Emma Henderson
Former airline captain
*Fees are a guide only. Exact cost will be dependent on requirements and are subject to change.
About Emma Henderson
Emma Henderson MBE is an award-winning keynote speaker, former airline captain, and recognised thought leader on leadership, decision-making, and performance under pressure.
After more than 30 years in aviation, including her role as an airline captain, Emma now works with organisations around the world helping leaders navigate uncertainty, make better decisions, and build resilient, high-performing teams. Her work is built around the same structured thinking, teamwork, and decision-making frameworks used in aviation, where decisions must be made with incomplete information, under pressure, and where the consequences truly matter.
Emma was awarded an MBE for founding Project Wingman, a nationwide charity supporting NHS frontline staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. She mobilised thousands of volunteer aircrew and created wellbeing lounges across the UK and in New York, demonstrating her belief that leadership is not about position, but about action, responsibility, and service.
In recognition of her growing influence in leadership and organisational thinking, Emma was named Booker’s Choice Winner at The Speaker Awards and one of HR Magazine’s Most Influential Thinkers. She has also delivered a TEDx talk exploring how aviation decision-making models can help leaders manage crisis, complexity, and uncertainty in modern organisations.
Emma is the author of Grounded, a book exploring leadership, resilience, and reinvention, and has featured in the ITV documentary Inside the Cockpit. Her clients include global organisations across finance, engineering, healthcare, aviation, technology, and professional services.
What sets Emma apart is that she does not talk about leadership in theory. She focuses on what it takes to lead when the plan is no longer working, pressure is rising, information is incomplete, and the stakes are high. Her keynotes are engaging, practical, and memorable, combining powerful storytelling with clear frameworks and tools that audiences can immediately apply.
Emma spends time researching each client’s business to understand the people and challenges they face, ensuring every talk is relevant and impactful. Her core message is simple: you don’t need more information to lead better, you need better thinking, better structure, and the confidence to act when it matters most.
To book Keynote Speaker Emma Henderson, contact The Speakers Agency on +44(0)1332 810481 or email enquiries@thespeakersagency.com
- Leadership in Uncertainty
- Decision-Making Under Pressure
- Building Resilient & High-Performing Teams
- Leading Through Change and Disruption
- Human Leadership in an AI World
Client Feedback
"Emma Henderson MBE transformed our SWA Annual Conference on 5 June 2025 with her keynote “Grounded Leadership in a Turbulent World”. She fused her rare aviation career with hands‑on leadership lessons, creating a powerful mindset shift that resonated with attendees. If you want a speaker who brings authority, actionable insight and lasting inspiration, Emma is that speaker."
SWA
"We were a delighted to welcome Emma Henderson as the keynote speaker at our Project Management Community Conference earlier this month. From the outset, Emma was a pleasure to work with and was warm, engaging, and exceptionally professional in her communication."
EDF
"Emma was awesome and delivered a really engaging and inspiring talk that resonated and connected with all our invited clients and contacts."
Balfour Manson
"Her journey as a commercial airline pilot was fascinating and full of relatable lessons for our audience. She shared her story with authenticity, warmth, and honesty, drawing on her experiences to highlight the importance of remaining calm under pressure, clear communication, and trust in your team. Thank you, Emma, for sharing your insights with us!"
BFA
