Carey Lohrenz

  • World’s First Female Tomcat Fighter Pilot
  • Leadership Speaker & Author

Carey Lohrenz knows what it takes to win in one of the highest pressure, extreme environments imaginable: in the cockpit at Mach 2.  

As the first female F-14 Tomcat Fighter Pilot in the U.S. Navy, having flown missions worldwide as a combat-mission-ready United States Navy pilot, Lohrenz is used to working in fast moving, dynamic environments, where inconsistent execution can generate catastrophic results. The same challenges are found in business: markets change, customer needs evolve and if you do not adapt quickly your company is at risk.

In her motivating and engaging keynote presentations, Carey shares her fascinating experiences operating in one of the world's most challenging environments—an aircraft carrier. She has been requested by name from some of the top Fortune 100 businesses and is uniquely qualified in the fundamentals of winning under pressure, reducing errors and overcoming obstacles. Her mastery of these fundamentals can help your team triumph in this high-risk, time crunched world.

Her ability to connect with both an audience and on a one-on-one level, coupled with her knowledge and experience in leading high-performing, diverse teams, has made her highly sought after as a business consultant and speaker.

 

 

Carey Lohrenz headshot
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Carey Lohrenz photo 2
Past Hosts Include:
  • Lincoln Financial Group
  • Sysco Corporation
  • Starbucks Coffee Company
  • Barilla
  • WICT Greater Philadelphia
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • PayPal
  • Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce
  • Saatchi & Saatchi
Rave Reviews About Carey Lohrenz
Thanks so much for participating in our 'One Team' National Sales Conference in Phoenix. Your speech to our group was very well received and resonated especially well around the concepts of Teamwork, Leadership & Accountability, and Developing Trusting Partnerships. Your experiences and ability to translate them to our industry and our company’s goals and challenges truly inspired and empowered our team to achieve reach our own great heights. I’d be happy to serve as a reference if you are ever in need of one.

More rave reviews

"Carey was AMAZING! So much of what she said resonated with our organization. Her story is inspiring, her message applies to everyone, and her ability to engage the audience with a story is great! Additionally, she is a true professional, easy to work with, and fully committed to making sure the client has a good experience… Thank you!"

-Saatchi & Saatchi

"I have been booking speakers for the Northwest Arkansas Business Women’s Conference for nearly two decades and we have had some of the biggest names in Hollywood, the recording industry, and sports join us as keynote speakers, but Carey Lohrenz proved herself worthy to be at the top of the A-list for speakers. Carey’s unique perspective coupled with her charm, spirit and forthrightness allowed her to tell a story that can speak to men and women in any setting. Her experiences translate easily into a motivational message for those in the boardroom, on the court or in every-day life. Carey addressed an audience of over 1,000 women ranging from Fortune 500 CEOs to stay at home moms and everything in between, and she left everyone in attendance feeling energized, motivated and ready to take on the world. From an event coordinator’s standpoint, Carey is a dream to work with. She was gracious, flexible, and went above and beyond to help us make the experience for our attendees unforgettable. But she makes it really hard to plan for the next year, because following in those footsteps will be no small task!"

-Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce

"Vixen rocked! I just wanted to thank you for all you did to make our meeting inspiring and fantastic. I personally thought you did a great job connecting with everyone, and your story is inspiring, and your lessons very appropriate for all we are going through. Yesterday one of my VP’s was giving a presentation, and the title of it was ‘Lose sight, and you lose the fight’ And he gave you full credit for the quote!"

-PayPal

"You were so authentic, energetic and passionate that your insights gained from military service and leadership roles were received very, very positively by those who attended the Weikel Leadership Speaker Series last Friday. Taura and I appreciate how you prepared and customized a message for our audience. Plus, it is always awesome to have a UW alumna back on campus during Homecoming. A special thank you for your willingness to spend time with some of our MBA women in advance of the Weikel. Every single woman who attended was grateful for the tips, ideas and examples. I kept hearing that message over and over during the Weikel reception, at the Homecoming tailgate on Saturday morning at a reunion event on Saturday afternoon and this morning in the hallway! I hope that we’re able to stay in touch and welcome you back again in the future. On Wisconsin!"

