PROFESSIONAL SPEAKER

Emma Henderson MBE

Decision-making at speed in a turbulent world.

Former airline captain. TEDx speaker. Bookers' Choice Award winner.

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Trusted By

Barclays Boeing NHS GE Aerospace Marriott RBS BBC Hines Department for Transport Citywire Royal Aeronautical Society UFI Professio Barclays Boeing NHS GE Aerospace Marriott RBS BBC Hines Department for Transport Citywire Royal Aeronautical Society UFI Professio
NatWest EDF Sky News CAE The Access Group Govia Thameslink TASIS Time for God BFA BCGA SLCC National Guardian NatWest EDF Sky News CAE The Access Group Govia Thameslink TASIS Time for God BFA BCGA SLCC National Guardian
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testimonials

"The perfect balance of energy and substance."

Professio · Helsinki

"The highlight of the event."

Barclays · Canary Wharf

"You changed the way some CEOs think — and that's a real result."

UFI · Vienna

"Inspiring and refreshingly down-to-earth."

Hines · Global

"A standout moment. Particularly inspiring and thought-provoking."

EDF · Hinkley Point

“A master storyteller. Her energy shines through even over a Teams call."

GE Aerospace

"The perfect balance between insight and inspiration."

Department for Transport

"Humour, personal insights, and actionable takeaways relevant for any industry."

Citywire · The Closer

"Takes an event from good to outstanding."

Butterwick

"What stuck wasn't the stories from the sky — it was how simple great leadership can be."

Constant Progression · Glasgow

"A very personal story of her journey in aviation — an example to aviators to follow their dream."

Royal Aeronautical Society · Hong Kong

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A woman in a pink dress holding an award plaque stands next to a man in formal attire. They are on stage at an event with a large screen behind them displaying a photo and the text 'Emma Henderson Bookers Choice 2025.' The woman is smiling and the man is holding a glass of wine.

Award-Winning Speaker

Winner of the 2025 Bookers' Choice Award at The Speaker Awards.

“Emma Henderson is an authentic and excellent storyteller with a very natural stage presence. An inspirational journey, told with humour, not only does Emma already have some strong bureau friendly material, her speech has very clear messages which really engages an audience and makes her someone we can suggest in confidence to our client base.” - The Speakers Award

Problem → Promise

When the world is moving fast, hesitation is expensive.

Leaders tell us their biggest pain isn't information, it's making the next right decision amid competing risks, limited time, and noisy stakeholders.

My Promises

  • Replace decision paralysis with a reliable framework. Know how to triage what matters and commit to the next right call without waiting for perfect information.

  • The person who stays steady sets the tone. Lead the room without raising your voice. Build trust under pressure by the way you show up, not the volume you bring.

  • Make sense of complexity, communicate one direction, and get a team moving in the same direction. Without it, every decision gets relitigated.

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What Makes Emma Different?

As one of only 500 female airline captains in the world, Emma was trusted to fly multi-million pound passenger jets, working in a high-pressured, male-dominated environment, where a momentary lapse in leadership and performance risked catastrophic results.

These challenges are not unique to the aviation industry.

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Leadership is A Privilege

A role which comes with great responsibility and yet today’s leaders are dealing with challenges of stress, overload, imposter syndrome - and burnout.

As a leader, who do you turn to in times of crisis?

BOOK EMMA FOR YOUR EVENT
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From Global Platforms to Your Mindset

Insights that travel: from the world's most demanding flight decks to your boardroom.

To Signature Keynotes

Command, Clarity & High-Performance. Powerful events fuse real-world gravitas with actionable leadership.

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And Action-Based Workshops

Sessions that deliver structured frameworks and practical skills teams can implement today.

Emma Gives You Measurable Outcomes

Measurable impact, not fluffy theory. Emma brings cockpit-tested frameworks that sharpen how teams decide, communicate, and recover — creating calm, confident performance under real pressure.

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Faster decisions, fewer reversals

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Better risk calls and trade-offs

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Stronger brief/debrief habits

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Greater calm and cohesion under pressure

Book a discovery call now!

Let’s make things happen. Book a quick discovery call so we can explore how I can help — whether it’s speaking, coaching, or collaborating. It’s a relaxed chat to find out if we’re the right fit.

Email emma@emma-henderson.com or fill in the form to connect with Emma