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Content provided by Shaesta Waiz and Michael Wildes. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Shaesta Waiz and Michael Wildes or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.
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“Don’t Wait for the Invitation” — Aircraft Mechanic & Advocate Samantha T. Mitchell on Owning Your Path in Aviation

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Manage episode 501220332 series 2954969
Content provided by Shaesta Waiz and Michael Wildes. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Shaesta Waiz and Michael Wildes or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

In this episode, host Shaesta Waiz speaks with Samantha T. Mitchell—licensed A&P mechanic, author, and founder of Black Women in Aviation—about building a career where women are still drastically underrepresented, especially in maintenance. Samantha recounts finding aviation through a college brochure, nearly losing a dream role over citizenship status, becoming the first female mechanic for Air Jamaica at JFK, and learning to navigate rooms where she was often the only one.

They discuss how the DEI rollback is affecting funding, visibility, and community support, why “we are more than letters,” and practical ways women can persist: invite yourself in, anchor to one ally, reprogram limiting blueprints, and lead with demonstrated competence. Samantha closes with a vision of progress defined not by headcounts but by a domino effect of inspired “yeses.”

Chapter Breakdown

00:00 | Don’t Wait—Invite Yourself

01:20 | Why This Season: DEI Rollback

04:18 | Finding Maintenance at Vaughn

07:45 | Boeing Setback, Air Jamaica Pivot

09:25 | Being the Only One in the Room

14:13 | “More Than Letters”: DEI Reality

17:54 | Build the Turbulence Muscle

20:23 | One Ally, Faith, and Mentors

25:03 | Own Your Gifts, Own Your Path

29:12 | Progress as a Domino Effect

Follow Samantha T. Mitchell

Follow Shaesta Waiz

Website:⁠⁠⁠ shaestawaiz.com⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠ Shaesta Waiz⁠⁠⁠

Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ @shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠

TikTok:⁠⁠⁠ @shaestawaiz⁠

Shaesta Waiz on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube (Aviate Platform)⁠⁠⁠

Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif Studio & Production & The Tallawah Group⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website:⁠www.massifsp.com⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠ Massif Studio & Production⁠⁠⁠

Website:⁠⁠⁠ www.TallawahWorldwide.com⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠ The Tallawah Group⁠⁠⁠

For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  continue reading

83 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 501220332 series 2954969
Content provided by Shaesta Waiz and Michael Wildes. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Shaesta Waiz and Michael Wildes or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

In this episode, host Shaesta Waiz speaks with Samantha T. Mitchell—licensed A&P mechanic, author, and founder of Black Women in Aviation—about building a career where women are still drastically underrepresented, especially in maintenance. Samantha recounts finding aviation through a college brochure, nearly losing a dream role over citizenship status, becoming the first female mechanic for Air Jamaica at JFK, and learning to navigate rooms where she was often the only one.

They discuss how the DEI rollback is affecting funding, visibility, and community support, why “we are more than letters,” and practical ways women can persist: invite yourself in, anchor to one ally, reprogram limiting blueprints, and lead with demonstrated competence. Samantha closes with a vision of progress defined not by headcounts but by a domino effect of inspired “yeses.”

Chapter Breakdown

00:00 | Don’t Wait—Invite Yourself

01:20 | Why This Season: DEI Rollback

04:18 | Finding Maintenance at Vaughn

07:45 | Boeing Setback, Air Jamaica Pivot

09:25 | Being the Only One in the Room

14:13 | “More Than Letters”: DEI Reality

17:54 | Build the Turbulence Muscle

20:23 | One Ally, Faith, and Mentors

25:03 | Own Your Gifts, Own Your Path

29:12 | Progress as a Domino Effect

Follow Samantha T. Mitchell

Follow Shaesta Waiz

Website:⁠⁠⁠ shaestawaiz.com⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠ Shaesta Waiz⁠⁠⁠

Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ @shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠

TikTok:⁠⁠⁠ @shaestawaiz⁠

Shaesta Waiz on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube (Aviate Platform)⁠⁠⁠

Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif Studio & Production & The Tallawah Group⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website:⁠www.massifsp.com⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠ Massif Studio & Production⁠⁠⁠

Website:⁠⁠⁠ www.TallawahWorldwide.com⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠ The Tallawah Group⁠⁠⁠

For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  continue reading

83 episodes

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