Martha McSally
Courageous Pioneer & Combat-Proven Leader
Martha McSally
Courageous Pioneer & Combat-Proven Leader
Biography
Martha McSally’s career has been defined by leading in environments where hesitation has consequences. As the first woman in U.S. history to fly an Air Force fighter jet in combat and later the first to command a fighter squadron in combat, she operated in high-pressure environments where clarity, trust, and execution weren’t optional—they were critical. Over a 26-year Air Force career, she logged 325 combat hours and earned the Bronze Star.
After her military service, Martha continued leading at the national level, serving in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Today, she works closely with CEOs and leadership teams navigating disruption, growth, and uncertainty, and serves and has served as a corporate board director for multi-billion-dollar companies.
Her work now focuses on helping leaders strengthen how they show up under pressure. Drawing from her experiences in combat, government, and executive advisory roles, she equips leaders with practical tools to lead themselves first, build high-trust teams, and execute with clarity in complex environments.
Speaker Videos
Sizzle Reel
Agility and Risk Management
Cleared for Take Off!
One Step at a Time
Courage to Move Mountains
Speech Topics
Be Unbreakable: The Leadership Edge in Uncertain Times
Leadership today is faster, more complex, and more uncertain than ever. Markets shift overnight. AI is reshaping industries. Teams are navigating constant pressure. Most leaders know what they should do. The challenge is what happens under pressure. When the stakes are high, leaders hesitate. They overanalyze. They default to safe.
Martha introduces the WEDGE Framework, a practical system for leading under pressure:
- Who Am I: Know who you are as a leader
- Examine: Identify patterns under pressure
- Drop the Drag: Let go of what is holding you back
- Gaze: Get clear on where you're leading
- Execute: Take focused, aligned action
What Audiences Walk Away With:
- Clearer thinking under pressure
- Stronger decision-making in high-stakes moments
- Tools to navigate uncertainty and disruption
- Greater alignment and trust across teams
- A repeatable leadership framework
Be Unbreakable: The High-Trust Team Advantage
Teams donʼt break down when things are easy. They break down under pressure. Communication slips. Trust erodes. Execution slows.
Using the WEDGE Framework, Martha shows how teams build trust, alignment, and accountability:
- Who Am I: Understand your leadership impact
- Examine: Identify what strengthens or weakens trust
- Drop the Drag: Remove friction and hidden tension
- Gaze: Align on priorities and direction
- Execute: Move forward with clarity and accountability
What Audiences Walk Away With:
- Tools to build trust within teams
- Clearer communication under pressure
- Strategies to break down silos
- Greater alignment and accountability
- Confidence executing together
Be Unbreakable: The Courage to Rise and Get Stronger from Life's Hits
At some point, life hits everyone. Most people arenʼt prepared. They push through, distract themselves, or wait.
Martha shares how to navigate adversity using the WEDGE Framework:
- Who Am I: Anchor in who you are
- Examine: Understand your patterns
- Drop the Drag: Let go of what holds you back
- Gaze: Focus forward with clarity
- Execute: Take action with confidence
What Audiences Walk Away With:
- Tools to navigate adversity with clarity
- Greater confidence facing uncertainty
- A practical approach to moving forward
- Stronger self-leadership under pressure
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