Her Story
About shannon
My career journey has taken me from 20 years as an educator into the aviation industry, where I've been flying for 7 years and serving as a purser for Delta Airlines for the past 3 years. The transition felt natural because both roles involve leadership and service. As a purser, I'm responsible for the safety and happiness of up to 300 people on international flights, and I never take that responsibility lightly. I've had profound experiences, like being the last Delta flight attendant to serve a passenger on his final flight before he passed away from cancer, which reminded me how important every interaction is. Currently, I'm attending Texas A&M School of Law with hopes of eventually joining Delta's legal team or working in FAA compliance. The flexibility of the aviation industry allows me to pursue my education while continuing to fly and serve as a 'Delta mama' to many younger flight attendants. I'm also a published author of 'Emmeline's Closet,' which I wrote as therapy after losing my mother to ovarian cancer. Beyond my professional work, I'm passionate about advocating for special needs children and their families, helping them navigate the IEP process and understand their legal rights. My daughter is a pilot for an airline, and I have three successful children who I've always encouraged to push past fear and pursue their dreams.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with shannon
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Everything you want in your life is on the other side of fear. That's my motto in life, and I tell people that all the time. When my daughter was going through the process of becoming a pilot, she asked me, 'Mom, am I enough?' and I told her she's as good as anyone. She had to face the fear of being in that 8% of female pilots, and it has not been easy, but she's finally with the mainline flying the big jets. I raised all three of my kids with the mindset that there was no 'I can't do this.' It doesn't mean it was easy or that they didn't have setbacks along the way, but at the end of the day, what else is there? Never be afraid to try something. I think young women need that empowerment, especially at my age, to know that you can confidently go to law school and know that you can do this.
02What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Service and human connection are at the core of who I am. I can't control the weather or delays, but what I can control is how I treat people. At the end of the day, it's not about being the CEO or having a high-paying job, it's about being somebody that gives back to my community all over the world. I had a man on my flight once who was on his last flight of his life, fighting cancer, and he and his wife had been on a safari. He came up to the galley and told me his story, and I was bawling. I'm his last experience on Delta, and I never take that responsibility for granted. You are someone's most important moment of their life, or their last moment, and I'm a small part of that. I also believe strongly in encouraging women to find creative outlets when they're broken, to channel themselves in healthy ways. As a woman, I'm sure of who I am, and I think women need that empowerment to know they can do hard things.
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