Oksana Bardygula, Vice President Oliver Wyman, joins Marita Lintener, Global Airspace Radar Editor to discuss leadership, career advancement and employee retention in the global aerospace sector.  We dive into the findings of the report “Lift Off to Leadership” Edition 2, released in February 2026 jointly with the International Aerospace Women’s Association (IAWA).

For decades, the aviation and aerospace sector has struggled to attract and retain employees from diverse backgrounds. Beneath this well-known challenge lies a deeper issue: the significant underrepresentation of women in leadership positions – highlighting the need for immediate and sustained action. This need has become more urgent given a worldwide industry talent shortage that is limiting both innovation and growth.

This discussion is a must-listen for aviation and aerospace professionals. In this episode we bring you evidence-based insight from a survey of 250 global aviation and aerospace leaders, on the root causes of talent attrition, reveal the pathways of successful leadership, and deliver actionable recommendations for individuals, organizations, and the industry.  Join us for data-driven insights and real-world strategies you can use today.  

You can download the full report under https://www.oliverwyman.com/our-expertise/insights/2026/feb/aviation-aerospace-women-leadership-barriers.html and on https://iawa.org/lift_off_to_leadership_second.php. Everybody is invited to join the discussions on Linkedin with the hashtag #LiftOffChallenge.