Speaking
Searching for a Speaker Who Connects with Your Audience and Delivers Lasting Impact?
Then you need someone who understands the unique challenges that aviation teams face every day.
Your event deserves more than a speaker who simply entertains. Gina M. Longo doesn’t just deliver a presentation... she creates a transformative experience.
By integrating compelling stories from the flight deck with aviation-based practical strategies that address the real-world pressures of decision-making, communication breakdowns, and team alignment, Gina equips attendees to think clearly, collaborate effectively, and perform under pressure when it matters most.
Why Should You Consider Gina For Your Next Event?
Because your event doesn’t need flash.
It needs impact.
With years of experience in aviation and team performance training, she brings calm authority, clear insights, and practical tools your audience can use immediately across their entire operation.
If your event calls for safety-first thinking and actionable takeaways that shift how internal aviation teams work together, then Gina is the speaker your audience needs.
Which talk will connect better with your audience?
Stress-Proof Teams:
Build Aviation Teams That Perform and Adapt Under Pressure
45 - 60 minutes | Strategic. Grounded. Team-Centric.
In aviation, proven procedures help ensure successful outcomes, but only collaborative, aligned teams carry them out under pressure.
In this strategic keynote, Gina M. Longo shows aviation executives how to build teams that are resilient by design, because in safety-critical environments, team cohesion, role clarity, and communication aren’t nice-to-haves... they’re operational requirements.
Traditional leadership development focuses on improving individual skills. This talk, however, is about how to structure team dynamics so execution is coordinated, trust is embedded, and performance is predictable, even in chaos.
You’ll learn how to build teams that thrive under pressure, not through motivational slogans, but through intentional design, feedback loops, and shared systems that mirror the discipline of the flight deck.
Perfect for aviation executives and operational leaders responsible for team alignment, trust, and high-pressure performance—especially in environments where failure isn’t an option.
The Silence That Crashes Planes:
Develop Teams That Speak Up, Work Aligned, and Stay Safe
45 - 60 minutes | Courageous. Candid. Human.
In aviation, silence isn’t golden. It’s dangerous. Some of the deadliest failures in flight history didn’t come from technical issues… they came from critical voices that weren’t heard until it was too late.
In this candid keynote, Gina M. Longo challenges aviation leaders to recognize that a safe culture can only be built when leaders don't hide behind titles and egos, and only when a focus on safety is modeled and reinforced across every team.
Going beyond the tired concepts of simply adding more policies or launching new “open door” initiatives, this talk focuses on equipping teams to speak up early, clearly, and without fear—because that’s how lives are protected and work gets done.
Drawing on real-world examples and Crew Resource Management (CRM) insights adapted for internal teams, Gina shows how to turn communication into a reliable safety system, not just a soft skill—and how to ensure that the truth gets told in time.
Perfect for aviation executives, operational leaders, and team-driven organizations focused on safety, alignment, and performance in high-risk environments.
AI at Altitude:
Equip Aviation Teams to Navigate in an AI-Driven World
45 - 60 minutes | Strategic. Operational. Collaborative.
Artificial Intelligence isn’t in the future... it’s already in your systems, your workflows, and your decision cycles. But without clear leadership and aligned teams, AI adoption can fracture communication, erode trust, and compromise safety-critical operations.
In this foundational keynote, Gina M. Longo reframes AI as a team transformation challenge. You’ll learn how to align your people, systems, and decision-making processes so AI becomes a force multiplier, not a source of chaos.
The focus now is about equipping cross-functional teams to adopt AI collaboratively, safely, and effectively—in ways that honor aviation’s core values of clarity, trust, and operational excellence—not about becoming “the tech person.”
You'll leave with a framework to reduce overwhelm, foster alignment across functions, and guide your teams to implement AI with confidence, coordination, and clarity.
Perfect for aviation executives, operational leaders, and team-based decision-makers navigating the complexity of AI transformation—especially in safety-critical environments.
Options at 30,000 Feet:
Align Teams Around Smart, Safe Decisions
45 - 60 minutes | Methodical. Collaborative. Strategic.
In the high-stakes aviation world, decisions are never made in isolation, and they’re never just about outcomes. They’re about safety, alignment, and execution under pressure.
In this discerning keynote, Gina M. Longo breaks down how high-reliability decisions are made and communicated across teams, so that everyone, from the boardroom to the operations floor, is thinking clearly and acting with aligned intent.
This isn’t a lesson in executive decisiveness. It’s a tactical framework for building decision-ready teams: teams that can spot risk early, determine truth quickly, and respond with clarity before a problem escalates.
