Nicole Malachowski

Col. Nicole Malachowski, USAF (Ret.) defies stereotypes. Yes, she was a jet fighter pilot, but if you think you know her based on that, you’d be wrong. A leader, a combat veteran, the first woman pilot on the Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squadron, a White House Fellow, and an inductee into both the National Women’s Hall of Fame and the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame, Nicole’s distinguished 21- year Air Force career exceeded her wildest dreams. But the dream came to an end when a devastating tick-borne illness left her struggling greatly to speak or walk for almost nine months. An indomitable spirit, Nicole fought back against overwhelming odds and prevailed. Drawing on stories from her career and personal life, Nicole inspires audiences to rethink the challenges they face every day. She urges them to go beyond resilience and become resurgent. Nicole empowers people with three key beliefs: failure and risk is the price of entry for achieving something great; sometimes you need to yield to overcome; and her personal mantra – “Nobody wants to lead a scripted life.” +

Malachowski was just sixteen years old when she took her first solo flight. While in high school, she joined the Civil Air Patrol and participated in Air Force Junior ROTC. She earned her commission from the United States Air Force Academy in 1996. Over her 21-year Air Force career, Malachowski achieved the rating of Command Pilot with more than 2,300 flight hours in six different Air Force aircraft. She was among the first group of women to fly modern fighter aircraft and was the first women to fly on any Department of Defense military jet demonstration squadron, as part of the USAF Thunderbirds.

As a career pilot, Malachowski served in combat as an F-15E flight commander, evaluator, instructor pilot, and fight lead. She served as a mission-ready fighter pilot in three operational F-15E fighter squadrons and has flown over 188 combat hours, including her proudest moment as a fighter pilot — leading the first fighter formation to provide security for Iraq’s historic democratic elections in 2005.

On the ground, Malachowski was a White House Fellow, class of 2008-2009, where she served on the Presidential Transition Support Team (PTST) while assigned to the US General Services Administration. The White House Fellows Foundation and Association awarded Nicole the 2019 IMPACT Award for demonstrating both remarkable achievement and transformational contributions in her field, as well as a sustained commitment to the White House Fellows program.

Malachowski also served on two high-level staff assignments at the Pentagon, and as the the Executive Director of the White House’s national “Joining Forces” initiative, where she directly advised former First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden on all topics relating to service members, veterans, and military families.

In recognition of her achievements, Malachowski has been inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame and the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame. As she continues to recover from her neurological tick-borne illness, she embraces any opportunity to educate others about her medical journey and this growing epidemic. She is on the Board of Directors at the LivLyme Foundation and is a Patient Advisory Board Member of The Dean Center for Tick Borne Illness.--

Nicole Malachowski's Speaking Presentations

(All of the following are available live or virtually)

Conquering Fog and Friction: Leading Through Times of Crisis +

“No war plan survives first contact with the enemy” is a truism. In the military, leaders must acknowledge and address the fog (things we can’t see, know, or predict) and friction (the forces which impede progress) of war. In such times, effective leadership is more crucial than ever. Using the challenges and uncertainties of combat as a metaphor for organizational challenges, Nicole Malachowski stresses perspective, priorities, and positive leadership as she provides tools for leaders to use in times of crisis— or anytime — to keep their organizations successfully moving forward. Malachowski offers leaders a framework to lead through fog and friction in times of crisis.

Audiences will learn:

• How to proceed regardless of the unknowns your organization facing.
• How to maneuver around or through impediments to your organization’s progress.
• To understand the leadership challenges that are unique to times of crisis.
• How to keep focused on your purpose. Perspective is critical to manage risk and adapt.
• Why positivity and calmness are essential. Instill confidence, don’t add to the chaos. --

The Mach 2 Mindset: Decision-Making in a High-Speed Environment +

One popular pilot saying is “speed is life,” because without enough speed, an airplane is nothing more than an expensive rock. In the business world, especially when technology is involved, speed can be just as crucial. The organization that moves the fastest often realizes the most success. Having flown a high-tech fighter aircraft that can reach speeds of up to twice the speed of sound, Nicole Malachowski offers principles that keep any organization functioning smoothly, efficiently, and at high speed — even when chaos and the unexpected occur. Her insights help leaders create a culture where decisions get made quickly.

