065 Never Let Go of Your Dreams with Carole Hopson

When Women Fly

As a child, Carole Hopson spent hours lying on the grass in her grandparents’ backyard watching the planes arrive at Philadelphia International Airport. However, it took decades for Carole to pursue her dream of becoming a pilot. Today, Carole flies a Boeing 737 for United Airlines as a First Officer. Black women make up less than one percent of all certified pilots, and Carole is one of them.

Carole’s story is one of inspiration, bravery, chasing dreams, and taking risks. Before becoming a pilot, Carole spent decades working in various corporate careers from journalist to an executive-level employee in human resources. Carole stepped away from her corporate career to pursue her dream of flying, and it has taken her to places she couldn’t have imagined.

In this episode, Sylvia and Carole talk about Carole’s journey from corporate careers to commercial pilot, Carole shares the inspiration behind her book A Pair of Wings, Carole talks about her non-profit The Jet Black Foundation, and she discusses the importance of representation in aviation.

Topics Include:
- The history of Bessie Coleman’s life
- The process behind writing A Pair of Wings
- How Carole’s and Bessie Coleman’s stories parallel each other
- Career timeline and getting her commercial pilot’s license later in life
- What it’s like to be a female African American commercial pilot
- Experience gaining confidence as a minority operating a regional jet
- Relationship with the public as a minority pilot
- Family planning and motherhood
- Carole’s philanthropy, Jet Black Foundation, and the 100 pairs of wings initiative
- And other topics…

Carole Hopson flies a Boeing 737 for United Airlines as First Officer. Carole is also the author of the historical fiction novel A Pair of Wings (2021). Before her career as a pilot, Carole was a journalist, writing for publications such as the Philadelphia Inquirer, The Philadelphia Tribune, and the Bergen Record. In 2021, Carole founded The Jet Black Foundation, a non-profit with the mission to help diversify the aviation industry. The Jet Black Foundation is currently working on the 100 Pairs of Wings project, with the goal to increase the representation of women of color in the aviation industry.

Resources Mentioned:
A Pair of Wings by Carole Hopson: https://www.amazon.com/Pair-Wings-Inspired-Pioneer-Aviatrix/dp/173551117X
The Jet Black Foundation: https://www.jetblackfoundation.org/
Carole Hopson on Oprah’s Daily: https://www.oprahdaily.com/life/a37762199/pilot-career-change/
Sisters in Arms by Kaia Alderson: https://www.amazon.com/Sisters-Arms-Novel-Kaia-Alderson/dp/0062964585
Ladysitting by Lorene Cary: https://www.amazon.com/Ladysitting-Year-Nana-End-Century/dp/0393635880
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead: https://www.amazon.com/Nickel-Boys-Novel-Colson-Whitehead/dp/0385537077
Connect with Carole:
carolehopson.com
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