Elizabeth Graham

I attribute my success to staying positive-minded and optimistic, even when I wasn't where I wanted to be. I learned that you have to go with the flow because you never know what could happen or who you could meet. Networking has been extremely important - it's not just about what you know, but the conversations you have with people. You have to find ways to connect within the community and with people in your field, even if you're an introvert. I also believe in learning from every experience, whether it's good or bad. You may think you're going to a job or meeting for one lesson and end up learning something completely different. Prayer, hard work, guidance from mentors and family, and even strangers I've met along the way have all shaped who I am today. You have to keep your head down, work as hard and as smart as you can, ignore the background noise, and allow things to grow as they should.

The best career advice I've ever received is that even if you don't like a job or feel like you should be further along than you are, you need to know that you're in the exact spot where you're supposed to be. You can learn from any and everything, whether it's a good experience or a bad experience. I always make a joke that in college, I feel like I didn't learn a whole lot academically, but socially I learned a ton, and business etiquette-wise I learned a ton. You may think you're going to your job or a meeting for one lesson and end up learning something completely different. So being open-minded is crucial - you have to be willing to see the value in every experience, even the unexpected ones.

Don't allow anybody to tell you that you can't do it. When I was in flight school, I had men saying that I was only there to get a husband or that this is an extremely hard skill and most people won't make it - just a lot of naysayers and negative comments. If I was starting over today, I would remind women that you have to block out all the negative comments. You have to remember why you're there, remember what your goal is, and remember that you have the same brain as anybody else and can accomplish things the same way anybody else can. If you've seen it done on television or even in your own dreams, if you can see it while your eyes are closed, then you can accomplish it. Nobody can dictate how hard you work. The more women we can get to join STEM programs, especially aviation, the better - the sky's literally the limit for what we can achieve.

The values most important to me are remaining positive, staying close to my family, praying to make sure I'm guided properly, and being open-minded to advice from people already in the industry. My parents were extremely important to my education and who I am as a person. My grandmother really paved the way for my entire generation - she was the oldest of eight, grew up in a two-bedroom house with 10 people, and knew from a young age she had to work hard and help provide for the family. She set up a future that we will benefit from for generations to come. I also value movement and staying active - I try to do some form of exercise every day, even when I'm traveling. Church is important to me too, and I try to go regularly, though it doesn't always happen with my schedule.