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Keynote SpeakerRosie Steevenson

Former Tornado Navigator, Keynote Speaker, Helping Leaders Thrive Under Pressure, From Cockpit to Boardroom, Trustee

Topics

Popular Talks

Communication is Key
Flightpath Thinking: Navigating Workload & Awareness
The Fatigue Horizon: Spotting Stress before the Stall
Altitude Shift: Rising Above self-doubt
The Human Cockpit: Seeing the Bigger System

More talks

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Biography

Rosie Steevenson is a former fast jet navigator whose career was shaped as much by resilience as by ambition. Inspired to fly from a young age, she held an unshakeable belief that she belonged in the cockpit. That belief was put to the test when the RAF informed her that her petite stature meant she was too small to fly fast jets. Rather than allowing a physical measurement to define her future, Rosie adapted her route to the same destination.

Undeterred, she reapplied as a navigator and embarked on years of demanding training, where she learned to confront self-doubt, recover from setbacks and perform under intense pressure. Her perseverance paid off when she found herself flying supersonic in a £30 million fighter jet, operating at the sharp end of military aviation alongside fellow fast jet pilot, Helen.

Today, Rosie brings these lived experiences into the world of leadership and high performance across a wide-range of industries. She advises at Board level as a Non-Executive Director and Trustee and gained a MSc in Human Factors and Behavioural Change. Combining lessons from fast jet operations with her vast industry experience, she speaks with authenticity about confidence, trust, communication and decision-making in high-stakes environments. Her talks resonate with leaders and teams navigating change, pressure and complexity, offering practical tools and powerful insights that translate directly into the workplace.

Rosie’s story is not just about aviation – it’s about mindset, adaptability and what becomes possible when individuals and teams refuse to let limitations define their mission.

Rosie Steevenson and Helen Seymour (pioneering former RAF fast jet crew) often conduct joint sessions together. Their dual perspective, pilot and navigator, delivers powerful, real-world insights into leadership, resilience and high performance from one of the most elite environments in the world.

“Wow – as organisers, pitching the keynote talk at any major event is no small undertaking, and Helen and Rosie did not disappoint! An incredible and fascinating insight into their world and their experience of “performing under pressure” translated powerfully into the challenges we face in our own business world. It was truly inspiring to hear from two outstanding female speakers whose experiences and perspectives will resonate deeply with all in our business who aspire to succeed and be leaders of the future. They were a pleasure to work with and I’m delighted we will be working on more activity together in the future.” Chief Marketing Officer, Bishop Fleming LLP

“I had the amazing opportunity to hear from Rosie and Helen and the incredible journey they have been on. As part of my role at BFY, I help leaders unlock their potential in a corporate environment, we identified the transferable skills and experience these guys have. What resonated most with the 300 people they spoke to (across multiple talks) was the relatability. Their resilience in the face of adversity, their relentless pursuit of excellence and their ability to train hard and fight easy. This has real and tangible transferable skills into the modern corporate world. I would highly recommend Rosie and Helen to help your organisation unlock the potential in your leaders, and see a unique perspective, that is highly engaging, interactive, and authentic.” Senior Manager BFY Group

“We booked On A Mission because Helen’s inspirational story translated perfectly to where our graduates were in their journey. It met them with meaning, lifted their confidence, and sent them into their next chapter fully energised and inspired. The mission was completed.” Talent Development Executive, BAT

“Rosie delivered an outstanding Amy Johnson Lecture at the Royal Aeronautical Society. This prestigious annual event celebrates the women shaping the future of aviation, as Amy did, providing a platform to share their experiences and inspire the next generation of trailblazers. Rosie truly embodied the spirit of Amy Johnson, sharing the mentors and inspiration that guided her journey to becoming one of the few female RAF fast jet aircrew. She also spoke candidly about overcoming systemic biases to excel in her role and transition into a career as a human performance expert. A thought-provoking and inspiring keynote speaker, Rosie’s story resonates with a wide range of audiences. Highly recommended!” Chair of the RAeS Women in Aviation, Aerospace and Space Committee

“We engaged Helen and Rosie as our keynote speakers for our law firm’s annual ‘All Firm Meeting’. It can be a challenge finding a speaker that appeals to a relatively diverse audience, but Helen and Rosie absolutely nailed it. They are inspirational, relatable, funny and also clearly incredibly brave – we only wished we had more time with them!” Marketing Director, Lodders Solicitors LLP

Popular Talks by Rosie Steevenson

Communication is Key
Effective communication underpins operational success; from understanding what communication truly is to recognising how perception, expectation and hearing biases can distort reality. Using fast jet practices, participants learn the power of structured briefing and debriefing, practical tools to strengthen team learning, and a NASA developed method for escalating concerns when...

Effective communication underpins operational success; from understanding what communication truly is to recognising how perception, expectation and hearing biases can distort reality. Using fast jet practices, participants learn the power of structured briefing and debriefing, practical tools to strengthen team learning, and a NASA developed method for escalating concerns when speaking up feels difficult. The session equips teams with clearer mental models, stronger shared awareness and the confidence to communicate when it matters most
Flightpath Thinking: Navigating Workload & Awareness
Sharing mental models reduces errors and rework. Individuals and teams build stronger situational awareness by understanding workload, multitasking limits and the human factors that shape perception and decision making. Participants examine how illusions, memory limitations and cognitive biases can distort reality, and learn practical tools to manage workload and optimise...

