Being a woman in a man’s world

Mandy Hickson, a former Royal Air Force Tornado GR4 pilot, joins Joanne Lockwood to talk about being one of the first women allowed to fly fast jets on the front line and what it meant to build a career in a strongly male-coded culture.

They explore the difference between fitting in and belonging, including the pressure to become “one of the boys,” the realities of life on deployment, and the impact of subtle bullying and exclusion. Mandy reflects on learning to hold onto her identity and authenticity while still succeeding in an intense performance environment.

The conversation also widens into culture change: how rules and policies can shift faster than mindsets, how unconscious bias shapes expectations from childhood to the workplace, and why meaningful progress often requires those with privilege and power to actively support change.

Joanne shares parts of her own transition experience, including the relief of living without secrecy, the importance of visibility and storytelling, and the challenges of accessing adequate gender-related healthcare support. The episode closes with Mandy’s reflections on confidence, changing priorities across life stages, and how her book and speaking work aim to inspire others to follow their own path.