Dawn Whyte is an aviation career coach who excels in resilience training. She is known for her work assisting individuals in navigating stressful situations with confidence and determination. With 35 years of experience as a successful air traffic controller, Dawn leverages her personal story to connect and inspire others to embrace life challenges with renewed optimism and intention. Faced with an unexpected and life-changing job change when she least expected it, she seized the opportunity to create a role focused on promoting mental health and wellness in aviation. Dawn's unique perspective has made her a trailblazer in aviation and a trusted voice of reason in an ever-changing industry.
Dawn Whyte, Career Coach
Introduce yourself! Please tell us about you and your life so we can get to know you better.
From the age of 12, I knew I wanted to be an air traffic controller. Although I did not fully grasp the complexities of the job back then, I have been fortunate to find it more rewarding than I ever imagined. Over the years, I have discovered that staying physically active is one of the best ways to manage the stress and challenges of the job. I started running in my thirties and have not stopped since. I love anything cardio related: spin classes, running, or aerobics. After I finish a workout, I feel like I can do anything. During my time off, you can find me golfing, playing tennis, or skiing, depending on the season. I enjoy learning new things, whether it is exploring technology, mastering card games, or trying out new recipes in the kitchen. Mornings are my favourite time of day, as the world is still waking up, and I can savor a few peaceful moments with a cup of tea and mentally prepare for the day.
I have a wonderful 15-year-old daughter who keeps my husband and me on our toes. As a family, we travel as much as possible, which can be a challenge with two shift workers (my husband is an air traffic controller as well) and a teenager in high school. My favourite place on earth is Hawaii – no other place smells as heavenly. As I near the end of my ATC career, I am excited about the future and the opportunities that lie ahead. I look forward to embracing new challenges as my business evolves and for the growth that comes with it.
What inspired you to transition from a 30-year career as an air traffic controller to becoming an aviation career coach?
It was not what I had planned. Although I always dreamed of doing something else, I was quite comfortable in my air traffic control career and was not actively preparing for the future. In 2020, I had a lead role in Air Traffic Management, a role I loved. Traffic management involves strategically managing air traffic flow to ensure safety and efficiency when demand for air travel exceeds the systems and air traffic controllers’ ability to handle it. You collaborate closely with air carriers and airports to ensure the safety and efficiency of the system by optimizing existing resources. Then COVID happened, and overnight, the demand dropped drastically, leading to the loss of my role. It was a challenging period for me. While I had always considered myself resilient, my reaction to losing my job proved otherwise. I felt lost, angry, and undervalued. The safety and comfort of my job were gone, leaving me questioning my identity and my worth.
I decided to go back to school and became a certified life coach, a journey that led me to rediscover my values and find what truly mattered to me. My transition from air traffic controller to aviation career coach was unexpected and emerged during my time in college. I felt that integrating emotional intelligence with air traffic control and other aviation professions was an uncharted opportunity with immense potential to enhance culture, system safety, and employee mental wellness. Throughout my career, I have faced challenges, and I know others share the same experience. Despite aviation being at the forefront of technology, it lacks leadership in human wellness, and I aim to change that. Looking back, I am incredibly grateful for the turn my career took. It has allowed me to find my true calling and passion in helping others fuse technical expertise with emotional intelligence to foster personal and professional growth.
How has your experience in air traffic services influenced your approach to coaching aviation professionals?
I understand the challenging aviation culture that exists. When a client comes to me saying they are struggling to cope, I can relate. The prevalent “suck it up” mentality is not healthy, but when mental health has never been a priority, it is understandable how such a culture continues. With the realities of fatigue, 24/7 operations, time zone changes, and all-nighters, flexibility and creative problem-solving are essential. In air traffic control, you always have a plan and a backup plan in case the first one does not work.
This is the approach I take into my coaching. I work with clients to find small wins and have a backup plan if things do not go as expected. Adapting to a situation does not require monumental changes; incremental adjustments can be just as effective. I offer a fresh perspective and a second set of eyes on a situation to support a client planning their success, ensuring accountability throughout the process.
Aviation mirrors life: There is always a path forward; we just need to find it.
Can you share some common challenges your clients face in the aviation industry and how you believe coaching helps them overcome these obstacles?
Working in a 24/7 operation presents numerous challenges, such as balancing work with family and personal commitments. Additionally, a lack of confidence, imposter syndrome, and setting boundaries are common struggles. Aviation workers, whether pilots, controllers, maintenance engineers, flight attendants, or managers, face similar challenges to those in other high-stress industries. Despite being only human, the media often portrays us as superhuman, and we buy into that image. When we falter or face struggles, we sometimes do not know how to address them because these issues are not openly discussed, and the industry lacks programs to support mental health.
Coaching is emerging as a tool for success and professional development within the aviation industry. When individuals feel truly heard, conversations around finding their purpose or navigating tricky situations become effective in overcoming obstacles. We are just beginning to realize the potential of coaching. A team approach outside of the cockpit, hangar, or tower cab encourages individuals to form genuine connections beyond their work environment. How are we supporting employees we have in the industry? What will make aviation attractive to prospective employees? Coaching helps individuals who are seeking a better path find it with the partnership of someone who understands their situation within the context of the industry.
Resilience is a recurring theme in your discussions. Why is it important to you, and how has it shaped what you want to accomplish with your work?
I am passionate about teaching others how to build resilience. As a career coach, I help individuals see opportunities rather than challenges and develop a growth mindset. It is about making a difference in how someone sees themselves, enabling them to strive for more than they ever imagined. Creating conversations where individuals feel safe to say “I’m not okay” or “I want something more” is the beginning of a new path.
Change in this industry is inevitable, affecting personnel, regulations, technologies, or economies. When changes occur, we must find a way to adapt. Sometimes, the changes are minor, and other times, they are life-altering. Regardless, changes affect our personal lives and our work. To continue to thrive, we need to be flexible and adaptable. Yet, it is easier said than done. Being resilient is a skill that is learned and requires practice. Resilience is not something that is inherently acquired, and as we consider the different generations filling various roles in aviation, we must tailor our training to address educational or learning gaps.
While enthusiasm and passion for aviation are important, they alone are not sufficient to maintain an individual’s mental health. The industry’s future success hinges on its ability to evolve with the changing priorities of the current and future workforce and engage with that workforce in a meaningful way. The evolution of my work involves collaborating with more training and management teams that recognize the value of creating resilient employees to ensure future successes.
Could you explain how aviation coaching works and how your programs cater to the unique needs of aviation professionals?
When I started, my focus was solely on helping others through one-on-one coaching sessions. These personalized sessions ranged from single meetings to multiple-month programs, either in person or virtually. Depending on a client’s budget or level of commitment, I collaborated with them to determine the most suitable time frame for our work together.
My experience as a coach in the industry has expanded to include one- or two-day workshops and training sessions centered on building resilience. My vision for the future is to build relationships at a corporate level and collaborate with traditional training models to incorporate resilience-building components. This may be followed up by personalized coaching for those seeking additional support for a longer period. I believe the two components complement each other. My clients become empowered where continued support is still available but with increased intervals between sessions. Follow-up is always available.
Aviation professionals are located all around the globe, and I can accommodate their schedules beyond the typical 9-5 hours, no matter where they are. My services range from career planning, including writing resumes and cover letters, to equipping aviation professionals with effective strategies to manage time, handle stress, create a professional development plan, or navigate any number of interpersonal conflicts. There is no topic that is off-limits. I encourage clients to discover what being authentic and vulnerable means to them and how they can be that person at work. When we bring our true selves to work, we become more effective and can focus our energy on what is important, rather than trying to be someone we are not.
How do you support someone in the aviation field considering a career transition or seeking personal development?
I firmly believe it is never too late to try something new. It does not matter what you have done in the past; it is only what you do in the future that matters. Support is delivered through meaningful conversations. Whether it is career transition or personal development, I will ask numerous questions to understand the reasons behind a client’s decisions. The possibilities for questions are endless, and they help me gain a deeper understanding of the client’s perspective. I want to understand their situation, beliefs, and past experiences that have led them to this point. From the questions come reflection and guidance tailored to each client’s needs and aspirations.
No two stories are the same. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to helping clients achieve their goals. One client may want to work on their mindset or skill they lack while another wants action and to create a development plan. That is the beauty of coaching. Every conversation is unique because each client’s situation is unique.
If someone was interested in learning more about collaborating with you, how should they proceed?
Feel free to reach out to me via email, my website, or through my social media channels. We will start with a conversation to see if we would work well together, as the coach-client relationship is crucial. It needs to be a space where the client feels safe and comfortable. I always provide this opportunity, free of cost, before any further commitment. From there, the sky is the limit.
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