E45 - Guests: Matt Lindley, Pilot, Company Founder, & Motivational Speaker

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As the UK celebrates Pride month, my guest this week is Matt Lindley. Matt is a former RAF pilot who spent the majority of his military time on 32 (The Royal) Squadron at RAF Northolt near London, where he was an instructor pilot and captain on the HS125 VIP transport aircraft. In that role, he routinely flew the UK's most senior VIPs including HM The Late Queen Elizabeth II, the Prime Minister and many others from the Royal Family and the UK Government.
Matt was gay in a military where for a good part of his military service being gay was not just frowned upon, it was actually illegal. The law changed during Matt's time in the RAF but this issue was a dominant factor in his early years as an RAF pilot. Despite these challenges, Matt speaks incredibly fondly of his time in the military and of the great leadership he experienced in the period after he was unexpectedly "outed".
He subsequently transitioned to the world of commercial aviation as in now a part time pilot with a major airline. He is also the founder of his own company, Propel Performance, and a highly regarded motivational and TedX speaker. He has a huge amount to say on the topic of leadership and there is much for any current or aspiring leader to learn from this episode of the podcast.
This was a great discussion with a man who has had an incredibly challenging career journey but who is rightly incredibly positive and upbeat about what he has achieved along that journey. It is a fabulous interview and I really hope you enjoy it.
You can find Matt here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindleyhumanfactorpilot/
In this episode we cover the following (starting time in brackets):

• Matt's career journey (00.02.42)
• The differences between military and airline flying (00.08.23)
• Early motivations (00.15.11)
• Role models (00.;19.09)
• Leadership experiences from flying VIPs (00.24.36)
• Being gay in the military when it was ILLEGAL to be gay! (00.34.20)
• The challenge of "coming out" (00.44.39)
• "Emotional contagion" (00.54.17)
• Celebrating Pride! How far have we come down the equality path? (01.02.15)
• Advice to a school age Matt! (01.12.37)
• What Matt wishes he'd done differently (01.13.42)
• Career high point / most memorable event (01.16.37)
• Career low point! (01.18.31)
• Most difficult question! (01.21.43)

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Chapitres

1. E45 - Guests: Matt Lindley, Pilot, Company Founder, & Motivational Speaker (00:00:00)

2. Matt's career journey (00:02:42)

3. The differences between military and airline flying (00:08:23)

4. Early motivations (00:15:11)

5. Role models (00:19:09)

6. Leadership experiences from flying VIPs (00:24:36)

7. Being gay in the military when it was ILLEGAL to be gay! (00:34:20)

8. The challenge of "coming out" (00:44:39)

9. "Emotional contagion" (00:54:17)

10. Celebrating Pride! How far have we come down the equality path? (01:02:15)

11. Advice to a school age Matt! (01:12:37)

12. What Matt wishes he'd done differently (01:13:42)

13. Career high point / most memorable event (01:16:37)

14. Career low point! (01:18:31)

15. Most difficult question! (01:21:43)