When Women Fly - 058 Little Plane Big Dreams with Earthrounder Sheasta Waiz - The Youngest Women to Fly Solo Around the World, the First Certified Female Civilian Pilot from Afghanistan, Mom, and Advocate for Women in STEM

058 Little Plane Big Dreams with Earthrounder Sheasta Waiz - The Youngest Women to Fly Solo Around the World, the First Certified Female Civilian Pilot from Afghanistan, Mom, and Advocate for Women in STEM

11/16/21 • 62 min

Shaesta Waiz flew around the world in a small aircraft. With a message. If you could circumnavigate the globe in an aircraft with one message, what would it be? This is a fascinating and unfolding story about rising from adversity and discovering what is possible.

Flying is closely linked to freedom and opportunity.

This week we talk to Shaesta Waiz, the first certified civilian female pilot from Afghanistan who's global flight earned her a record the youngest woman to fly solo around the world in a single engine aircraft. Shaesta has a burning desire to help others like her – underserved as a youth - to work hard, never give up and follow their dreams. As an Earthrounder (a unique and rare breed of pilot, setting themselves apart from the more conventional modes of air travel, possessing one unifying achievement: piloting a light aircraft around the entire world), Shaesta's story is layered with grit and determination alongside a deep desire to serve.

This is conversation about overcoming obstacles, creating opportunities, and pursuing your passions. Shaesta shares some of the realities and perceived limitations, as well as sense of responsibility to her immigrant family and sisters and especially women in Afghanistan.

Hear about Shaesta’s journey, her grace and commitment to serve, and how she uses her platform to inspire and encourage young women around the world to seek education in STEM and pursue their passions.

You will be inspired by this conversation for reasons you may predict and others you will be surprised by. What is so compelling and fascinating about gaining new perspectives and reaching beyond the pull of gravity? Enjoy and thank you Shaesta!

Topics Include:

Growing up as an Afghan refugee in the US
Gender roles and what she saw possible as a young girl
What sparked a love of flying
Why and how she planned her trip around the world
Highs, lows, endurance and lice
Challenges and doubts, trusting intuition
Mental health and aviation
Working towards a goal
Importance of STEM education and access for women
And other topics...

Shaesta Waiz was born in Afghanistan at a refugee camp during the Soviet-Afghan War in 1987. Her family came to the United States and grew up in California. Although it wasn't until graduating high school that Sheasta dreamed of an aviation career, she accomplished a great deal in short order. She is a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the first certified civilian female pilot from Afghanistan. She earned a record for being youngest woman to fly solo around the world in a single-engine aircraft. Shaesta is the founder of Dreams Soar, a woman’s ambassador program where young women interested in an education in aviation and engineering are mentored and supported.

Resources Mentioned:
Chicago Tribune Article: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1987-07-05-8702190664-story.html
Dreams Soar: http://dreamssoar.org/
Shaesta’s Podcast, “Aviate”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aviate-with-shaesta/id1577977608

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Email – [email protected]

Growing up as an Afghan refugee in the US
Gender roles and what she saw possible as a young girl
What sparked a love of flying
Why and how she planned her trip around the world
Highs, lows, endurance and lice
Challenges and doubts, trusting intuition
Mental health and aviation
Working towards a goal
Importance of STEM education and access for women
And other topics...

Previous Episode

057 On Taking Risks and Personal Transformation with Backcountry Badass Caite Zeliff - Pro Skier, Paraglider, and Twice Queen

This is the story of an athletic prodigy. It’s also the story of how setbacks become catalysts for change, how determination fuels a dream, and how a drive for adventure can evolve. And it is a story of risk-taking, mountain life, and personal reflection that characterize what it takes to ski and fly in the backcountry.

For pro-skier Caite Zeliff, the derailing of her career as a ski racer was an opportunity to reconnect with herself and become the athlete she was always meant to be. At 12, Caite Zeliff has started a ski racing career that brought her all over the world. She ascended, she earned a scholarship to a boarding school, she won titles, she received an invitation to the US Ski Team – and she also was rejected, blew out her knee, and burned out – all by age 20.
When the U.S. Ski Team invitation didn’t come, and she blew out her knee while racing for the University of New Hampshire, she left college and headed westward in search of big mountains and powder. It was in Jackson Hole, WY, where Caite found her true calling – freeskiing.
Paragliding. Thanks to COVID and an idea inspired by a soaring raven, Caite decided to learn to paraglide. She continually pushes herself to the edge of her comfort zone. Paragliding is a wild sport, one that challenges Caite in all kinds of ways. It requires slowing down and a constant awareness of the situation. Caite is constantly looking for challenge and currently obsessed with understanding how to strengthen the relationship with the wing, moving air and gravity.

This risk-taking mentality has built her a career as a professional freeskier. Beyond winning Jackson Hole’s Kings and Queens of Corbet’s twice, Caite has starred in films like Warren Miller’s Timeless (2019) and Teton Gravity Research's Make Believe (2020), and Stoke the Fire (2021).

Topics Include:

Caite’s journey from ski racer to professional freeskier
Viewing “failure” as an opportunity
Wrestling with an inner obsession for achievement
Shifting focus from the outcome to the process
Processing childhood
Taking risks and stepping out of comfort zones
Finding your voice as a female in a male-dominated industry
The transformational power of women supporting women
Learning to fly and a shifted mindset
And other topics...

Caite Zeliff grew up skiing in North Conway, New Hampshire. She now lives in Jackson Hole where her career as a professional freeskier began.
Resources Mentioned:
Caite’s Website: https://www.caitezeliff.com
Caite’s IG: @caitezeliff
Timeless, Warren Miller (2019): https://warrenmiller.com/film-archive/timeless-2019
Make Believe, Teton Gravity Research (2020): https://www.tetongravity.com/films/make-believe
Stoke the Fire, Teton Gravity Research (2021): https://www.tetongravity.com/films/stoke-the-fire
Powder Magazine: https://www.powder.com/stories/pro-deal-caite-zeliff/
Freeskier Magazine: https://freeskier.com/stories/jackson-royalty
Want to connect? Visit us online and signup for our weekly newsletter!
Website – https://www.whenwomenfly.com/
Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest – @whenwomenfly
Email – [email protected]

Next Episode

059 Ask Me Anything with Sylvia Winter on Growth, Guests, and Gratitude

Where is your growth edge? What action can you take today to push yourself outside of your comfort zone?
Sylvia takes questions from When Women Fly listeners in this first installment of the Ask Me Anything series. She explores finding your growth edge, stepping outside our comfort zone, and how committing to a practice that challenges us can push us towards growth.
Topics Include: