Introduction

Elevate U is a dynamic leadership initiative designed to equip women in aviation with the tools, knowledge, and confidence needed to advance both personally and professionally. Focused on empowerment through education, Elevate U offers two core programs: the annual Elevate Aviation Masterclass and the Emerging Leaders program.

Held each spring, the Elevate Aviation Masterclass brings together women from across the aviation sector for an immersive learning experience. These sessions feature expert-led workshops, leadership development activities, and opportunities for meaningful industry-peer connections. Participants leave the masterclass with practical strategies for career success, a stronger professional network, and renewed motivation to pursue their goals.

For early-career professionals, Elevate U’s Emerging Leaders program offers a more in-depth, six-month leadership development journey. This program focuses on four core leadership themes and includes live virtual workshops, personalized one-on-one coaching sessions, and self-directed learning. The program’s goal is to cultivate the mindset, skills, and confidence participants need to take the next step into leadership roles within the aviation industry.

Together, these two offerings under Elevate U provide women in aviation with transformative opportunities to grow, lead, and thrive in their careers, helping to build a more inclusive, skilled, and confident aviation workforce

Purpose of the program / objectives

The purpose of Elevate U is to equip women in aviation with the mindset, skills, and confidence they need to pursue leadership opportunities and reach their full potential. By focusing on professional development, personal growth, and community building, the program aims to close the gender gap in leadership and create lasting change within the aviation industry. Participants are guided through a journey that encourages self-reflection, strategic thinking, and goal-setting, while also promoting collaboration and peer support. Through targeted training and tailored guidance, Elevate U helps women identify and overcome barriers, build their leadership presence, and strengthen their capacity to influence and lead effectively. The program also fosters a strong sense of purpose and belonging, empowering women to not only advance their own careers but to inspire and uplift others along the way.

Intended audience

Elevate U is designed for women in aviation who are motivated to grow personally and professionally. The program is ideal for individuals who are either beginning their leadership journey or looking to strengthen their leadership capabilities within the industry. Participants may come from a range of roles and backgrounds, including operational, technical, managerial, or administrative, but they all share a desire to develop their leadership potential and make a meaningful impact in their field.

This program also appeals to those seeking a supportive, women-centered learning environment where they can build lasting connections, gain practical insights, and be challenged to think differently. In addition, Elevate U is relevant for employers and organizations in the aviation sector that are committed to advancing gender equity, supporting employee development, and building a more inclusive leadership pipeline. The content and delivery of the program are tailored to meet the needs of busy professionals, making it accessible to women balancing multiple responsibilities while striving to grow in their careers.

Description / how it was implemented

The Elevate U initiative was developed in direct response to the need for more structured, supportive, and gender-responsive leadership development pathways in the aviation industry. Recognizing the systemic barriers that many women face when advancing into leadership roles, especially in traditionally male-dominated sectors like aviation, Elevate U was built to equip participants with practical tools, networking relationships, and the confidence to pursue their career goals.  

Development began with consultation across aviation workplaces and partner organizations, alongside insights gathered from Elevate Aviation members and women in the industry. These conversations confirmed the need for a leadership development experience that didn’t just teach theory but embedded the values of personal growth, peer connection, and real-world application. Elevate U was intentionally built to meet women where they are in their careers, supporting both early-stage professionals and those seeking to expand their influence.

Masterclass: 

The Elevate U Masterclass was designed as a dynamic, seasonal offering that takes place every spring. Its purpose is to offer women an intensive, highly interactive leadership experience that combines professional development with connection, inspiration, and visibility. The Masterclass is typically held over a series of days or workshops, either in-person or virtually, to maximize accessibility.

Each Masterclass includes curated sessions led by subject-matter experts and industry professionals. These sessions focus on practical leadership skills, self-advocacy, goal setting, and navigating male-dominated environments. A typical Masterclass also includes:

• Interactive Workshops and presentations on communication, negotiation, career mapping, and more. Participants and women in the industry are surveyed to determine the most valuable workshop and presentation content

for the audience.

