From Fighter Jet to Boardroom: Lessons in Decision-Making from Mandy Hickson

Clarity Under Pressure

Mandy describes flying a Tornado GR4 through valleys at nearly 700 miles an hour, flames pouring from the engines, and knowing that one wrong move could spell disaster. Yet even in these moments, she returns to basics:

“You can’t control the chaos, but you can control your response.”

Leaders, too, must filter signal from noise. In business, it’s easy to be paralysed by data overload or fast-changing circumstances. Mandy’s experience reminds us that great decision-making often comes down to focus: knowing what matters most and trusting yourself to act.

Trust in Your Team

Mandy shares vivid stories of how teamwork saved her career. After failing tactical formation flying, her RAF colleagues spent hours in a hangar, cycling in formation on bicycles to help her master complex manoeuvres.

“Trusting your teammates is implicit. It’s what will keep us safe in the air.”

Business leaders must foster the same trust. True high-performance teams don’t just work together — they sacrifice for each other, share knowledge freely, and help colleagues rise. As Mandy puts it, trust is built on credibility, reliability, and selflessness.

Preparation Turns Fear Into Confidence

Whether dogfighting or refuelling mid-air at night, Mandy’s stories highlight one truth: excellence under pressure starts long before the crisis hits.

“I’d rather sweat in training than bleed in combat.”

In business, this translates to:

• Scenario planning
• Rehearsing crisis responses
• Building mental resilience before challenges appear

Mandy’s meticulous training helped her navigate moments like a missile locking onto her aircraft over Iraq — and survive to tell the tale.

Calm Authority in High Stakes

Even when facing missiles, Mandy maintained composure. In her words, “one wrong move and it could all go disastrously wrong” — but panic helps no one. Her cool authority in stressful situations inspires confidence.

Business leaders, too, are judged on how they carry themselves during crises. Calm authority:

• Reassures teams
• Keeps communication clear
• Anchors decision-making under pressure

Mandy proves that courage isn’t the absence of fear — it’s taking action despite it.

Debrief and Learn

Every mission in the RAF ends with a debrief — a practice Mandy calls non-negotiable. Pilots analyse what went well, what didn’t, and how to improve, without blame or ego.

“Debriefs aren’t about punishment. They’re about being better next time.”

Businesses often rush past the debrief. Yet the most successful teams pause to:

• Reflect on outcomes
• Understand why mistakes happened
• Build stronger processes for next time

Mandy’s commitment to debriefing even after a 19-hour mission underscores that learning never stops.

Overcoming Bias and Barriers

Mandy’s path wasn’t easy. When she first applied to become a fast-jet pilot, she failed every test — twice. Initially offered a role as an air traffic controller, she refused to accept the limits placed on her:

“I thought, they’re taking me on for who I am. Maybe it’s up to me to prove the system is flawed.”

Her persistence changed RAF testing protocols, proving that sometimes the system — not the individual — needs fixing. For businesses striving for diversity and inclusion, Mandy’s journey is a powerful reminder that talent can thrive if given the chance.

Humour and Humanity

Despite her military precision, Mandy is disarmingly funny. She shares stories of being nicknamed Big Bird instead of the glamorous call signs she’d imagined, and the time her son worried about “speed police” in the sky.

Even in war zones, she recalls moments of levity:

• RAF pilots constructing cardboard cockpits to practise manoeuvres
• A French navigator praising her appearance, only to be told she’s “one of the boys”

This humour is part of her leadership style — connecting with people, breaking tension, and building authentic relationships.

Lessons for Business Leaders

Mandy Hickson’s leadership lessons remind us that:

• Pressure reveals character
• Trust transforms teams
• Preparation builds confidence
• Debriefing drives improvement
• Authenticity and humour are leadership superpowers

Whether navigating missiles or market crises, the principles are the same: stay focused, trust your people, and never stop learning.

At Pendulum Summit, Mandy shares these stories and lessons firsthand, showing how elite military thinking can transform leadership in any field.

“You’ll never know what you can achieve unless you try.”