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The Cost of Silence: DEI Rollbacks, Safety, and the Future of Aviation with Dr. Kimberly Perkins

Hear directly from the women leading and shaping the aviation and aerospace industry.

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In this episode, host Shaesta Waiz speaks with Dr. Kimberly Perkins—787 airline pilot, research scientist at the University of Washington, and fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society—about the rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion in aviation and why it matters for safety, innovation, and the next generation.

Kimberly shares how DEI was often treated as a branding campaign rather than systemic change, why psychological safety is inseparable from operational safety, and how silence in the cockpit or boardroom leads to risk. She explains why inclusion should be embedded into pilot training as a required competency, why emotional intelligence belongs alongside technical skill, and how leaders can shift from “I-frame” individual fixes to “S-frame” system solutions.

They discuss how DEI rollbacks reveal which organizations were truly committed, why allyship must extend to all—including men in positions of power—and the fatigue marginalized groups feel carrying the burden of proof. Kimberly closes with practical “micro-allyship” actions and advice for young women in aviation: don’t conform or gaslight, strive to be an ally, and use small, consistent acts of inclusion to reshape the system itself.

Chapter Breakdown

  • 00:00 | Opening Reflections on DEI Rollbacks
  • 01:34 | Season Seven Recap & Why This Conversation
  • 04:44 | Introducing Dr. Kimberly Perkins
  • 06:08 | Was DEI Ever on Solid Ground?
  • 09:20 | Safety, Innovation, and Silencing Voices
  • 12:41 | Psychological Safety in Aviation Teams
  • 14:21 | From I-Frame to S-Frame: Systemic Solutions
  • 17:33 | Allyship, Fatigue, and the Burden of Proof
  • 21:21 | Message to Young Women Entering Aviation
  • 24:26 | Micro-Allyship Toolkit: Small Acts, Big Change
  • 27:15 | Rollbacks, Military Aviation, and Funding Gaps
  • 30:46 | Final Thoughts and Call to Collective Action

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