How a young female pilot found the courage to fly

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Today we’re talking about how to persevere on a career path when the odds are stacked against you. Mardi Tan, of Long Beach, California, shares her incredible journey to pursue a career in aviation, an industry in which less than 5% of pilots are women. Her Buddhist practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo helped her navigate being a woman, being out, and overcoming every obstacle that came her way in order to open a path for other female pilots.

CHEAT SHEET

0:47 How Mardi starting practicing Buddhism

6:45 Discovering her dream to become a pilot

14:25 How chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo helped her navigate fear

18:26 What it took for her to bring her authentic self to a male-dominated industry

21:22 How she dealt with discrimination

28:04 The Buddhist concept that helped her persevere

30:44 The ups and downs that almost made her give up

38:17 How lifting up others helped her keep going

40:19 Her vision for the future of aviation

41:46 Advice for anyone struggling to pursue their dream

References:

• Discussions on Youth, p. 105