Fly Girls' Guide to Aviation Careers
Hosted by aviation CEO, FAA board alum, and high-performance business coach René Banglesdorf, Fly Girls’ Guide is the go-to podcast for women who want to launch, grow, or pivot their careers in aviation.
From the cockpit to the control tower, you’ll hear candid conversations with female pilots, mechanics, executives, air traffic controllers, and more—each sharing their stories, struggles, and the bold moves that got them where they are.
Whether you’re just discovering the skies or already leading at 30,000 feet, this show will equip you with real mentorship, practical insights, and the inspiration to chart your own course in the aviation industry.
Let’s build the future of aviation together—one Fly Girl at a time.
Fly Girls' Guide to Aviation Careers
Logistics to International Safety to Leading 28,000 Flight Attendants: Bobbi Wells
In this episode of the Fly Girls’ Guide Podcast, René talks with Bobbi Wells, Vice President of Inflight at American Airlines, where she leads a team of 28,000 flight attendants and hundreds of support staff. Bobbi reflects on her career path—from Army service to head of safety at FedEx to a major passenger airline—and what it takes to lead at the highest levels of the aviation industry.
Tune in as they discuss:
- Bobbi’s path from the Army and FedEx into passenger airline leadership
- How flight attendants balance safety, customer care, and resilience
- The unique regulatory and safety demands of aviation careers
- Leadership lessons: empathy, vision, and setting a clear direction
- Why saying yes to hard opportunities is the key to growth
Her story is proof that aviation offers not only technical careers, but opportunities to lead, influence, and leave a lasting impact on people and the industry for decades to come.
About Bobbi Wells
Bobbi Wells is Vice President of Inflight and oversees American’s nearly 27,000 flight attendants and the Inflight Operations, Training, Strategy, and Support teams that help them care for customers around the world.
Previously, Bobbi was Vice President of Safety Systems, Efficiency and Compliance, where she oversaw American's safety systems with a focus on managing risk through design, science and innovation.
Before joining American in 2021, Bobbi was Vice President of Safety and Airworthiness in Air Operations at FedEx. She held several leadership roles during her more than 25 years at the carrier. Bobbi started her career in the U.S. Army and spent more than a decade as a transportation and logistics officer leading logistical support for 30,000 troops based in Germany.
Bobbi is past-Chair of the Flight Safety Foundation Board of Governors and serves on the Industry Advisory Board for the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety. She is also a member of the MITRE Aviation Advisory Committee and the IATA Operations Advisory Council.
Bobbi spends much of her time finding ways to support, develop and advocate for women in aviation. She is a past president of the International Aerospace Women's Association and formerly served on the Department of Transportation's Women in Aviation Advisory Board.
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Save your free seat for the Virtual Aviation Career Fair, November 8, 2025. Go to https://weareflygirls.com/careers to register now!
Connect with Us
Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss future stories from women shaping the skies. And if you enjoyed today’s episode, leave a review and share it with a friend. It’s one of the best ways to help us grow the Fly Girls’ Guide community!
https://weareflygirls.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/weareflygirls/
https://www.instagram.com/weareflygirls_
https://www.facebook.com/weareflygirls
https://www.youtube.com/@weareflygirls