-University of Wisconsin-Madison

"Carey Lohrenz was brilliant and inspiring in her passionate remarks to open and close the day’s events. She kept the audience’s attention entirely on her messages of dreams, perseverance and overcoming barriers. The audience was left with a feeling of hopefulness that if she was able to overcome all of the extreme challenges she had to face, that we also can overcome whatever challenges come our way as well. One of my favorite quotes from Carey is that your dreams may be deferred or derailed but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go after them. I would highly recommend Carey Lohrenz to be a speaker for any event targeting men or women where you want the audience left feeling wowed and inspired to focus on their personal or career goals. "

-WICT Greater Philadelphia

"What an inspiration! My biggest takeaways were about taking risks, standing your ground and tenacity! Your presentation was by far the most compelling and touching, thank you! "

-Barilla

"Wow! You were so inspiring and gave me great takeaways I can use with my team: Staying Focused on What Matters, Be Flexible, Adapt, Overcome, and Find my Third Way! You were captivating! So fascinating and yet relatable to MY world! Thank you! "

-Starbucks Coffee Company

"Often I find myself to be the youngest and the only woman in the board room. Thank You! This was the session I was most looking forward to at Women’s Foodservice Forum 2013 and you exceeded my expectations! I am inspired and EMPOWERED! "

-Sysco Corporation
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Promo - Carey Lohrenz Inspirational Keynote Speaker [5:42] - Get Sharable Link
Talks & Conversations with Carey Lohrenz
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Lessons in Leadership: The 4 Fundamentals to Help you Win in Business & Life

As the first female F-14 Fighter Pilot in the U.S.Navy, Carey Lohrenz knows what it takes to win in one of the highest pressure, extreme environments imaginable. In 1994, when Carey “Vixen” Lohrenz was deployed to the USS Abraham Lincoln, there were fewer than 5 female aviators on a ship of 5000 mal ...

As the first female F-14 Fighter Pilot in the U.S.Navy, Carey Lohrenz knows what it takes to win in one of the highest pressure, extreme environments imaginable. In 1994, when Carey “Vixen” Lohrenz was deployed to the USS Abraham Lincoln, there were fewer than 5 female aviators on a ship of 5000 male crew members. Facing uncharted waters in an intensely male-dominated environment, Lohrenz learned vital lessons in leadership that followed her into the corporate world. The most successful leaders share a common foundation of principles used from the flight deck to the front office. The greatest leaders from all corners of the world know how to inspire, use good judgment, take initiative and make powerful decisions – with integrity. In this program, Carey shares the fundamentals that helped her win in the cockpit at Mach 2, and can help your team win in business:  

  • Be a Catalyst. Make change happen by focusing on what matters most.
  • Be Tenacious. Overcome your fear of failure.
  • Be Committed to Excellence. Prepare, Perform, and Prevail to accomplish seemingly impossible missions every day.
  • Be Resilient. Turn adversity into success.

An industry pioneer and team performance accelerant, Carey is uniquely qualified in the fundamentals of Leadership, Teamwork, Winning Under Pressure, Reducing Errors and Overcoming Obstacles. This highly popular leadership program will challenge, inform, and inspire your team to move to higher levels of performance in these difficult economic times. Lohrenz offers bottom-line expertise with clear, realistic takeaway items for audiences that can produce both short-term and life changing results.

 

 

High Risk Into High Reward: Succeeding in High Pressure Environments

Carey Lohrenz knows what it takes to win in one of the highest pressure environments imaginable, where inconsistent execution can generate catastrophic results. When it comes to managing risk, carrier aviators have it down to a science. With zero tolerance for error, they rely on every crewmember, r ...

Carey Lohrenz knows what it takes to win in one of the highest pressure environments imaginable, where inconsistent execution can generate catastrophic results. When it comes to managing risk, carrier aviators have it down to a science. With zero tolerance for error, they rely on every crewmember, regardless of rank, to work as a team. The key to establishing a culture of innovation is the ability to focus on what matters during times of change, to adapt and thrive. In this keynote, your attendees will learn how apply the standards of carrier aviation with tactical, highimpact takeaways and next steps that they can apply immediately in their business.

