Zoey Williams, a 27-year-old from Ontario, Canada, etched her name in aviation history by becoming Air Canada’s inaugural Black female pilot to command a Boeing 777. Growing up with a pilot father, Williams enjoyed a nomadic childhood, residing in diverse locales such as Ho Chi Minh City, Doha, Trinidad & Tobago, and London.
In an interview with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Williams revealed her initial reluctance to pursue a career as a pilot despite her early exposure to aviation. Concerns about the unpredictable schedules of airline pilots led her to explore the engineering aspect of flight instead. However, her perspective shifted after her maiden flight in a Cessna during her teenage years, an experience that initially filled her with trepidation. Instead of shying away from her fears, Williams confronted them head-on by enrolling in flight training. By the age of 19, she had earned her wings as a licensed flight instructor.