Reaching new heights: Shadi Nkgwe slays in mostly male aviation industry
- Shadigolo is from Soweto and obtained a commercial pilots license and drone license
- She hopes to open up opportunities in male-dominated mining-aviation industry
- She fell in love with flying when visiting her mother who worked in the US
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The South African Civil Aviation Authority took to social media to express their pride at commercial pilot, Shadigolo Thato Nkgwe’s achievements and to praise her for her aviation excellence.
The 24-year-old pilot from Rockville, Soweto obtained her Commercial Pilots License in 2016. Wanting to fly a little higher, she went on to get her drone license the next year, Briefly.co.za learned.
Shadi, as she is fondly called, hopes that with her drone license, she will be exposed to a world of opportunities in the mining-aviation industry.
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“Operating drones and being exposed to the mining industry and witnessing the perfect marrying of construction, mining and aviation, has widened my knowledge even further and challenged me to even greater obstacles being a black woman in male dominated industries.”
Shadi was inspired by her mother who she describes as independent and ambitious and was a nurse in the US. Shadi always dreamt of flying in an air plane to go visit her mom because she didn’t have the chance to see her often.She fell in love with aviation technology during the flights she and her brother would take to visit her mom.
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Shadi’s challenging circumstance led to her becoming a successful pilot and pioneer for black women in the industry.
Shadi first flew a light aircraft when she was only in grade 11. She says from that moment, she knew that flying was her passion.
Speaking about being a women in a male-dominated industry, Shadi says, "Being in these industries has been exciting and very liberating for me as I am a feminist at heart and a strong advocate for gender equality”.
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Source: Briefly News