With insights drawn from flight deck dynamics and CRM-based coordination, Gina shows how effective decision-making is a distributed system, not a solo act—and how to build the structures that support it across your entire organization.
Perfect for aviation executives, department heads, and operational leaders responsible for building team-based decision systems that support safety, alignment, and performance at every level.
Culture By Design:
Create Safety-First Teams Through Operational Culture Systems
45 - 60 minutes | Disciplined. Tactical. Trust-Driven.
In aviation, safety culture isn’t a mission statement. It’s a system. And that system either reinforces safety, communication, and accountability... or it quietly erodes them.
In this focused keynote, Gina M. Longo shows aviation leaders how to design and operationalize a team culture that strengthens trust, supports safety, and delivers consistent performance, especially under pressure.
This result comes from more than simply shifting people's mindsets. It comes from building team environments that create alignment across roles, construct safe feedback and feed-forward loops, and devise protocols where safety is more than just a box-ticking initiative—it's embedded into every system.
With processes grounded in CRM-inspired insights as well as practical examples, Gina reveals how consistent team-wide habits can build strong safety cultures.
Perfect for aviation executives and operational leaders tasked with building high-trust, safety-first team environments where performance is the product of culture, not chance.
Here's How We Can Benefit Your Audience
Gina has delivered talks and training sessions to participants from 21 countries and over 83 nationalities, giving her a strong foundation in cross-cultural communication. In the aviation industry, where clear, confident communication is mission-critical across borders, that experience makes a real difference.
She understands how to tailor her message to resonate with diverse teams, because there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach.
And uniquely, she brings human factors to life through both personal experience and CRM-inspired insights, aviation case studies, and real-world scenarios that demonstrate how culture, clarity, and communication shape safety outcomes for ground-based and corporate aviation teams.
Hover over each photo below to discover what you can expect when you work with us:
Transformation
Our superpower is transforming how teams work.
Beyond The Presentation... The Implementation Phase
"A great presentation sparks insight—implementation is what turns it into impact."
Not every speaker can shift gears from delivering a high-stakes talk to facilitating thoughtful, interactive training sessions... but Gina can.
Some speakers are great with small teams. Others shine on live stages. Gina does both, with a background that includes delivering high-impact talks to international audiences across industries and cultures.
While her roots are in aviation, her reach is global, and her ability to connect transcends borders. Whether she's addressing a departmental team or delivering a talk to a broader audience, Gina knows how to connect with people who take performance and safety seriously.
When you need a speaker, a session facilitator, or a specialized trainer, Gina meets the moment with precision and purpose.
Hover over each photo below to see how we can support your next event:
Keynote Presentations
When safety and team dynamics drive the mission, aviation audiences need more than a motivational speaker... they need someone who speaks their language. Gina delivers high-impact presentations grounded in real-world aviation and informed by the team psychology behind high-stakes performance. With clear takeaways and no hype, her sessions resonate with professionals who depend on trust, timing, and communication to get the job done.
Breakout Sessions
With her background in aviation training, Gina excels in breakout sessions where teams can think together, speak openly, and solve real problems. Whether extending a keynote or diving into focused topics like communication, decision-making, or AI collaboration, she creates space for clarity, trust, and tactical insight. Designed for groups who want to engage—not just listen—these sessions drive meaningful change through shared learning and immediate application.
Fireside Chats & Panel Discussions
Gina brings clarity, warmth, and real-world insight to every conversation. Whether weighing in on team dynamics, safety culture, or the evolving role of AI in aviation, she offers perspective without ego or jargon. Her style is thoughtful and composed, ideal for panels and fireside chats where the goal is insight, not showmanship. If you need a credible voice who understands how teams operate in high-stakes settings, Gina is ready to join the conversation.
Emcee & Event Hosting
While Gina doesn’t bill herself as a full-time emcee, she brings a calm, confident presence and a clear, engaging communication style to any event she supports. She’s co-hosted virtual summits, facilitated between-session conversations, and helped maintain flow and energy during multi-speaker programs. If you’re looking for a grounded, professional voice to help guide your event—not steal the spotlight—Gina can step in with warmth, ease, and polish.
FAQs
Where are you based?
I’m based in the Raleigh–Durham–Chapel Hill area of North Carolina, right in the heart of the Research Triangle, and I’ve delivered training and virtual talks to participants across the U.S., the U.K., and beyond.
Event planners often worry that a speaker’s location could limit options or drive up costs. That’s why I make travel and delivery straightforward: no matter where your event is located, I handle the logistics with the same calm, aviation-tested precision I bring to every stage.
