Col. Nicole Malachowski: Inspired Leadership

  • First woman to fly as a pilot with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, breaking barriers and inspiring a generation.
  • A retired Colonel with over 21 years of service in the U.S. Air Force, bringing unparalleled insights into leadership, adaptability, and resilience.
  • Renowned for her dynamic storytelling and ability to connect with audiences, leaving them inspired to embrace challenges and excel.
  • A vocal advocate for women in leadership and STEM fields, offering actionable insights for achieving success in traditionally male-dominated industries.

Travel & Fee Range:**

  • Travels from: Washington, DC, USA
  • **Fee range: On Request
  • Local:
  • Range: $20,001 - $35,000
  • US East:
  • Range: $20,001 - $35,000
  • US West:
  • Range: $20,001 - $35,000
  • Europe:
  • Range: $50,001 - $75,000
  • Asia:
  • Range: On Request

* This specific fee falls within this range. Ranges are presented as a guideline only. Speaker fees are subject to change without notice.

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 […]

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’s 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.”

Col. Nicole Malachowski brings her experience to the stage and holds audiences spellbound with an easygoing authenticity of someone who’s achieved greatness. She’s been a member and leader of exceptional teams. She has faced overwhelming challenges and adversity and has come out on top.

While other high school students were practicing for their driver’s license, Nicole was accumulating flight time. She was sixteen years old when she took her first solo flight and from that point on there was no stopping her. While in high school, she joined the Civil Air Patrol and participated in Air Force Junior ROTC.

Nicole’s professional story began when she earned her commission from the United States Air Force Academy in 1996. Following graduation, she attended Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) at Columbus AFB, MS and began her career as a pilot. Competitively selected to fly combat aircraft, she was among the first group of women to fly modern fighter aircraft.

As a career pilot, she served in combat as an F-15E Flight Commander, Evaluator, Instructor Pilot and Flight Lead. Over her 21-year career, Col. Nicole Malachowski achieved the rating of Command Pilot with over 2,300 flight hours in six different Air Force aircraft. She was also selected to fly as Thunderbird #3 with the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron – the first woman to fly on any Department of Defense military jet demonstration team.

Col. Nicole Malachowski has 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.

View All Speakers and follow us on Twitter

Col. Nicole Malachowski | Leadership

Videos

Interest to Book? Send us your enquiry

Speaker Contact Form

Enquiry Form

In order to view the below you must be logged in.

  • Powerpoint Slide – For meeting and event planners
  • Gallery Images
  • High Resolution Images
  • PDF Files
  • Books and Magazine Links
  • Music List
  • Podcast Shows
  • Courses
  • + more

News Articles

You may be interested in...

  • (20)
Heather R Younger

Heather R Younger is the Founder and CEO of Employee Fanatix, a prominent figure in the realm of employee engagement and consulting. Renowned as a captivating keynote speaker, Heather brings forth in valuable insights garnered from over 25,000 employee experiences. As a staunch advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, she stands as a beacon of […]

  • Travels from: Denver, CO
  • Customer Experience
  • (21)
Gaby Natale

Triple Emmy-Winning Journalist and Bestselling Author Gaby Natale is on a mission to awaken the PIONEER spirit in each of us. Gaby stands as a trailblazer in the entertainment industry, possessing not only the creative prowess but also the entrepreneurial acumen to carve her path. As one of the few women who own the rights […]

  • Travels from: Fort Worth. TX
  • Hispanic Speakers
  • (26)
  • (5)
Brad Montgomery

Brad Montgomery is an award-winning motivational speaker, happiness expert, and humorist who has captivated audiences across the globe. With a unique blend of humor, practical wisdom, and heartwarming stories, Brad inspires people to embrace happiness as a powerful tool for success. His dynamic presentations have made him a sought-after keynote speaker for corporate events, conferences, […]

  • Travels from: Aurora, CO
  • Happiness Speakers
  • (20)
Steve Gutzler

Steve Gutzler is the President of Leadership Quest, a Seattle based Leadership Development company. Steve is a dynamic, highly sought after speaker who has delivered over 2500 presentations, to a who’s who list of clients including, Pandora Radio, Microsoft, Starbucks, Boeing, Cisco, Starwood Corporation, U.S. Security Administration, and Oxford Financial to name just a few. […]

  • Travels from: Seattle, WA
  • Emotional Intelligence
  • (61)

Lenora Billings-Harris, CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) is a CPAE (Council of Peers Award of Excellence) Hall of Fame speaker and an internationally recognized authority in the areas of inclusion, diversity, and bias. She has been included as one of the 100 Global Thought Leaders on Diversity and Inclusion by The Society of Human Resource Management […]

  • Travels from: Greensboro, NC
  • Diversity Speakers
  • (131)
  • (8)
Stephen Drum

Stephen Drum is a highly regarded leadership and peak performance speaker, renowned for his extraordinary career as a Navy SEAL Master Chief with 27 years of combat-tested experience. As a distinguished figure in leadership development, Drum brings unparalleled expertise and insights to organizations and individuals seeking to excel in high-pressure environments. His transformative approach to […]

  • Travels from: Chicago, IL
  • Leadership Speakers
  • (75)
  • Featured
  • (1)
The Cara Brookins Show

Cara Brookins is a dynamic and inspiring motivational speaker known for her remarkable story of resilience, determination, and the power of self-reliance. As an author, builder, and keynote speaker, Cara captivates audiences with her unique journey of building a house from scratch using YouTube tutorials while raising her four children. Her story has been featured […]

  • Travels from: Little Rock, AR
  • Motivational Speakers
  • (53)

Jacob Morgan is a three time best-selling author, keynote speaker and futurist who explores the future of work and employee experience. His books include The Employee Experience Advantage (2017), The Future of Work (2014), The Collaborative Organization (2012), and his forthcoming book on the future of leadership which will be released towards the end of […]

  • Travels from: Calabasas, CA
  • Futurists Speakers
Disclaimer
The profiles and images embedded on these pages are from various conference entertainers and other talent.

These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by Speakers Inc.

Fee ranges where listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only.

All talent fees exclude VAT, travel and accommodation where required.

Subscribe to our Newsletter and get connected:

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated.

We use Brevo as our marketing platform. By submitting this form you agree that the personal data you provided will be transferred to Brevo for processing in accordance with Brevo's Privacy Policy.

Our Mission:

We are your partner creating memorable and engaging experiences that go beyond the event itself.

© All rights reserved 2025.  Designed using Voxel