  • Simple, rigorous checklists
  • A culture that doesn’t tolerate complacency
  • Sound critical decision making skills
  • Clear communication for transformation
  • A collaborative model to unlock potential

An industry pioneer and team performance accelerant, Carey is uniquely qualified in the fundamentals of Leadership, Teamwork, Winning Under Pressure, Reducing Errors and Overcoming Obstacles. This highly popular risk management program will challenge, inform, and inspire your team to move to higher levels of performance, even during times of disruption and chaos. Carey Lohrenz offers bottom-line expertise with clear, realistic takeaway items for audiences that can produce both short-term and life changing results.

Patient Safety: 6 Risk Planning Strategies for Operational Excellence

Carey Lohrenz is a dynamic healthcare speaker whose passion for improving patient and staff satisfaction in the fast-paced field of healthcare brings results. With her authentic, highly motivational personality, she is in demand as a patient safety keynote speaker nationwide. Not only is she sought ...

Carey Lohrenz is a dynamic healthcare speaker whose passion for improving patient and staff satisfaction in the fast-paced field of healthcare brings results. With her authentic, highly motivational personality, she is in demand as a patient safety keynote speaker nationwide. Not only is she sought after by medical and pharmaceutical professionals for her risk management solutions, but small businesses and large corporations appreciate her “flight plan” for success. She will challenge, inform, and inspire your employees to higher levels of performance and operational excellence in high-risk and sometimes dangerous environments. Carey shares her leadership risk planning strategies and training to:

  • Improve leadership, communication, and teamwork among your physicians, nurses, staff and patients Enhance the patient experience
  • Demonstrate simple root cause analysis that will highlight “what” is right, versus “who” is right
  • Create a positive safety culture
  • Reduce human error and the chance of a mishap
  • Encourage a commitment to safety from all of your healthcare providers, while maintaining clinical quality

These tools will allow your team to survive and succeed, with superior results consistently, just as Carey did in the demanding world of fighter aviation.

 

An industry pioneer and team performance accelerant, Carey is uniquely qualified in the fundamentals of Leadership, Teamwork, Winning Under Pressure, Reducing Errors and Overcoming Obstacles. This highly popular risk management program will challenge, inform, and inspire your team to move to higher levels of performance, even during difficult economic times. Lohrenz offers bottom-line expertise with clear, realistic takeaway items for audiences that can produce both short-term and life changing results.

Lessons in Partnership: The Leading Edge to Optimizing Relationships

Just like in aviation in a rapidly changing global environment, speed is life. Collaboration is critical to business success and managing successful strategic partnerships is crucial. Competitive advantage is gained when your organization can optimize partnerships and strategic alliances. Deeper rel ...

Just like in aviation in a rapidly changing global environment, speed is life. Collaboration is critical to business success and managing successful strategic partnerships is crucial. Competitive advantage is gained when your organization can optimize partnerships and strategic alliances. Deeper relationships with partners can be the key to long term success and growth.

In this inspiring and engaging keynote, Carey shares what it takes to be on the ‘Leading Edge.’ Those things that helped her succeed in one of the most extreme environments on earth can help elevate your team to gain advantage and uncover opportunities.

Remaining Relevant: How to Eliminate Complacency in Your Business

  In a challenging economic environment, remaining relevant to your customers and within your organization is critical to your survival. Those who fail to deliver value to their consumers, shareholders, clients, and teammates become extinct. Could that happen to you? In aviation, complacency kills. ...

 

In a challenging economic environment, remaining relevant to your customers and within your organization is critical to your survival. Those who fail to deliver value to their consumers, shareholders, clients, and teammates become extinct. Could that happen to you? In aviation, complacency kills. Same is true in business: if you become complacent and fail to ignore the warning signs of disruption in the marketplace (shifts in culture, trends, global demands, budget restrictions), and you fail to keep up with the pace of innovation, you could be facing extinction. In this energizing and empowering program, Carey shares the fundamentals that helped her manage change, and win in the cockpit at Mach 2, and can help your team win in business.

