Founded in 1988, IAWA brings together women in the industry to promote their advancement worldwide. It does this through scholarships while also providing coaching, mentoring, education, and networking opportunities to almost 600 members.
In this conversation, Santos highlights the bold and evolving roles women are embracing in aviation and the broader aerospace industry. She also explores how organizations like IAWA are paving the way for the next generation, helping them to achieve success in aerospace.
As the aerospace and aviation industries continue to evolve, the growing diversity in C-suite roles is shifting focus back to the industry’s greatest asset: its people. In this new era of tech and AI advancement, success is being redefined by women CEOs leading a cultural transformation with a fresh, human-centered approach.
Their leadership emphasizes authentic listening, unique perspectives, and empathy across the value chain. Through organizations such as IAWA — which facilitates coaching, mentoring, and networking events — today’s women engineers, executives, and CEOs are driving a more inclusive, people-focused future for the world’s leading aviation companies.
The aerospace and aviation industries have made remarkable progress in diversity over the years. Santos’ observations of women in these fields date back to the 1980s. Women were a rarity back then, but today, their presence is growing. Leaders such as Carolyn McCall, former CEO of EasyJet, and Stephanie Pope, current CEO of Boeing Global Services, are redefining what leadership looks like in aviation.
The number of women CEOs in airlines has risen from just 5% a few years ago to 10-12% today. However, the impact of women in the industry goes far beyond this statistic. Santos has seen great success from all-female sales teams, while the diverse teams behind groundbreaking aerospace advancements—such as drones and artificial intelligence systems—have all benefitted from female teams and leaders.
Santos believes learning is mission-critical for IAWA and its almost 600-strong global membership. Currently, it is focusing on providing a wealth of opportunities to connect, inspire, and lead within the aerospace and aviation industries. Through local events, one-day forums, webinars, and an annual conference, IAWA fosters collaboration and knowledge-sharing. The organization also emphasizes mentoring, pairing women from diverse fields — such as engineering, law, and insurance — to foster growth, understanding, and the sharing of insights.
IAWA has a strong focus on STEM/STEAM education, and an openness to foster diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) mindsets in education. Companies such as Panasonic, with strong retention and progress in gender diversity, are instrumental in supporting IAWA’s mission.
Santos shares what's next for members and highlights IAWA’s upcoming community-building initiatives. These projects focus on topics such as AI and sustainability and offer opportunities to contribute through planning, fundraising, or mentorship. By encouraging organizations to measure and reflect on their diversity efforts, IAWA drives cultural change while empowering women to lead.