(See also: "What’s your travel expenses policy?" and "How do you handle last-minute surprises?")
What's your speaking fee?
My speaking fee is flexible and tailored to your event—because every audience, format, and goal is different. Instead of preset price tags, we start with your objectives and design a package that delivers measurable impact for your aviation organization.
Event planners can be concerned about hidden costs or inflexible pricing. To remove that pressure, I base my fee on clear factors such as event size and scope, in-person vs. virtual delivery, the level of customization and prep, and any add-ons like Q&A sessions, panels, or team workshops.
We also account for travel logistics, which are explained in "What’s your travel expenses policy?"
(Related: "Do you require a deposit to hold a date?" and "What makes you a no-risk, no-brainer choice for my event?")
Do you speak 'pro bono'?
Sometimes, but I don't speak simply to get “exposure." (Exposure is what you die from or get arrested for). I normally don’t waive fees, but because I know that some events operate without a speaker budget, I’m open to creative, mutually beneficial arrangements when the fit is right.
If you’d like me to consider a pro-bono keynote or workshop, we’ll look for real value on both sides. High-value introductions to key industry leaders, travel and accommodations for a destination speaking opportunity, trade-booth space or high-visibility sponsorships, or other creative collaborations can all make sense. The goal is a win-win partnership that supports your event and respects the expertise I bring.
(See also: "What is your speaking fee?" and "Do you require a deposit to hold a date?")
What's your travel expenses policy?
Travel is straightforward and predictable. If I have to fly to an event, I simply ask that I be seated in business class so I can arrive rested, focused, and ready to deliver real value for your audience, along with a clean, quiet hotel near the venue and reasonable ground transport. All other expenses can follow your organization’s per diem policy or be submitted with receipts.
I keep everything transparent so there are no shocks to your budget. My schedule is flexible—early-morning or red-eye flights are fine if it helps reduce costs—and I don’t require luxury accommodations. We’ll confirm all details in advance to keep the process smooth and fair.
(Related: "What's your speaking fee?" and "How do you handle last-minute surprises?")
Do you require a deposit to hold a date?
Yes. A non-refundable 30 percent deposit secures your event date and locks it into my calendar. The remaining balance is typically due 14 days before the event, unless we agree on different timing.
I understand that the idea of putting down a deposit can feel risky, but this policy actually protects both of us, because it guarantees your date and it ensures that I can focus my time and preparation exclusively on your event.
If plans change, I’m happy to apply the deposit to a rescheduled date as long as we work it out in good faith and with reasonable notice.
(For related details on budgeting and risk-free planning, see: "What's your speaking fee?" and "What's your travel expenses policy?")
How do you handle last-minute surprises?
Unexpected changes don’t rattle me—they bring out my best. Aviation teaches you to plan thoroughly, adapt quickly, and stay calm under pressure, and I bring the same mindset to every event.
Here’s how that plays out when things don’t go as planned:
● I arrive early. If travel’s involved, I build in buffer time so I’m rested, ready, and not in transit when I should be on stage.
● I adapt on the fly. Need me to go longer, shorter, or shift the focus midstream? No problem. I stay aligned with your event goals while adjusting in real time.
● I keep things grounded, even if the tech crashes. (Because if it hasn’t yet, it will.) If the mic dies or slides disappear, I carry on, because my interactive, story-driven style connects without relying on slides.
● I bring grace and humor. Unscripted moments aren’t disruptions; they’re chances to show flexibility and keep the audience engaged.
● I reschedule if needed. If your event is postponed, we’ll find a new date and work out a fair solution. (See: "Do you require a deposit to hold a date?")
Bottom line? I’m not just prepared—I’m calm and confident under pressure. In fact, I’m calmfident... and I even have the trademark to prove it! You can breathe easy, knowing your speaker is ready for the unexpected.
(See also: "What’s your travel expenses policy?" and "What if something goes wrong?" for related logistics and contingency planning.)
What types of event do you specialize in?
I focus on events where team communication, operational trust, and aligned execution drive results, especially in high-stakes aviation environments.
My primary areas of interest are aviation safety and culture conferences, team retreats and offsites, and bringing human factors to life at human-factors and team-dynamics events. I can also partner with aviation companies for in-house corporate training that breaks silos and improves cross-functional performance.
Formats include deep-dive team trainings and breakout sessions, panel moderation and strategic facilitation, and targeted presentations built around Crew Resource Management (CRM) principles and real-world aviation case studies
In addition, each session is carefully designed for practical takeaways that strengthen communication and safety culture.
