Some error occured while loading the Quick View. Please close the Quick View and try reloading the page.
How can women empower each other to thrive and lead in male-dominated STEM industries?
Drawing on the journey of alta, a global, award-winning mentoring platform for the aviation and aerospace sector, this book demonstrates how relational mentoring empowers women, dismantles structural barriers, drives retention and transforms careers.
Combining rigorous academic research with candid, real-world industry experience, the authors and alta founding partners provide evidence-based frameworks alongside practical guidance for building impactful cross-sector networks. It is an essential roadmap for anyone committed to tackling workplace gender inequalities and fostering sustainable, inclusive leadership.
Ana Lopes is Senior Lecturer in Work and Employment at Newcastle University. She was co-investigator on an ESRC-funded project examining the mentoring needs of women in aviation and aerospace which led to the creation of the award-winning mentoring platform alta, which she co-founded.
Judith Milne is a specialist aviation executive and founder of Little Blue Private Jets, advising companies and individuals on corporate strategy, fundraising, sales, employment and international growth. In 2007, she was awarded the European Business Aviation Award for outstanding contribution to European business and is a co-founder of alta.
Susan Durbin is Professor of Human Resource Management at the University of the West of England. Her research focuses on women’s employment in male-dominated professions. She is a co-founder of alta and co-designed the Reaching My Potential Future Flight Challenge mentoring programme. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.
Daniela Nowalski has served in the Royal Air Force, a founding partner of alta, for over 25 years. She was awarded a Chief of the Air Staff’s Fellowship to undertake doctoral research into the role storytelling through mentoring plays in driving pro-social and organizational citizenship behaviours. In 2025 she was named the Women in Defence Most Inspirational Mentor.
Alessandra Badino is UK National Sustainability Officer for Airbus, with over two decades of experience leading strategic transformation in global organizations. A Chartered Aerospace Engineer, Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, and recipient of the Sir Robert Hardingham Presidential Sword, she is a co-founder of both the sustainability consultancy Blue Futures Studio and alta.
Part 1
1. Introduction
2. Gender and the STEM Workplace
3. The Aviation and Aerospace Industry and Women’s Under-Representation in a Male Dominated Industry
4. Women and (Relational) Mentoring
5. The Business Benefits of Mentoring
Part 2
6. The Alta Story
7. The Mentoring Journey
8. A Holistic Approach
9. Conclusion