Turning Information into Knowledge: Reflections on the 2014 International Women in Aviation Conference
Thousands flooded into the Vera Cruz Ballroom and adjacent meeting rooms last week during the 25th Annual International Women in Aviation Conference in Orlando, FL. The event not only celebrated outstanding female aviators across all fields of the industry, but it also invited a great exchange of ideas that created a buzz of possibility.
The conference was informative, no doubt. Numerous seminars, talks, educational sessions, and an exhibition encouraged men and women alike to grow in their various positions in aviation. Prominent female leaders shared how they created incredible careers from the information they learned, their experiences evolving into so much more than the sum of their parts. Among them were retired astronauts Eileen M. Collins and Wally Funk, general managers of manufactures and airlines, as well as many iconic WASPs. The possibilities of flying, of being one of few, of going faster or farther, of getting hands dirty and earning seniority became realities for these women when they breathed passion and drive into mere information. They have created wonderful, inspiring careers well worth recognizing.
Yet their story is also our story. Many of us have experienced our passion for aviation grow when the facts and theories learned in our first aviation classes transformed into applicable knowledge. In such a dynamic industry, continued learning is crucial yet also exciting and fulfilling. At the close of the conference, WAI and its sponsors presented over $90,000 in scholarships to help women continue transforming mere information into valuable knowledge. More than just educational sessions on industry trends, the International Women in Aviation Conference reminded participants that while learning never ceases, it is passion and information that combine to foster knowledgeable industry leaders: ones that leave inspiration and information in their wakes.
-Rochelle Johnson, JETPUBS Inc.