Alex MacPhail Podcast · 2023-08-16 · 49 min
Annabel has been flying Since 1999. She earned her Air Force Wings before learning to drive a car. Throughout her career, Annabel has been challenged to jump extra hurdles. President Nelson Mandela, knew not only her name, but also her parents names. Annabel has that effect on people. Her sparkling personality is warm, friendly and inviting, but don’t her charm confuse you. She is diligent hard-working and capable. Annabel was a Training Captain at the VIP, 21 Squadron of the SA Air Force. She continues to assist at the Squadron on a part time basis. Annabel is also a Captain at South African Airways, after serving the national carrier for 16 years. We had a frank discussion about the struggles of being a woman in a male dominated environment. While Annabel trained in the same Air Force that I did, we experienced it in a very different way. Small infringements during her training were met with questions about her ability. She regularly came up against the pressure of being female throughout her time serving her country. What changed for Annabel, was she stopped listening to the naysayers and carried on regardless. Easier said than done.
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