workplace through briefings, debriefs, and check-ins.
Grounded Leadership: Humanity, Humility & Humour
In this session, Emma Henderson MBE shares how grounding is essential for effective leadership in today's turbulent world. She uses aviation metaphors to illustrate how leaders can remain anchored in their values while being agile and decisive. Attendees will take a deep dive Emma’s AVIATE™ decision-making model (Aviate, Validate, Investigate, Assess, Talk, Execute), learn the importance of leading with humanity, humility, and humour, and understand how to establish a "minimum safe altitude”. Emma's insights empower leaders to navigate challenges confidently and effectively.
Altitude & Attitude: Aligning Your Vision & Impact
Emma Henderson MBE explores the twin metrics of leadership: altitude (your strategic vision) and attitude (your day-to-day execution of this vision). Emma shows how leaders succeed when both rise together and how drift occurs when vision outpaces culture. Drawing on her rare experience as a female airline captain, she highlights the importance of stepping up, creating equity, and lifting others as a leader. Audiences leave with a practical “flight-plan” to set altitude, calibrate attitude, and stay on course for stronger results.

Why we recommend booking Emma

Emma Henderson MBE draws on her rare experience as one of fewer than 500 female airline captains worldwide to deliver practical, proven strategies to help your leaders navigate turbulence and change. Book Emma today to empower them with the clarity, confidence, and resilience needed to succeed in any environment.

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Trusted by Citywire, SugarCRM, Natwest, Marriott Hotels, NATO

Testimonials

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!

Natwest Bank

It was an absolute pleasure to have Emma speak at our Empowering Women in Business (EWIB) event this year. Her journey as a commercial airline pilot was fascinating and full of relatable lessons for our audience. She shared her story with authenticity, warmth, and honesty, drawing on her experiences to highlight the importance of remaining calm under pressure, clear communication, and trust in your team. Thank you, Emma, for sharing your insights with us!

BFA (British Franchise Association)

Emma is nothing short of an exceptional speaker, she is engaging, funny, emotive and serious as well as inspiring and galvanising all at the same time. She reads the room and adapts and adjusts to bring the audience on a journey with her, your audience will hang on her every word. A speaker can take an event from being good to outstanding and Emma has this ability in spades. Our guests came away talking about our event and the impact it had upon them and subsequently had a huge positive impact upon our organisation. We could not have asked for more. She exceeded all of our expectations, highly recommended.

Butterwick

Butterwick

Featured Projects

Emma Henderson - GROUNDED book cover
Emma Henderson - easyJet: Inside the Cockpit book cover
Emma Henderson - Master of Business book cover

frequently asked questions

Something we've not covered here?

How do I book Emma Henderson for my next event?
Email emma.henderson@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Emma's availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience.
What is Emma Henderson's speaking style like?
Emma Henderson MBE structures her sessions around aviation-derived frameworks, most notably the AVIATE™ decision-making model, which she uses to walk leaders through a sequential process for moving from reactive to resilient thinking under pressure. She supplements this with checklist-based tools — such as a pre-flight check on organisational culture — drawn from 30 years of cockpit experience and translated into business contexts.
What topics does Emma Henderson specialise in?
Emma Henderson MBE speaks on overcoming organisational barriers to performance, crisis decision-making and leadership under pressure, and building team culture and psychological safety. She is one of fewer than 500 female airline captains worldwide, holds an MBE awarded in the 2021 New Year's Honours list for founding Project Wingman Foundation, and was named among HR Magazine's Most Influential Thinkers in 2025.
Can PepTalk help plan the speaker programme for my event?

Yes. Beyond booking a single speaker, PepTalk helps shape a full programme, matching voices to your agenda, audience, and goals across a day or a series. It is a consultative service, not just a booking. Tell us about your event at getapeptalk.com.

What does 'typical fee range' mean?

Speaker fees vary based on factors like event location, format, and availability. The 'typical fee range' figure gives you a baseline of someone's local, in-person rate sits, and we'll confirm the exact fee when you get in touch.

What logistics should I prepare before my speakers arrive?

Before your speakers arrive, confirm AV is tested, a green room is ready, and printed schedules are on hand. Prepare warm introductions for each speaker and brief your team on timings. PepTalk speakers come fully briefed, making event-day logistics smoother and stress-free from the start.

What's the difference between a keynote speaker, an MC, and event entertainment?

A keynote speaker delivers an inspiring or informative talk. An MC hosts and guides the event, keeping things on track. Entertainment — like a band or comedian — creates atmosphere and fun. Each serves a different purpose, and PepTalk can help you book the right talent for all three.

What happens if I need to cancel or reschedule a speaker booking?

Life happens! Most speaker bookings can be rescheduled with reasonable notice. Cancellation terms vary by speaker, but PepTalk handles all the details & contracts transparently upfront so there are no surprises. Our team supports you through any changes, making the process as smooth as possible.

Have all the speakers on the website previously worked with PepTalk?

Not necessarily. While the speakers listed on our website may not have worked with PepTalk in the past, they are recognized professionals in the industry and known to engage in similar events and engagements. Alongside direct talent, we work with a wide variety of speaker agents and talent agencies, to ensure we have the best selection of speakers, hosts, comedians and entertainers available.

What information do I need to provide when booking a comedian?

When booking a comedian, share your event format, audience size and demographics, any sensitive topics to avoid, and the tone you're after. PepTalk makes this easy — their booking process guides you through a simple checklist so nothing gets missed and your comedian is perfectly matched to your crowd.

What information do I need to provide when booking a speaker?

When booking a speaker, you'll need your event date, audience details, format, key objectives, and budget. Having these ready makes the process smooth and straightforward. PepTalk's team uses this information to match you with the perfect speaker quickly and efficiently.

Can I book entertainment and speakers as a package?

Yes! At PepTalk, you can absolutely bundle entertainment and speakers into one seamless package. It's a great way to create a fuller event experience while enjoying simplified booking and better value. Our team handles everything together, making the process effortless for you.

Can I request autographs, personal greetings, signed merchandise, or fan mail from the speakers?

Sorry, we do not accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, or any non-commercial contact with the speakers, comedians or entertainers.

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If you notice something that needs attention or have any queries regarding an expert speaker profile, please email us at experts@getapeptalk.com, and we’ll be happy to assist.

How far in advance should I book a motivational speaker?

Book a motivational speaker at least 3–6 months in advance, especially for popular speakers or large events. Top speakers get booked quickly, so earlier is always better. For major conferences or peak seasons, booking 12 months ahead ensures you secure your first choice.

Help, I need a last-minute speaker for my event!

No problem! We often handle last-minute requests and can secure or replace a speaker, comedian, awards or event host quickly — almost anywhere in the world. However, speaker availability might be limited as the event date approaches. Email hello@getapeptalk.com with your requirements.