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...

  • (31)
  • (9)
Lorne Sulcas 6

Lorne Sulcas, widely recognized as “The Big Cat Guy,” is a leading figure in motivational and wildlife speaking. His compelling presentations captivate audiences around the globe, blending his profound knowledge of big cats with inspiring messages about leadership, resilience, and conservation. Lorne’s ability to communicate complex ideas through engaging storytelling makes him a highly sought-after […]

  • Travels from: Los Angeles, CA
  • Motivational Speakers
  • (39)
Diana Kander

Diana Kander stands at the forefront of innovation, challenging conventional wisdom and sparking curiosity in the hearts of business leaders worldwide. As a New York Times best-selling author, innovation consultant, and captivating keynote speaker, Diana doesn’t just ask big questions; she ignites the imagination of her audiences, encouraging them to rethink the very essence of […]

  • Travels from: Kansas City, MO
  • Innovation Speakers
  • (38)
Daymond John

Daymond John has come a long way from turning a $40 budget into FUBU, a $6 billion fashion game-changer. Throughout his career, Daymond has continued to be an entrepreneur in every sense of the word. He is not only a pioneer in the fashion industry but a Shark on the 4-time Emmy Award winning Shark […]

  • Travels from: New York, NY
  • Leadership Speakers
  • (23)

Gregory Offner is a multi-talented individual, with a passion for entertaining and educating others. His keynotes, workshops, and corporate consulting engagements help the worlds leading organizations create high performing, highly fulfilled leaders.  Prior to this work, Greg led global sales and marketing efforts for several Fortune 100 organizations; brokered complex Risk Management and Insurance programs for large […]

  • Travels from: Philadelphia, PA
  • Culture Speakers
  • (19)
Troy Hazard

Troy Hazard stands as a seasoned navigator, having weathered storms of both failure and triumph. With a track record spanning over two decades, he epitomizes resilience and entrepreneurial acumen, having founded and cultivated twelve ventures. From the brink of financial ruin to the pinnacles of success, Hazard’s journey embodies the essence of strategic risk-taking and […]

  • Travels from: Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • Leadership Speakers
  • (108)
Kristen Ziman - Hollow Bunny Leadership Podcast

Kristen Ziman’s career in law enforcement began with the Aurora Police Department, where she rose through the ranks to become Chief of Police. In her tenure, she spearheaded numerous initiatives that enhanced public safety, strengthened community relations, and improved organizational efficiency. Under her leadership, Aurora’s policing strategies evolved to embrace modern, forward-thinking approaches, prioritizing collaboration, […]

  • Travels from: Naples, FL
  • Leadership Speakers
  • (26)
Linda Edgecombe

Linda Edgecombe is a change and leadership expert, Hall of Fame speaker, award-winning celebrity humorist, award-winning philanthropist, and bestselling author. With 30+ years of experience, Linda’s mission is to get people fired up and ready to shift! She passionately promises to deliver programs that create powerful shifts for inspired, energized and accountable professionals who show up everyday […]

  • Travels from: Kelowna, BC
  • Leadership Speakers
  • (25)
Michael Veltri

Michael Veltri is a battle-tested warrior, both in the boardroom and in the competitive world of martial arts.  He is the founder and CEO of one of the largest martial arts academies on the east coast, serving a who’s who of Washington, DC’s elite. Over three decades, he has built, scaled, and sold his own companies and is […]

  • Travels from: Los Angeles, CA
  • Leadership 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