To celebrate International Women’s Day at Chapman Freeborn we are shining a spotlight on women in aviation and the huge variety of roles available in the industry. Our Celebrating Women in Aviation series holds space for the experiences of our wonderful colleagues, giving you an insight into their roles, how they got to where they are today and their advice for other women and girls considering a career in the aviation industry.
Carol Carini has worked in the aviation for almost 2 years, since joining Chapman Freeborn as Group PR & Communications Manager. Prior to that she worked as a marketing professional in financial services and the tech industry. However, she has always loved to travel and remembers flying to Italy as a young girl and even at 6 years old paying special attention to the livery and logo of the Alitalia aircraft, “Maybe I was always destined to work in aviation marketing!” Her dad used to take her to Gatwick airport on Sunday afternoons and together they would watch the planes take off and talk about all the places to visit around the world.
This carried through to her adult life; Carol makes travel a priority and has passed this down to her son, who had flown 12 times by the time he was two years old!
Carol’s role at Chapman Freeborn “is to develop and strengthen the brand globally across the Group, and to drive public relation activities to raise the profile of the company. I head up all the brands and communications, which means my role is very diverse and interesting”.
No two days are the same for Carol, and it is this that she finds so exciting; “One day I can be working on a story about cargo and the next I’m talking to a journalist about our passenger and VIP travel or directing a photoshoot at an airport.” Carol has a passion for horses, so she particularly loves working with Intradco Global, the animal transport subsidiary of the Group. “I love it when I have the chance to attend an operation of transporting equines. One of my favourite projects was directing a video and photoshoot about flying horses”.
Carol believes that there is a lack of information out there on the huge variety of roles in the aviation industry, and by educating people on this we can combat the gender stereotypes that make some people believe working in aviation is typically a man’s role, “There needs to be a focus on getting women into the industry and showing them that there are so many other positions available beside the ones that initially spring to mind, such as being a pilot or a flight attendant”.
“It’s exciting and challenging and every day is different – in air chartering we are often responding to urgent requests, and the operations of are always so interesting and varied. Aviation professionals are so passionate about what they do, and it rubs off on you”. “On my first day joining Chapman Freeborn a colleague said to me now you are in the aviation industry you will get ‘the bug’ and you will never leave it! I think that is very true, I can’t imagine working in any other industry now!”
When asked what message she would send to young girls and women who are considering a career in aviation, Carol said, “You can do anything that you put your mind to! Be brave and don’t be put off by setbacks – shake yourself off and try again. Take time to really research the industry and what would fit your skillset – there are so many roles in aviation; not just the traditional ones that come to mind. For instance, my profession is marketing but applied to the aviation industry. Try to do something you love and have a passion for. The rest will follow.”