MEET CAREY LOHRENZ
Author. Speaker. Aviator.
Carey Lohrenz knows what it takes to win in one of the world’s highest-pressure, extreme environments imaginable: the cockpit of an F-14 Tomcat at Mach 2
As one of the first women to fly the F-14 Tomcat in the U.S. Navy, Carey learned that winning under pressure isn’t about bravado or instinct. It’s built on preparation, communication, trust, and disciplined execution.
Flying at speeds exceeding 1,500 miles per hour, she operated in an environment where information was incomplete, circumstances changed rapidly, and inconsistent execution could have catastrophic consequences. Success depended on making sound decisions, working as a team, and remaining focused when the stakes were highest.
Those lessons didn’t stay in the cockpit.
Over the past two decades, Carey has worked with leaders across financial services, healthcare, technology, manufacturing, energy, government, professional services, and sales organizations. While the industries are vastly different, the leadership challenges are remarkably similar.
Every organization eventually faces moments when pressure rises.
A major transformation.
A changing market.
A crisis no one anticipated.
A team stretched to its limits.
A leader called upon to make decisions before all the answers are available.
That’s when leadership matters most.
Not when everything is going according to plan.
When conditions become difficult.
Today, Carey helps organizations create the conditions that allow people and teams to perform at their best—even when the future isn’t entirely clear.
A bestselling author, Hall of Fame keynote speaker (CPAE), entrepreneur, and leadership researcher, Carey translates decades of experience into practical strategies that help leaders navigate pressure, strengthen performance, and prepare for what comes next.
THE LESSONS STARTED LONG BEFORE THE FLIGHT DECK
People often assume Carey’s perspective on leadership came entirely from flying the F-14 Tomcat.
Certainly, those experiences shaped her.
But some of her most important lessons came from life itself—building a business, serving on corporate and nonprofit boards, raising a family, navigating uncertainty, learning from setbacks, and discovering that resilience isn’t something we’re born with. It’s something we build.
The flight deck taught her a lot.
Life taught her the rest.
WHY THE F-14 STILL MATTERS
The F-14 was an extraordinary aircraft, but the most valuable lessons didn’t come from the airplane.
They came from the people.
From watching highly skilled individuals align around a shared mission.
From seeing what happens when communication is clear and trust is strong.
From understanding that preparation creates confidence, accountability strengthens performance, and every member of a team influences the outcome.
Those lessons continue to shape Carey’s work today—not because organizations are trying to fly fighter jets, but because every leader eventually faces moments when preparation, communication, and execution become the difference between success and failure.
WHAT SHE’S LEARNED SINCE
Over the years, Carey has worked with leaders across nearly every industry—from Fortune 500 companies and financial institutions to healthcare systems, manufacturers, technology innovators, government agencies, and professional associations.
The industries are different, but the leadership challenges are remarkably consistent.
How do we create clarity when priorities compete?
How do we build trust before it’s tested?
How do we maintain focus when distractions multiply?
How do we continue performing when pressure isn’t going away?
Those questions continue to drive Carey’s work as a keynote speaker, bestselling author, leadership researcher, entrepreneur, and trusted advisor.
WHAT SHE’S LEARNING NOW
Carey’s ongoing research explores how leaders help people adapt, communicate, and perform during periods of uncertainty and change.
While the environments may look different, the findings continue to reinforce something she has believed throughout her career:
People don’t need complete certainty to move forward.
They need enough clarity, confidence, and shared purpose to take the next step.
That belief influences everything she does—from keynote presentations and executive conversations to leadership development, writing, and research.
Because leadership isn’t simply about making decisions.
It’s about creating the conditions that allow other people to succeed.
Pressure Is Inevitable. Performance Is A Choice.
Technology will continue to evolve.
Markets will continue to change.
New challenges will replace old ones.
But one thing remains remarkably constant.
People still look to leaders for clarity when the path ahead is uncertain.
They still need leaders who can build trust, create alignment, focus attention on what matters most, and help teams move forward together.
That’s the work.
It’s work Carey is passionate about.
And it’s a conversation she’s honored to have every day.
