From the cockpit to the C-suite: One woman’s rise in the male-dominated aviation industry

A simple question from her CEO changed everything for Philile Mdletshe: ‘What do you really want to do?’

Despite having a successful job in logistics and a BCom Honours in Information Systems under her belt, Philile was yearning for more, and her boss, who also served as a mentor, could tell.

‘He’s a big part of my story,’ says Philile with gratitude. ‘I told him I always wanted to be a pilot, and he said, “Well then, that’s what you must do!”’

The unexpected flight path

Philile's passion for aviation was sparked in Grade 9 by a South African Airways cadet programme roadshow. She chose her subjects accordingly and set a clear course to becoming a pilot, but her path was almost immediately diverted. Unable to secure a spot in a flying programme after matric, she ended up studying at Rhodes University before getting her first job and moving to Joburg. Her dreams of flight were stowed away along with other youthful ambitions.

To find herself suddenly back on track after that conversation with her boss was both exhilarating and a little terrifying. She left her job and signed up full-time at flight school.

‘It was an intense environment, especially for the young female candidates in a male-dominated environment. I remember feeling such empathy for many of the young women who had people from their communities invested in their success and were under immense pressure to go solo.’

Many were washed from the programme because of the pressure, but Philile made it through and was absorbed into SA Express as a cadet pilot. But at the next hurdle, she too found herself washed because she wasn’t showing enough consistency in her performance on the high-performance CRJ jets.

It was a bitter blow, but not the end of her career in flying. She joined the National Airways Corporation, where she flew for the international contracts and air ambulance divisions and had the opportunity to fly all over the world – including in Afghanistan, where she was part of the dramatic evacuation after the Taliban took over in 2021. A growing interest in learning the operational side of aviation, saw her transition to the office as Deputy Chief Pilot towards the end of 2021. She quickly rose through the ranks of management, being promoted to the role of chief pilot in September 2023. Although it means less flying, she’s now on a new trajectory of African leadership, a journey that also led her to study a Global MBA at Henley Business School.

Avoiding a life of ‘what ifs’

While Philile says she hadn’t considered herself to be particularly “business-oriented” up to that point, she jumped at the chance to study again and enrolled for the Global MBA programme when she was approached by senior leadership in her company to be part of the inaugural South African cohort on the programme.

‘I knew this was an incredible opportunity. The chance to push myself, travel to new countries, and get this kind of exposure is once in a lifetime. Even though I knew it would be hard, I couldn't justify why not. Plus, one of the questions I always ask myself when confronted with a difficult decision is, do you want to live with a “what if” if you don’t take it? In the same way that I needed to follow my dream to become a pilot, I knew I needed to take this new road that had opened up to me.’

Almost a year into the two-year degree, she says she is really glad she stepped up rather than aside. The programme has not just been a crash course in mind-stretching concepts and critical thinking but an invitation to a deeper level of personal and professional growth. Even more surprisingly, she says she’s found a new kind of family.

‘My cohort – both my South African group and the broader international group of students – have become like family. The immersions in the UK, Finland, and Miami were phenomenal. It's more than a cultural and learning experience; you build rapport with people, you look forward to seeing them, and you see their growth and career advancement through the programme, and it’s really rewarding. You are invested in their success as much as your own. In fact, this collective experience is a critical part of your own learning and personal transformation. You quite literally couldn’t do it without your fellow candidates.’

How the Global MBA is redefining African leadership

Another significant takeaway from the Global MBA has been the emphasis on critical thinking as a cornerstone of leadership. In an age of widespread misinformation, Philile recognises the importance of leaders being able to step back, question assumptions, and base their decisions on research and facts, not just popular opinion.

‘People will believe anything these days, even if it's based on opinion with nothing substantial to back it up. It’s so important, therefore, that what we say is genuine, accurate, and well-researched. The Global MBA reinforces this. The process of being exposed to different ways of life and mindsets throughout the programme naturally prompts you to ask, "Is there another way of looking at this challenge?" This is a vital skill for creating a better society, where people don’t just react emotionally, but pragmatically and strategically.’

The perfect – and necessary – complement to critical thinking is personal development and self-reflection, Philile continues. ‘True leadership begins with self-awareness, understanding one's strengths and weaknesses and having the courage to face them. Fortunately, this is also a big part of the Global MBA.

‘The personal development side of the MBA has been phenomenal. Life is so busy, and we are so distracted that we don't take the time to reflect on who we are, how we show up, and what we need to work on. Once you know yourself, you can lead from a place of strength.’

Leaders who can combine critical thinking with personal wisdom will have something special to offer the world, she believes, especially in Africa. ‘We need people who can speak from a place of confidence, grounded in knowledge and research, not just wild claims. And it’s so important to be conscious of the messages we send and to be authentic if we are to influence the future of this continent.’

Finding the courage to go after your dreams

For Philile, it always comes back to being true to yourself. You have to find the courage to go after your dreams, even if you face pushback and naysayers. And you can’t do that if you don’t have the inner resources to know what your dreams are and the courage to get back on your feet and carry on walking toward them, even when you fail.

‘For me, it boils down to resilience and courage. Resilience to overcome setbacks, and the courage to continuously reflect and grow, both as a professional and as a person. I really appreciated learning about the Finnish philosophy of “sisu” – loosely translated as a combination of resilience, determination, and courage in the face of adversity – during the MBA study immersion in Helsinki, Finland.

This resonated with me because pushing through and facing challenges head on is something I have had to do consistently from a quiet place of strength. This is “sisu” in action and I think it’s something all leaders need because we will all fail at some point. And we need to understand that failure is not an end, but an opportunity to grow and keep going.’ DM

The next intake for the Henley Global MBA is in October. To find out more or to apply, please click here.