A former RAF Tornado pilot is set to help entrepreneurs and decision makers reach for the sky at a business lunch.
Motivational speaker Mandy Hickson, who flew fast jets for the RAF for 17 years, is the inspirational guest speaker at the AFC Business directors’ lunch next month.
The Southampton-based former pilot will be flying high at the picturesque Harbour Heights Hotel, Sandbanks.
Up to 80 leading members of the central south region’s business community are expected to attend.
The July 4 lunch is the second such event organised by AFC Business, Premier League AFC Bournemouth’s commercial arm, and is again sponsored by international property company Savills, which among other things is the UK’s largest planning consultancy.
Savills acted as AFC Bournemouth’s planning consultant for the recent planning application for a new training complex at Canford Magna and for the renewal of planning permission for the Ted MacDougall stand at the club’s Vitality Stadium.
AFC Bournemouth partnerships manager Amy Marks said: “We are delighted to have someone of the calibre of the inspirational Mandy Hickson as our keynote speaker and grateful for the backing of Savills once again.
“Mandy was only the second woman to fly a Tornado GR4 on the front line, completing three tours of duty and 45 missions over Iraq.
“Mandy succeeded in a male dominated environment by being her own person and not by using the fact that she was female
“She draws on her unique experiences of flying in a front line Tornado Squadron within hostile environments to train and inspire others.”
“Mandy has inspired corporate audiences, women’s groups and schools on her approach to the building and empowerment of effective teams and inspired goal setting and ultimate focus.
“She also looks at decision making under extreme pressure, maintaining momentum despite losing top talent and nurturing a culture of self-confidence and aspiration.”
Karl Cradick, planning director with event sponsor Savills, said: “The AFC Business directors’ lunch provides a great opportunity to meet local business leaders in a convivial setting. Savills is delighted to continue its association with this event”.
AFC Business is AFC Bournemouth’s free-to-join business club which offers a host of benefits to its 1,600 members, such as attendance at regular events and breakfast networking meetings and enables the club to maintain a high profile in the business community.
AFC Business Breakfasts resume on Wednesday, September 5 after the summer break.
For details about AFC Business see www.afcb.co.uk/commercial-and-afc-business/afc-business