Apr 20, 2026
Welcome back to True Blue Conversations, where we sit down with
those who’ve
lived extraordinary lives in service, leadership, and beyond.
Today’s guest is someone who has quite literally operated at the
edge of human
performance. Mandy Hickson is a former Royal Air Force fast jet
pilot who flew the
Tornado GR4 on combat and operational missions around the world. In
an
environment where precision, resilience, and split-second
decision-making can mean
the difference between success and failure, Mandy carved out a
career in one of the
most demanding roles in military aviation.
Since leaving the RAF, she’s become a highly sought-after keynote
speaker and
author, sharing powerful insights into leadership, teamwork, and
performing under
pressure—lessons forged at 40,000 feet and in some of the most
high-stakes
situations imaginable.
In this episode, we dive into Mandy’s journey into the RAF, what it
takes to fly fast
jets in combat, the realities behind the cockpit, and how those
experiences translate
into leadership and life beyond the military.
This is a conversation about courage, discipline, and thriving in
high-performance
environments.
Presenter: Adam Blum
Guest: Mandy Hickson
Editor: Kyle Watkins