(For related details on preparation and delivery, see "What's your process for preparing for an event? and "How do you handle last-minute surprises?")
Can you help us increase attendance?
When your event succeeds, we both succeed, so I’m happy to support attendance goals in ways that make sense for my role and my brand.
Here’s how I can help you build visibility and engagement:
• Promotional video. I can record a short, professional invite video to generate buzz and give potential attendees a reason to show up.
• Collaborative content. Need a quote, blog blurb, or podcast interview to position the event? Just say the word.
• On-site engagement. I’ll be present, accessible, and fully engaged with attendees before and after I speak to keep momentum high.
No gimmicks, no over-promising—just solid, professional support that aligns with your event’s goals.
(For related details on preparation and day-of flexibility, see "What's your process for preparing for an event?" and "How do you handle last-minute surprises?")
What's your process for preparing for an event?
I prepare for every keynote the way I prepared for every flight: I plan thoroughly, execute with precision, and stay ready to adapt.
Here’s how that looks in practice:
Pre-Event Prep:
• Discovery call. We clarify your audience, goals, and key challenges so the talk is built for your event.
• Aviation-focused research. I dive into current issues in your sector to speak your language and address real concerns.
• Tailored content. I weave in relevant case studies and stories so the session feels custom-made, not canned.
Talk Development & Delivery:
• Interactive design. Questions, stories, and real-world aviation scenarios keep people engaged and thinking.
• Clean visuals. Slides, if used, stay simple and focused—never a distraction.
• Early arrival & tech check. I arrive early, meet your AV team, and handle setup so there are no surprises.
Post-Event Support:
• Follow-up options. Q&A, panels, or action-oriented handouts can keep momentum high if desired.
This mission-style process ensures a seamless, high-impact presentation that resonates with aviation professionals and supports your event goals.
(For related details, see "How do you handle last-minute surprises?" and "Can you help us increase attendance?")
What's your policy on promoting your own products or services during the presentation?
My priority on stage is to serve—not to sell.
When I’m speaking at your event, I’m there to deliver actionable insights, spark meaningful change, and elevate the experience for your audience, not to pitch programs or promote services.
If attendees want to stay connected afterward or explore additional training, I’m always happy to provide those details—but only by request or with your approval. I’ll never promote from the stage unless you’ve asked me to include specific resources as part of the event experience.
Bottom line: I’m not there to sell. I’m there to deliver.
(For related details on how I keep the spotlight on your audience—not on selling—see "What's your speaking fee?" and "What makes you a no-risk, no-brainer choice for my event?")
What if you're difficult to work with?
You won’t have to worry about that. I show up prepared, professional, and easy to work with—no diva behavior, no drama, and no chasing me for deliverables.
Years of airline and professional training have taught me to plan meticulously, communicate clearly, and meet every deadline. From early arrival and tech checks to flexible scheduling and quick responses, my goal is to make your job easier, not harder.
(For more on how I reduce risk and keep events stress-free, see "What's your process for preparing for an event?" and "What makes you a no-risk, no-brainer choice for my event?")
What if something goes wrong?
I’ve spent my career in an industry where failure isn’t an option, so I plan ahead, adapt fast, and stay calm under pressure. Whether it’s a tech hiccup or a schedule shakeup, I handle it with professionalism, grace, and a sense of humor, so you never have to stress.
Behind the scenes, that means early arrival, built-in buffer time, and close coordination with your AV team. On stage, it means staying fully present and interactive even if slides or mics fail. I simply carry on and keep the audience engaged.
(For more on how I prevent issues before they start and keep the program smooth, see "How do you handle last-minute surprises?")
How do I justify this cost to my boss/board?
This isn’t a luxury; it’s a strategic investment in performance, alignment, and risk reduction—especially in today’s unsettled economy. In aviation, rising operating costs, supply chain volatility, and ongoing regulatory changes all increase the cost of miscommunication and team misalignment. Outside expertise helps teams adapt faster, avoid costly errors, and protect the bottom line when margins are tight.
If your leadership needs a solid business case, I can help you build it. Together we’ll outline measurable outcomes—improved safety culture, clearer decision-making, and stronger cross-functional collaboration—that translate directly into financial value. Investing now means equipping your teams to thrive in a challenging market instead of playing catch-up later.
(For related details on how I keep engagements cost-predictable and low-risk, see "What's your speaking fee?", "Do you require a deposit to hold a date?", and "What makes you a no-risk, no-brainer choice for my event?")
