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Scorpions, Baijiu, and Boardrooms: The Mouna Moussi Way

Scorpions, Baijiu, and Boardrooms: The Mouna Moussi Way

Mouna Moussi

From a Playground in England to 85 Countries

1. You started your career journey in the very place where modern aviation was born. How did standing on the ground at Kitty Hawk shape your vision for the future of flight?

Well, I did start flying in one great “playground” as I call it. Specifically, it is one of the oldest runways in Europe (maybe the first), located in the UK at Cranfield University.

However, my aviation journey started much earlier, with a passion for aviation and everything that flies. That passion began as a young girl, marked by curiosity. For instance, by building jet fighter models and coloring them, and by asking questions, and above all, by dreaming of exploring the world through flying and not just!

Ultimately, that led me to choose an aviation career. In fact, I paused my post-graduate degrees to enroll in my dream university at a later stage. As I soon learned, Cranfield was well known for its school of aeronautics, engineering, and management (top 5). Consequently, this is where I continued my education and learned aerodynamics.

Interestingly, my career took off professionally before that. And indeed, in short, I did explore the world (85+ countries) as I had dreamed, and I did fly over many of my first-time destinations!

2. Aviation connects the world, but you also connect people through partnerships. What is the most important ingredient for building a successful alliance in a high-stakes industry?

Successful alliances rely on several reinforcing elements: strategic alignment, transparency and trust, governance and clear frameworks, mutual value creation, and cultural and stakeholder understanding.
Still, the most important ingredient? A strategic relationship built on trust, shared vision, and disciplined execution.

3. Beyond the technical skills, what is the one superpower every woman in aviation needs to thrive in a global, multi-stakeholder ecosystem?

It is hard to choose the “one superpower.”
If I close my eyes and have a throwback, it would definitely be: staying in check with her own ambitions whilst doing the work meticulously, unapologetically, without intimidation, because it is a shark world.

4. You work across cultures and continents, from MEA to global markets. Can you share a moment where a cultural insight unexpectedly unlocked a deal or a partnership?

I love this question.

I was in China for the first time as a very young executive, good in her skin, yet still on the rise and maybe surprised by cultural intimidation.

If you don’t know, the Chinese aren’t very expressive or outgoing, especially at first. Discovering your opponent’s character isn’t an easy task!

I was meeting a global executive on his turf in Beijing with his whole team. I was sitting “alone” negotiating on behalf of a group of airlines.

The meeting was over dinner in a nice part of the city, with a very traditional feel.

I could feel that my way to break the ice and be on par was by doing a cultural move, something only the Chinese do.

We were being served some grilled scorpions (if you know me, you would know it was out of the question what I was about to do).

So I asked for a shot of their hardest white liquor, Baijiu (100% alcohol). I took a shot, ate an insect, and kept direct eye contact with him.

That is how I got to kick off eloquently what I wanted to achieve.

5. If the “Kitty Hawk” had a modern, 21st-century cockpit, what one digital tool or innovation would you want onboard to help navigate today’s aviation landscape?

My first flight was in a Bulldog, an amazing two-seater with dual controls, almost as if you could have two captains.
I cannot imagine a modern version of it. It is beautiful and incredibly fun to fly as it is.
Today’s cockpits are truly state-of-the-art, and the navigation technologies could not be better.

6. If you could “fly it forward” and give one piece of advice to your younger self on the first day of your career, what would it be?

I really like my approach and mindset at the time.
Maybe I would be less shy in certain instances or less cautious, though that caution also did me good at the start of my career, and it gave me wisdom.

7. Looking at the next generation of women entering the industry, what is the most exciting frontier in aviation that you hope they will get to explore?

Investing in new technologies and in new talents inventing sustainable processes, products, and equipment for the whole sector.
Leading the transformation toward more connected, sustainable, and technologically advanced ecosystems.
That includes sustainable aviation fuels, digitalized operations, artificial intelligence in air traffic management, and new mobility concepts such as advanced air mobility and urban air transport.
Also, help shape all these developments, from engineering and technology to leadership, policy, and global industry collaboration.

Editor’s Note

To begin with, some leaders manage from behind a desk, and then there is Mouna Moussi.

For example, she negotiates over grilled scorpions, flies over 85 countries, and navigates a “shark world” without ever apologizing for her ambition.

In fact, in an industry built on precision and protocol, Mouna brings something equally essential: courage with a smile.

Furthermore, her journey from a curious girl coloring jet fighter models to a global aviation executive negotiating solo in Beijing is not just impressive, it is deeply inspiring.

Ultimately, she proves that you don’t need to fit the mold to break the glass ceiling.

Instead, you just need to stay in check with your own ambitions, eat the insect, and keep eye contact.

Without a doubt, Mouna Moussi is the kind of role model every young woman in aviation deserves to see.