MARTHA MCSALLY
First Woman to Command a U.S. Fighter Squadron | Decorated Colonel | Former U.S. Senator | Corporate Board Member | Resilience & Leadership Coach | Author | Adventure Experience Leader
MEET MARTHA
Colonel (Ret.) Martha E. McSally is a groundbreaking leader, author, and speaker, known for overcoming adversity to achieve historic feats. She made history as the first woman in the U.S. to fly a fighter jet in combat and command a fighter squadron. A Bronze Star recipient, McSally flew 325 combat hours and led her squadron on critical missions during six Middle East and Afghanistan deployments. A tireless advocate for gender equality, she successfully challenged discriminatory military policies. McSally’s leadership and resilience, forged through personal hardships and military service, inspire audiences to reach their full potential. She holds two master’s degrees, is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, and is the author of Dare to Fly. An accomplished endurance athlete, McSally’s personal achievements include completing marathons, triathlons, and summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Blanc.
TOPICS
Be Unbreakable: The Leadership Edge in Uncertain Times
LEAD YOURSELF FIRST WITH COURAGE. ADAPT WITH AGILITY. ACCELERATE GROWTH.
Leadership today moves faster than ever. The margin for error is thinner. Markets shift overnight. AI is reshaping industries in real time. Teams are navigating uncertainty, burnout, and constant change. Most leaders know what to do. The challenge is what happens under pressure. When the stakes rise, even strong leaders hesitate. They overanalyze. They default to safe. They react instead of lead. This is a self-leadership problem. Martha learned hesitation has consequences during her time leading combat missions. Later, in Congress and the Senate, the pressure looked different, but the leadership stakes were just as real. Today, she works with CEOs and leadership teams navigating that same reality: high pressure, high visibility, and no room for hesitation. Martha introduces the WEDGE Framework: • Who Am I: Define who you are as a leader • Examine: Identify patterns that show up under pressure • Drop the Drag: Let go of what’s holding you back • Gaze: Get clear on where you’re leading • Execute: Take focused, aligned action What Audiences Walk Away With: • Lead with clarity under pressure • Make faster, better decisions • Build trust and alignment across teams • Navigate uncertainty without losing momentum • Step into leadership instead of reacting Best For: • Executive leadership teams • C-suite and senior leaders • Organizations navigating change or growth • Industry conferences focused on leadership
Be Unbreakable: The High-Trust Team Advantage
BUILD TEAMS THAT COMMUNICATE CLEARLY. MOVE FAST. AND DELIVER UNDER PRESSURE
Teams don’t break when things are easy. They break under pressure. Deadlines tighten. Priorities shift. Information is incomplete. And the small cracks start to show. Communication breaks down. People protect their turf. Decisions slow down because trust isn’t there. On paper, the team may look strong. But talent alone doesn’t create execution. Trust does. Martha learned this flying combat missions and leading as a squadron commander, where communication had to be clear, decisions had to be fast, and trust had to be absolute. If trust broke down, the mission was at risk. Those same dynamics show up in organizations every day. Martha introduces the WEDGE Framework, a practical approach for building high-trust, high-performance teams: • Who Am I: Understand how individual leadership impacts the team • Examine: Identify behaviors that strengthen or weaken trust • Drop the Drag: Remove friction, silos, and hidden tension • Gaze: Align around mission, priorities, and direction • Execute: Move forward with accountability and clarity What Audiences Walk Away With: • Stronger trust across teams • Clearer, more direct communication • Better alignment around priorities • Increased accountability at every level • Faster, more confident execution Best For: • Cross-functional teams • Leadership offsites • Organizations rebuilding trust or culture • Teams navigating growth or transition
Be Unbreakable: The Courage to Rise and Get Stronger from Life’s Hits
FACE FEAR, NAVIGATE ADVERSITY, AND MOVE FORWARD STRONGER.
At some point, life hits everyone. A setback you didn’t see coming. A loss that changes everything. A moment that makes you question what comes next. Most people aren’t prepared for those moments. We’re taught to push through, distract ourselves, or wait for things to get better. But real resilience doesn’t come from avoiding difficulty. It comes from how you respond when things get hard. The difference isn’t talent or luck. It’s whether you’re willing to face reality and take the next step forward. Martha’s life has been shaped by moments that could have stopped her. She lost her father at a young age. She survived abuse and assault. She fought for nearly a decade to become a fighter pilot when the law said she couldn’t. She didn’t avoid those moments. She moved through them. And those experiences shaped how she leads and what she teaches today. Martha introduces the WEDGE Framework, a practical approach for navigating adversity and building real resilience: • Who Am I: Anchor yourself in who you are • Examine: Understand your reactions and patterns • Drop the Drag: Let go of fear and limiting beliefs • Gaze: Focus forward with clarity and intention • Execute: Take action, even when the path isn’t fully clear What Audiences Walk Away With: • A stronger, more grounded mindset • Greater clarity in the face of adversity • Tools for navigating fear and uncertainty • The confidence to take the next step forward • A practical way to keep moving, even when things are hard Best For: • Leadership conferences • Women’s leadership audiences • Military and veteran communities • Organizations navigating change • Personal development events
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