Sharing mental models reduces errors and rework. Individuals and teams build stronger situational awareness by understanding workload, multitasking limits and the human factors that shape perception and decision making. Participants examine how illusions, memory limitations and cognitive biases can distort reality, and learn practical tools to manage workload and optimise decisions under pressure. The session equips teams with sharper awareness, better judgement and the skills to perform more effectively in high-stakes environments.
The Fatigue Horizon: Spotting Stress before the Stall
Improving reliability, safety and wellbeing are key to operational success. This workshop explores how individuals and teams can recognise, manage and mitigate stress to protect wellbeing and improve performance. Participants learn how to harness stress positively, understand the risks of fatigue, and address the impact of incivility on morale and...

Improving reliability, safety and wellbeing are key to operational success. This workshop explores how individuals and teams can recognise, manage and mitigate stress to protect wellbeing and improve performance. Participants learn how to harness stress positively, understand the risks of fatigue, and address the impact of incivility on morale and outcomes. The session also examines why people push through exhaustion and offers practical strategies, at both individual and organisational levels, to create healthier, more sustainable ways of working.
Altitude Shift: Rising Above self-doubt
This interactive workshop helps participants understand the difference between Imposter Syndrome and low confidence, while identifying personal triggers, unhelpful thought patterns, and high-pressure situations. Attendees learn practical strategies to challenge negative self-perception, strengthen day-to-day confidence and self-belief, and cultivate a supportive mindset and community. Ideal for professionals seeking to thrive...

This interactive workshop helps participants understand the difference between Imposter Syndrome and low confidence, while identifying personal triggers, unhelpful thought patterns, and high-pressure situations. Attendees learn practical strategies to challenge negative self-perception, strengthen day-to-day confidence and self-belief, and cultivate a supportive mindset and community. Ideal for professionals seeking to thrive under pressure, the session combines insight with actionable tools for lasting impact leaving Teams feeling more empowered, supported and capable.
The Human Cockpit: Seeing the Bigger System
This workshop introduces the core principles of human factors and system safety, helping participants understand the limits of human performance and how to manage them more effectively. Through a practical systems engineering tool, attendees explore how to optimise both work performance and personal wellbeing by designing safer, smarter and more...

This workshop introduces the core principles of human factors and system safety, helping participants understand the limits of human performance and how to manage them more effectively. Through a practical systems engineering tool, attendees explore how to optimise both work performance and personal wellbeing by designing safer, smarter and more supportive ways of working.
Consistency in the Cockpit: SOPs for Better Outcomes
This workshop explores how checklists and SOPs enhance safety and decision making in high risk, high stakes environments. Participants learn how to design, optimise and maintain effective checklists that streamline processes, reduce error and free up capacity for complex tasks. Through real case studies, including examples from the cockpit, the...

This workshop explores how checklists and SOPs enhance safety and decision making in high risk, high stakes environments. Participants learn how to design, optimise and maintain effective checklists that streamline processes, reduce error and free up capacity for complex tasks. Through real case studies, including examples from the cockpit, the session brings the theory to life, showing how simple, well-crafted tools can save lives and transform performance in high-risk business settings.
Mission Ready: Turning Tasks into Tactics
This workshop gives teams a hands-on opportunity to put into practise a decision-making tool through a scenario-based exercise. It consolidates key principles from previous sessions, allowing participants to deliver both a brief and a debrief in a realistic, supportive environment. Facilitators provide targeted feedback throughout to maximise learning and strengthen...

This workshop gives teams a hands-on opportunity to put into practise a decision-making tool through a scenario-based exercise. It consolidates key principles from previous sessions, allowing participants to deliver both a brief and a debrief in a realistic, supportive environment. Facilitators provide targeted feedback throughout to maximise learning and strengthen operational performance.
Performing Under Pressure
In this high-impact keynote, Helen and Rosie draw on their careers as RAF fast jet aircrew to reveal what it really takes to perform under pressure. They share how trust is built and sustained in environments where teamwork is non-negotiable, and introduce the principle of train hard, fight easy, the...

In this high-impact keynote, Helen and Rosie draw on their careers as RAF fast jet aircrew to reveal what it really takes to perform under pressure. They share how trust is built and sustained in environments where teamwork is non-negotiable, and introduce the principle of train hard, fight easy, the mindset that allowed them to normalise scrutiny, adapt to change and develop genuine resilience.

Audiences are taken inside the fast jet mission cycle: from briefing to ensure mental models are shared, to planning with clarity, to executing with agility, and finally to the debrief, the place where real learning happens. Helen and Rosie also explore stress management, the power of anticipating “whatifs,” and the importance of wingman culture: knowing someone has your back, even when you’re not in the room.

The result is a practical and unforgettable look at how elite teams stay focused, agile and effective when the stakes are high.