• Keynotes from women leaders in traditionally male-dominated fields
• Networking Opportunities designed to help women build meaningful, cross-sector connections
• Peer Learning and Breakout Sessions to promote open dialogue and shared experiences

Participants can self-enroll using a first-come-first-served process. The learning is unique and flexible, providing women with tools they can take back into their careers immediately.

Emerging Leaders Program: 

The Emerging Leaders Program was developed as a six-month leadership experience tailored to early-career women in aviation. Designed by aviation professionals, for aviation professionals, it offers a holistic, aviation-specific curriculum that intentionally builds leadership capacity through four progressive modules:

• Module 1: Leading from Within

Participants explore their leadership identity, increase self-awareness, and address mindset barriers such as imposter syndrome. They evaluate their strengths and define their personal leadership style.

• Module 2: Foundations of Aviation Leadership

Focused on understanding aviation systems, teamwork dynamics, and gender-specific challenges, this module provides tools for navigating the aviation ecosystem and building a strong professional network.

• Module 3: Leading with Emotional Intelligence

This segment strengthens communication and interpersonal effectiveness.

Participants learn to lead with empathy, manage conflict, and communicate

with impact, all key skills in high-pressure aviation environments.

• Module 4: Visioning Forward

The final module empowers participants to create a personalized growth strategy. They examine different leadership pathways (ladder vs. lattice), identify mentorship opportunities, and build a leadership roadmap tailored to their long-term goals.

What sets this program apart is its emphasis on applied learning. Participants actively integrate their training into their current roles through real-world assignments such as leadership interviews, personal reflection exercises, and career planning. They also build a tangible six-month roadmap to guide their leadership trajectory beyond the program.

Live virtual workshops form the backbone of the delivery, allowing women from across Canada, including rural and remote regions, to participate fully. Each participant is also paired with a certified leadership coach, providing personalized guidance throughout their journey.

Community is central to this experience. Structured peer groups, cohort discussions, and group coaching sessions foster trust, collaboration, and accountability. The program’s inclusive design recognizes that leadership development does not follow a linear path, offering space for diverse career goals and realities.

Recruitment is carried out through targeted outreach, employer partnerships, and social media campaigns. Elevate Aviation also developed an employer info package to support women in securing professional development funding or cost-sharing support from their organizations.

The program is evaluated through a combination of pre/post-assessments, participant surveys, and one-on-one feedback.

Impacts / Outcomes

While both streams of Elevate U share a focus on leadership development, networking, and organizational impact, they are implemented and evaluated separately. This section outlines the outcomes observed from the Masterclass to date, and the evaluation approach planned for the Emerging Leaders stream, which officially begins in June 2025.

Masterclass Outcomes

To date, the Elevate U Masterclass has demonstrated a strong positive impact on participants, as measured through structured post-session surveys. These surveys collect both quantitative and qualitative data, focusing on participant satisfaction, perceived relevance of content, and the likelihood of applying insights in their current or future roles.

Key metrics gathered from the Masterclass include:

• Knowledge and skill development: The majority of participants reported gaining new insights, strategies, or leadership skills relevant to their professional growth.
• Impact on career direction and connections: Many attendees expressed increased confidence in their leadership capabilities and positive new industry connections.
• Content relevance and delivery: Participants highlighted the value of real-life experiences shared by guest speakers, opportunities for discussion, and the inclusive, supportive atmosphere.

Qualitative feedback emphasized the uniqueness of the Masterclass in offering a space tailored specifically for women in aviation. Attendees describe it as refreshing, inspiring, and practical, with several noting they would recommend it to colleagues or attend again.

The data collected not only validates the effectiveness of the Masterclass but also informs its evolution. Participant feedback has already led to plans for future sessions focused on conflict resolution, navigating male-dominated spaces, and leading diverse teams. The goal is to continuously adapt and improve the program based on direct input from the women and allies it serves.

Emerging Leaders Stream

The Emerging Leaders stream is a new addition to the Elevate U initiative, aimed at supporting early- to mid-career professionals, particularly those from equity-deserving groups, who show leadership potential. The first Emerging Leaders first cohort is scheduled to launch in June 2025, and no outcome data is currently available.

