Her Story
About Helen
Helen Carey is a professional pilot with over 3 years of experience in the aviation industry. She began her career with flight instructing and has spent the past 2 years working in the medevac industry, where she was recently upgraded to Captain. Carey attended high school in Orlando, Florida, graduating early in 3 years, during which time she obtained her pilot's license. She then pursued higher education at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University from 2019 to 2023. As a first-generation pilot, she attributes her success to persistence, a positive attitude, and taking long-term goals one step at a time.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Helen
01What do you attribute your success to?
Persistence. Never giving up, always showing up, having a good attitude. Even if training is difficult and days are long, bad days are not forever. If you have a long-term goal, don't give up and take it one step at a time. When doing something you love for the long term, there are hard seasons but also really good seasons that you should stick out for.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Don't reject yourself before somebody else can reject you. If you see something and you want to achieve it, don't say you can't do that because of X, Y, and Z. Go do it, go apply, go try to do it. Don't tell yourself you can't do it. Let other people tell you.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Just because you don't see a lot of representation every day doesn't mean that you do not belong in that room. It is a majority positive industry where it's a very pass the baton, and you just have to really network and find your people. They will support you and love you just as you are. Find other people doing the same thing as you, get close with them, create your own community within it, and that will make you feel less isolated.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Opportunities are boundless as long as you continuously reach out to people; you will find people that need pilots. Challenges include the job being go-go-go then sometimes not doing anything, and being in early transitional periods where the next steps could be really impactful for long-term trajectory. Being open-minded about what you want to do long-term.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
In work: safety, integrity, respect, responsibility. Personally: kindness, being supportive, integrity, keeping promises to yourself.
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