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Vernice “Flygirl” Armour

America's First Black Female Combat Pilot

A gutsy trailblazer, Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour’s resume is an impressive collection of “firsts” including America’s first black female combat pilot. She served two tours of duty in Iraq as a Marine and was a Diversity Liaison Officer to the Pentagon for Marine Corps Headquarters.

Fee range:  $38,500 - $40,000
Travels from: Atlanta, GA
Virtual: $35,500

Combat tests you. Being a beat cop tests you. Life tests you. Three brothers and being the only girl…tests you.

Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour has been tested her whole life. A gutsy trailblazer, her resume is an impressive collection of “firsts” including America’s first Black female combat pilot. She served two tours of duty in Iraq as a Marine. She was also a diversity liaison officer to the Pentagon for Headquarters Marine Corps. After her military service, FlyGirl revved up her career in the private sector as an entrepreneur, consultant to business, and author of Zero to Breakthrough, The 7–Step, Battle–Tested Method for Accomplishing Goals that Matter.

As a speaker, FlyGirl unleashes hard–hitting advice and amazing anecdotes from her adventures on the battlefield and in business. She helps individuals and organizations Get Gutsy and build a sustainable inner force and conviction, that results in accomplishing significant goals.

In 2007, FlyGirl launched VAI Consulting & Training, LLC. Through that work, she helps individuals and organizations make gutsy moves and create breakthrough results by applying her “Zero to BreakthroughTM ” Success Model – a mindset that helped to propel her career and kept her safe in air combat. FlyGirl regularly takes her message to premier meetings and conferences worldwide and is a Gutsy Confidence Mentor for elite senior executive Women in Tech.

As a Black gay woman and single mom, FlyGirl brings vital experience to her role as a member of the Forbes School of Business & Technology Board of Advisors and COMCAST/NBCUniversal Joint Diversity Council.

FlyGirl has two honorary doctorates and has received numerous awards as a pioneering pilot, including honors for her commanding role in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour’s story has been featured in the media including on CNN, MSNBC, The View, FOX News, Oprah Winfrey and many more, along with being a running back for the San Diego Sunfire professional women’s football team and two–time title holder of Camp Pendleton’s Strongest Warrior Competition.

She is currently working on her next book, The Gutsy Move.

ONE MISSION – ONE GOAL – ONE TEAM

Gutsy Leaders create Gutsy Teams that make Gutsy Moves. They’re proactive – not reactive; and create the future by summoning the courage to adapt and align. Drawing on her trailblazing career as a U.S. Marine combat helicopter pilot, Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour unloads valuable lessons learned under the most stressful of circumstances – about leadership, teamwork, resilience, communication, execution, and building a culture of unshakable trust. FlyGirl’s storytelling lights up people’s imaginations – showing them new ways to achieve more than they ever thought possible.

SAMPLE TAKEAWAYS
• How to build trust: Get everyone to step up, engage, and collaborate
• Get personal: Learn each person’s skills, talents & hidden passions
• Ways to unleash your diversity to strengthen the bottom line
• Disrupt traditional metrics of success (measure more than money)
• Learn when to plant and when to pivot in order to adapt-at-speed
• Create a culture that attracts and retains the best talent

TAILORED TO THESE THEMES: Leadership, Teamwork, Execution, Adapting to Change, Inspiration, Creating High Performing Culture, Improving Trust, Diversity, Accountability, Engagement

GET GUTSY – HARNESS A BREAKTHROUGH MINDSET

How you react to personal and professional obstacles, adversity, and disappointment is a choice. It also determines your future. Black, female, gay, and a child of divorce, Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour learned this early in her pioneering journey from motorcycle cop to the Marines to becoming America’s first Black female combat pilot. FlyGirl’s energy rocks the house as she recounts for audiences her challenges, adventures, and ultimate triumph. Her authenticity, enthusiasm, and positivity inspire people to Get Gutsy and finally reimagine what’s possible.

SAMPLE TAKEAWAYS
• 7-step process to shatter limiting beliefs and unleash breakthroughs
• Replace a self-defeating “Zero Mentality” with a winning “Breakthrough Mentality”
• How to avoid burnout and keep moving forward
• Delay is not Denial, and to Retreat does not mean Defeat
• Tactics to ignite your passion and design the path to your dreams

TAILORED TO THESE THEMES: Inspiration, Positivity, Resilience, Motivation, Achieving Big Goals, Overcoming Obstacles, Empowerment, Diversity

WHO NEEDS A RUNWAY? TAKE OFF FROM WHERE YOU ARE

Helicopter pilots spring into action from where they are. They don’t need a runway. It’s their edge in battle. Marine chopper pilot Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour believes this metaphor is perfect for uncertain times where speed and agility are survival skills. FlyGirl fires up audiences with her energy and storytelling – relating hard-learned lessons with tactics for quickly adapting to the forces of change. This presentation is perfect for audiences navigating uncertainty or looking to accomplish audacious goals. FlyGirl will spark their courage and enthusiasm.

SAMPLE TAKEAWAYS
• Recognize and take decisive action to capitalize on defining moments
• No situation is ever perfect – gain momentum from where you are
• The three-step plan: Decide, Commit, and Execute…at speed
• Recognize and harness the talents of everyone around you
• How to create a “Zero to Breakthrough” culture

TAILORED TO THESE THEMES: Change, Inspiration, Overcoming Adversity, Innovation, Making Faster Decisions, Creating a High Performing Culture

A NEW CONVERSATION: ACTIVELY TRANSFORMING A COMPANY, CULTURE AND COUNTRY

It’s time! This is about coming together – working to create an equitable culture for employees, stakeholders, and customers. A place where ALL can feel like they belong and are part of the team. It starts by establishing rules of engagement for civil, productive conversations that find solutions – not fault. Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour was a diversity officer for U.S. Marine Corps HQ; its liaison to the Pentagon. As a gay Black woman she brought valuable personal experience to her work. She learned: When you bring people together, their differences can result in tension…THIS IS NORMAL! How you MANAGE that diversity is the key!

SAMPLE TAKEAWAYS
• Create a culture that values and respects all team members
• Why it’s time to turn THE Conversation into a NEW Conversation
• Ways to face uncomfortable issues without playing ostrich
• How to prevent a counter-productive herd mentality
• Set an example of civility and motivate people to respond in kind

TAILORED TO THESE THEMES: Belonging, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Organizational Culture, Teamwork, Communication Skills

“Vernice was a homerun!! She delivered a terrific presentation, high energy and engaging. The chat was blowing up during her presentation. She was really easy to work with, too!!”

Kimberly-Clark
(Virtual Event)

“You have been beyond an inspiration! You are so engaging, motivational, unique, and powerful. We all felt your energy through the screen.”

Iron Mountain

“Your energy and message started the event off on such a high note, and we are so grateful for that! The attendees felt so empowered and motivated after listening to your story—they definitely feel gutsy now!”

Stanford Women in Business

“Your program on ‘EXCELerated Passion’ was engaging, humorous and energetic and challenged us all to strive for success.”

Director
United States Secret Service