Audiences will learn:

• How to assess the dynamics that slow your organization down.
• How turmoil in your operating environment slows you down.
• How does a need for speed impact decision-making.
• Why trust, clear roles, and communication are vital to navigate the unknown at speed.
• How practice, planning, and preparation underpin organizations that move quickly. --

Harnessing Headwinds of Change +

In flying, headwinds slow you down. At their worst, they cause you to change your plans and impact the effectiveness of weapons in combat. Headwinds demand that pilots be resilient and resourceful, literally on the fly. “Headwinds are the perfect metaphor for the change impacting organizations and individuals today,” says 21-year Air Force veteran Nicole Malachowski. A former fighter squadron commander and mission-ready pilot in three operational fighter squadrons and the first woman to fly on the Air Force Thunderbirds, Nicole has the perfect message to inspire audiences to think differently about the headwinds of change they face – organizationally and personally.

Drawing on her extraordinary Air Force career, Nicole offers lessons on leadership, followership, and overcoming adversity. She weaves storytelling with breathtaking video from the cockpit of her jet as the Thunderbirds execute precision turns, rolls, and loops – all just 36” from one another at 400 mph and just 300 feet off the ground. Nicole’s keynote helps audiences ignite their own indomitable spirit in order to succeed far beyond what they might dream. “Failure isn’t fatal,” she says, “it’s the price of entry if you want to achieve something great.” --

Pushing the Envelope: Being The Best When It Counts +

What does it take to be the best? The individuals and teams who achieve at the highest levels have one thing in common: they push the envelope and go to the edge of boundaries. They accomplish as much as possible and do it to a standard of excellence. Pushing the envelope is an aviation term for taking an aircraft to the maximum limits of its abilities. In the business world, pushing the envelope means knowing yourself – certainly knowing your limits – all while using every bit of your ability to maximize your performance, be your best and be consistent.

As a combat-tested fighter pilot and a member of the military’s most elite group of aviators (1 in 2,000 USAF pilots become Thunderbird pilots), Nicole Malachowski inspires audiences with lessons learned from a distinguished 21-year career – giving them the courage to push the envelope in their own lives. That means using inevitable failures to launch to the next level…preparing for turbulence, because change is unrelenting and it is hard, but you must anticipate it…trusting in teammates’ skill and precision, while developing your own…and being mindful of the over-control that leads to performance malfunctions and mutes achievement. Nicole’s presentation provides an unforgettable and practical roadmap for individuals and organizations looking to make the most of their talents and efforts. --

Breadking Barriers: Conquering Self-Doubt & Cultural Paragdigms +

Every great accomplishment involves breaking barriers – both culturally and within. Nicole Malachowski is a trailblazer who succeeded in a traditionally male-dominated career field: the world of the fighter pilot. As uncomfortable and risky as stretching the limits of yourself and your surroundings might be, Nicole tells audiences there’s no reason to allow that to dictate your goals and aspirations. She became one of the first women to fly a modern-day fighter aircraft, the very first woman to fly with the AirForce Thunderbird aerial demonstration squadron, and she was inducted into the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame. She is relatable to women and men with a fascinating narrative of exactly what it took to be a woman vanguard and break tradition. Nicole offers actionable tools and real-world lessons about pursuing her dream, making choices, all while building a family and achieving success in a career where few women had gone before. Nicole inspires audiences with a message rooted in her personal mantra – “Nobody wants to lead a scripted life.” --

To inquire about Nicole Malachowski's speaking schedule & booking Nicole Malachowski contact us.

Keywords: Accountability, Change, Corporate Culture, Diversity, Empowerment, Execution, Healthcare, HR Focus, Improving Performance, Innovation, Inspiration, Leadership, Managing Change, Leading Change, Adapting to change, Disruption, Mentorship, Military Background, Motivation, Peak Performance, Practitioners, Real Leaders, Safety, Teamwork, Women in the  Workplace, Women of Influence, Making a Difference, Being the best,