Words from the Female-Led Team Behind Aerospace Xelerated
Aerospace Xelerated was founded in 2019 as a London-based accelerator with the mission to bring together industry stakeholders and invest in, mentor, and support innovators seeking to advance the aerospace industry.
In 2020, as the world transitioned to virtual platforms due to the pandemic, so did we. That’s when we noticed something incredible: a significant increase in female founders applying, eager to join our programme. Since then, we’ve shifted to a fully virtual setup, and our commitment to diversity and inclusivity has only strengthened, ensuring a level playing field for the female founders and entrepreneurs who want to make their mark on the industry.
The aerospace sector has long been male-dominated, making initiatives like ours crucial for promoting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I). As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we recognize the significance of our female-led team and that this diversity not only enriches our organization but also enhances innovation in aerospace. We’ve asked the team at Aerospace Xelerated what working in a female-led team within a heavily male-dominated industry means to them, and why they believe DE&I is crucial to innovation in this industry.
1. Nichola Bates, Managing Partner, Based in Northern Ireland
“I think being taken seriously, and not just being ignored is still very difficult for women in this sector. Aerospace still very much feels like a boys’ club, while there are some ‘Women in Aerospace’ initiatives, none have ever really felt like the place for me — it feels like women are still trying to play the boys’ game rather than transforming the sector into a more modern and dynamic one representative of the world we live in. I feel strongly that businesses should set a target for 50% women at every level — anything short of that is just not good enough. Setting out and holding our hands up to anything short of complete parity relative to the community in which we operate is just not OK in my view. It says that we don’t value those underrepresented groups. I appreciate that there are lots of factors that need to be fixed to achieve this, but when we set a target of 20% representation for women — it’s a real insult.”
2. Jacqueline Davidson, Program Director, Based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands
“Being part of this *boss* female-led team in a heavily male-dominated industry allows me to serve as an example for those aspiring or even interested in entering this space (VC or Aerospace). Being surrounded by such supportive women, I find inspiration in their diverse perspectives, feeling the opportunity and encouragement to challenge norms, and even the opportunity to contribute to positive industry change. I know that isn’t true for all female-led teams in heavily male-dominated spaces, but I feel that way about mine. This environment enables me to show up authentically as myself, unburdened by the pressure to conform to pre-existing archetypes or expectations… something I didn’t even realize I was doing until I didn’t have to be anymore!”
3. Mariam Ketait, Regional Lead (META), Based in Dubai, UAE
“I remember being the only woman in many rooms, first in surgical wards and later in tech events and boardrooms. One of the things that helped me was to always remember that I was a professional following my passion, and in remembering my strengths and purpose managed to continue to drive change in those rooms. Sometimes, many times, my voice was not heard or made insignificant, but I persisted in speaking, writing and sharing my perspective fueled by my passion for growth and change. I encourage all women to focus inwards and shine outwards, and to examine every voice which tells them that ‘she can’t do it’ and wonder — “What if there was a different possibility here?””
4. Veena Rao, Head of Portfolio Management, Based in Seattle, USA
“During my career in aerospace, I’ve encountered challenges associated with the industry’s lack of diversity. Gender biases have been apparent at times, emphasising the urgency for change. I’ve used these instances as catalysts to advocate for greater inclusivity and to demonstrate that diverse perspectives are vital to the aerospace sector’s innovation and success. Businesses play a crucial role in addressing the industry’s lack of diversity. Proactive hiring practices, mentorship programs, and partnerships with educational institutions can actively encourage more women and underrepresented groups to pursue careers in aerospace. Creating a workplace culture that values diversity is also key to fostering an environment where everyone can thrive.”
5. Sisi Jin, Strategy Analyst, Based in Shanghai, China
“As a young Asian woman in the aerospace industry, there are many challenges I’ve encountered: it is difficult to earn trust and build up connections with different stakeholders. It is important to create a community to promote diversity and provide support to diverse groups. There are growing investors like AX that invest in female founders, but we need more of them.”
6. Myriam Khalil, Portfolio Analyst, Based in Washington D.C., USA
“Working in a woman-led team makes me feel seen, heard, and understood. I am comfortable speaking up and I love working with women who share the same drive, passion, and goals. I find DE&I to be crucial in this industry for I believe it encourages people to innovate not regardless of their differences but because of the diversity in their experiences, backgrounds, and cultures.”
7. Gabriela Matic, Venture Partner, Based in Glasgow, Scotland
Working in a female-led team has been a privilege. I feel lucky to be surrounded by so many inspiring women in an industry where that hardly ever happens. We need to continue advocating for more inclusive working practices and make real tangible commitments to pay and champion female talent and we need to do better at including perspectives from women of all racial, ethical, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.
8. Gianna Pinasco, Programme Manager, Based in London, England
Working with a female-led team means that I have the privilege of voicing my opinion to create positive change, and that is something hard to come by in this industry. Innovation is fueled by bringing together people with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences to the table — without this, innovation wouldn’t reach its full potential.
9. Matt Briggs, Partnership Manager, Based in Bristol, England
It’s awesome working with such a brilliant team of women from such a diverse range of backgrounds. I believe that the alternative range of perspectives we have in the AX team is one of the key reasons we have been so successful in driving innovation within what has traditionally been a male-dominated industry.
10. Wil Benton, Venture Partner, Based in Glasgow, Scotland
I am fortunate to be in the minority on the two teams I work with day to day — one of only two men in a female-majority team of twelve. The industries we work in are the traditionally the opposite, so it’s a real privilege to experience our teams’ rarity while demonstrating the value we create through the work we do. Diversity of thought, experience and talent breeds creativity and innovation and, in my experience, really can inspire inclusion.
11. Gabriella Hernandez, Communications Specialist, Based in Granada, Spain
It´s encouraging to be a part of a diverse, female-led team within a traditionally male-dominated industry like aerospace. Each member of the team brings their unique perspectives, experiences and talents to the table and does their part to advocate for and support innovators from across the globe developing solutions for a more equitable and sustainable future — within the industry and beyond.
12. Stephanie Shaar, Marketing and Events Manager, Based in Beirut, Lebanon
Our team of twelve is made up of ten women and two men representing ten nationalities and spanning nine countries. For Aerospace Xelerated, being a diverse team is not just a goal, it’s our reality. There are no reasons why in 2024 diverse teams are not the norm everywhere. The talent is there, and it’s up to each of us to be purposeful in our efforts to build teams that reflect the world we live in.
About Aerospace Xelerated
Aerospace Xelerated is a global aerospace accelerator and innovation programme delivered in partnership with diverse industry stakeholders, such as Boeing, Tawazun Council, Etihad Airways, Rolls-Royce, GKN Aerospace, and the UK’s Defence and Security Accelerator. Aerospace Xelerated provides investment, mentorship, and support for startups and SMEs developing scalable and sustainable tech solutions for the aerospace industry and beyond.
For the last four years, Aerospace Xelerated has provided mentorship, investment, and support for 42 startups from 14 countries across 4 continents around the globe. Our current portfolio boasts 25% women-led startups, with our most recent cohort featuring an impressive 50% women-led ventures. To date, AX-supported companies have raised over £250M in additional funding — beyond our initial equity investment into each- and created nearly 1000 highly skilled jobs worldwide.
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