Emma Henderson MBE
Multi-award-winning Professional Speaker, Author, Airline Captain, Founder and CEO of Project Wingman Foundation
Emma Henderson MBE is a former airline captain, keynote speaker and leadership consultant specialising in calm, structured decision-making under pressure.
With over 30 years in aviation and experience operating in some of the most demanding environments imaginable, Emma now works with organisations around the world to help leaders navigate uncertainty with clarity, confidence and humanity.
Trusted by Leaders & organisations
What Emma believes about leadership
A grounded approach to leadership
Emma’s work is built on a simple belief:
When the world feels chaotic, structure creates calm.
In the flight deck, rushing decisions rarely leads to better outcomes. The same is true in organisations. Emma helps leaders replace noise with clarity, stress with structure, and reactivity with thoughtful decision-making.
Her approach is:
Human, not hierarchical
Structured, not rigid
Calm, not passive
Practical, not theoretical
This philosophy underpins every keynote, workshop and programme she delivers.
How Emma works today
Emma now brings aviation-tested leadership principles into organisations facing change, pressure and complexity.
She works with:
Senior leaders and executive teams
HR and L&D professionals
Global organisations and growing businesses
Event organisers seeking meaningful, credible speakers
Through keynotes, workshops and bespoke programmes, Emma helps teams build confidence, clarity and trust, even when conditions are uncertain.
From Flight Deck to Boardroom
Aviation taught Emma that leadership isn’t about authority or ego. It’s about structure, preparation, communication and the ability to stay grounded when the pressure is on.
These lessons now form the foundation of her work with leaders and organisations across sectors.
Emma spent more than three decades in commercial aviation. A career that demands precision, trust and decision-making when there is no room for error.
As one of fewer than 500 female airline captains worldwide, she learned early how to lead calmly under scrutiny, communicate clearly in high-pressure situations, and earn trust quickly in diverse teams.
Credibility Earned, Not Claimed
Emma’s work is recognised not just for what she says on stage, but for the impact it has on people and organisations.
She is an award-winning speaker, including being named a Bookers Choice Award recipient — recognition given to speakers who consistently deliver meaningful, high-quality experiences for audiences.
Emma is also the founder of Project Wingman, a volunteer-led initiative that brought airline crew into NHS hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic to support frontline staff. For this work, she was awarded an MBE in the 2021 New Year Honours List — one of the final honours approved jointly by HM Queen Elizabeth II and HRH Prince Philip.
As a leadership speaker, Emma works with organisations around the world, delivering keynotes and conversations on decision-making, communication and leading calmly under pressure. She is also a TEDx speaker, bringing aviation-tested leadership insights to global audiences.
Alongside her speaking work, Emma is a published author, exploring themes of leadership, humanity and performance under pressure — extending her work beyond the stage and into lasting ideas leaders can return to.
A pioneer without the labels
Emma’s journey as a woman in a male-dominated industry shaped her leadership style, but it does not define her audience.
Her story speaks to anyone who has had to:
lead under scrutiny
earn trust quickly
make decisions with incomplete information
stay calm when expectations are high
Leadership doesn’t have to be loud to be effective.
It has to be grounded, clear and human.
If you’re navigating change and want leadership that holds steady under pressure, Emma would love to start the conversation.