This month is Women’s History Month, an annual month that highlights the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. Aireon would like to honor the achievements of some of the great women at Aireon and look-ahead at the opportunities that await future generations. We’ve asked a handful of women at Aireon a few questions about their roles working in aviation, a primarily male-dominated industry. For our first post, we sat down with Denise Olmsted, Aireon’s General Counsel.
Denise Olmsted, General Counsel
What led you to be a lawyer?
I always enjoyed the process of negotiating with people. After law school, I started a job doing transactional work for high tech companies negotiating complex transactions. Ultimately, I went in house and was offered the opportunity to expand my knowledge beyond merely transactional work and provide legal advice to all aspects of the business.
What inspires you and why?
For me, inspiration comes more from what I can give back in doing my job. One of the things that drew me to Aireon was the overall mission of the company. How incredibly satisfying and inspirational to be able to support a business that provides the type of safety services we provide to not only air navigation service providers but also commercial entities.
What’s the most important piece of advice you would give to a woman starting a legal career?
In terms of advice for women starting a career in the legal field, I would encourage them to find the aspect of the law that they are passionate about and pursue that passion. Far too often I hear young people looking for make a career move that garners them more money. It’s not the money that will make you successful in your career but rather the pursuit of something that you are passionate about. With that passion, you will be a top performer, which will lead you to great opportunity and maybe even make you more money!