However, the program has a built-in evaluation strategy to ensure measurable impact. Like the Masterclass, it will utilize pre- and post-program surveys, as well as periodic check-ins to assess:

• Growth in leadership competencies and self-efficacy
• Increased access to professional opportunities or mentors
• Shifts in participants’ confidence, aspirations, and workplace engagement
• Feedback on the program structure, content, and delivery

These insights will shape future iterations of the program and ensure alignment with the needs of participants and their organizations.

Lessons learned

The development and evolution of the Elevate U program has offered several valuable lessons in designing effective and relevant leadership development for women in the aviation sector. Originally launched as a single-stream initiative as Elevate Aviation’s annual Masterclass, the program was intended to support women in building leadership skills, expanding their networks, and accessing resources to thrive in their careers. While the Masterclass was highly successful in many areas, it also revealed important insights that informed the program’s growth and improvement.

One of the most significant lessons learned came from analyzing the diverse audience that the Masterclass attracted. While it was designed to focus on leadership development, we found that participants came with varying degrees of leadership experience—some were in senior positions seeking peer-level strategy and advanced growth tools, while others were early in their careers and looking for foundational guidance and entry-level leadership concepts. This broad spectrum created a challenge in delivering content that met everyone’s needs equally.

Participants from both ends of the leadership spectrum reported high satisfaction with the quality of the workshops and content. However, through post-event surveys and feedback, it became clear that the content was sometimes too advanced for early-career attendees and not advanced enough for experienced leaders. This insight led to a key realization: in order to serve women at different stages of their leadership journey more effectively, a more tailored approach was necessary.

As a direct result, the Emerging Leaders stream was developed. This new six-month program, set to launch in June 2025, is specifically designed for early-career women in aviation. It offers foundational leadership training, industry-specific career navigation strategies, and an intentional focus on personal growth, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence. By creating this distinct pathway, we aim to better meet the needs of aspiring leaders while allowing the Masterclass to evolve into a more advanced, high-level leadership development experience for established professionals.

Another lesson learned relates to the format and delivery of the Masterclass. Originally structured as a short, in-person event, it became clear that this format had both advantages and limitations. The condensed format offered an energetic and immersive experience, but it also limited the depth of learning that could be achieved on complex leadership topics. Additionally, for those located outside of major urban centers, travel logistics and costs posed barriers to access. To address this, we are exploring hybrid and modular formats for future Masterclasses, incorporating virtual participation options.

We also learned the value of strategic partnerships in program success.

Collaboration with industry leaders, facilitators, and coaches greatly enriched the learning experience, brought fresh perspectives, and helped ensure the relevance of the content. Going forward, we plan to deepen these partnerships, including with organizations that can support participant funding and employer engagement.

Another challenge we identified was measuring long-term impact. While immediate post-event surveys provided useful data on participant satisfaction and perceived value, tracking the ongoing career progression of participants has been more difficult. In future iterations of the program, we plan to introduce follow-up surveys at six- and twelve-month intervals, along with optional alumni engagement sessions, to better understand how participants apply what they’ve learned over time.

Finally, while the Emerging Leaders stream is new and has yet to launch, the process of designing it revealed a broader lesson: women in aviation benefit most from programming that reflects where they are in their leadership journey, acknowledges the barriers they face, and supports both their professional development and personal growth. By being responsive to feedback, intentional in our design, and committed to continuous improvement, we believe Elevate U will remain a vital contributor to building a strong pipeline of women leaders in Canadian aviation.

The Elevate U programs’ evolution is a reflection of our willingness to listen, adapt, and grow alongside the women we serve. We’ve learned that effective leadership development is not one-size-fits-all, and that by refining our approach, we can create more impactful experiences that help women lead with confidence, clarity, and purpose.

Web link

Elevate U: Emerging Leaders

https://elevateaviation.ca/elevate-u/emerging-leaders-program/ Elevate U: Masterclass https://elevateaviation.ca/masterclass/

Organization name

Elevate Aviation

Contact  elevateu@elevateaviation.ca