  • Recognize the importance of remaining relevant
  • Identify strategies to accelerate performance, to accelerate innovation
  • Develop a mindset to stay agile and adaptable
  • Understand how high performing teams pursue excellence, every day

An industry pioneer, an expert in change leadership, and a team performance accelerant, Carey is uniquely qualified in the fundamentals of Leadership, Teamwork, Winning Under Pressure, Reducing Errors and Overcoming Obstacles. This highly popular innovation keynote will challenge, inform, and inspire your team to move to higher levels of performance in these difficult economic times. Lohrenz offers bottom-line expertise with clear, actionable takeaway items for audiences that can produce both short-term and life changing results.

Striking a Balance: Life Hacks from the Cockpit

A successful career, a happy family, and a balanced personal life leave little time for many people to nurture their dreams. As a former Naval Aviator, a corporate executive, and as a busy mother of four, Carey “Vixen” Lohrenz knows first-hand the challenges of navigating the many demands of daily w ...

A successful career, a happy family, and a balanced personal life leave little time for many people to nurture their dreams.

As a former Naval Aviator, a corporate executive, and as a busy mother of four, Carey “Vixen” Lohrenz knows first-hand the challenges of navigating the many demands of daily work-life balance. In this riveting and inspirational keynote speech, Carey will inspire you to ‘Be the Catalyst’ and look beyond your circumstances.

Just as pilots do a “systems check” before takeoff, Carey’s motivational speech will walk you through a Pre-Flight Check on your journey towards success.

  • Belief in Yourself and Your Abilities. To be successful and ultimately take charge of your life, overcoming lack of self-belief is one of the biggest hurdles you need to overcome.
  • A Firm Commitment. Be unwavering and purposeful in your actions.
  • Clarity of Purpose. Clarity of purpose and a clear picture of precisely what you want to achieve are key factors in achieving success.
  • Make a Plan—Stay Focused. Keep life’s distractions and interruptions at bay by creating your plan—and sticking to it.

An industry pioneer and team performance accelerant, Carey is uniquely qualified in the fundamentals of Leadership, Teamwork, Winning Under Pressure, Reducing Errors and Overcoming Obstacles. This highly popular risk management program will challenge, inform, and inspire your team to move to higher levels of performance, even during difficult economic times. Lohrenz offers bottom-line expertise with clear, realistic takeaway items for audiences that can produce both short-term and life changing results. 

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Biography

 

Carey Lohrenz knows what it takes to win in one of the highest pressure, extreme environments imaginable: in the cockpit at Mach 2.

As the first female F-14 Tomcat Fighter Pilot in the U.S. Navy, having flown missions worldwide as a combat-mission-ready United States Navy pilot, Lohrenz is used to working in fast moving, dynamic environments, where inconsistent execution can generate catastrophic results.

The same challenges are found in business: markets change, customer needs evolve and if you do not adapt quickly your company is at risk.

In her motivating and engaging keynote presentations, Carey shares her fascinating experiences operating in one of the world's most challenging environments - an aircraft carrier. She is uniquely qualified in the fundamentals of winning under pressure, reducing errors and overcoming obstacles. Her mastery of these fundamentals can help your team triumph in this high-risk, time crunched world.

Carey Lohrenz's timely message about High Performing Teams and developing a Culture of Learning is based on the best-practices of high reliability organizations. The process Prepare, Perform, Prevail helps businesses manage risk while becoming a High Performing Organization. This message resonates with diverse audiences at every level of the company.

Carey has been requested by name from some of the top Fortune 100 businesses. Her ability to connect with both an audience and on a one-on-one level, coupled with her knowledge and experience in leading high-performing, diverse teams, has made her highly sought after as a business consultant and speaker.

Carey is a powerhouse in the field of delivering engaging Leadership, High Performing Organizations and Diversity Training that directly impacts a company’s ROI and bottom line. Her experience in the all-male environment of fighter aviation and her ability to pass on the Lessons Learned in her career allow her to deliver insight and guidance from a credible platform on Women’s Leadership Issues.

Carey has delivered her leadership and strategy experience to such companies as Cisco, Dell, TEVA, Deloitte, Underwriters Laboratories, Verizon, AT&T, Kimberly Clark, State Farm Insurance and Sea Ray Boats, to name a few.

Carey graduated from the University of Wisconsin where she was a varsity rower, also training at the pre-Olympic level. After graduation, she attended the Navy’s Aviation Officer Candidate School before starting flight training and her naval career. She is currently working on her Master’s in Business Administration in Strategic Leadership.