Meet the Team - Women in Aviation -Julia Edwards - Flight Attendant/Crew Support Lead

Name: Julia Edwards

Job Title: Flight Attendant / Crew Support Lead

Years at CMA: 3

What first sparked your interest in aviation, and how did that initial curiosity turn into a career?

My background is in education, and my career plan was initially to become a teacher. I quickly learned that teaching was not a sustainable career for me, and I pivoted to searching for jobs that seemed the most exciting to provide a much-needed break from the heaviness of being in the classroom. This strategy has given me an extremely diverse (and sometimes bizarre) resume and has allowed me to work across industries that I didn't even think of when I was initially planning my long-term career. Aviation definitely fits within the realm of exciting! What started as an interesting job has since turned into a career, largely because I love to travel so much. They say that once you are in aviation, it is impossible to work in any other industry, and I agree with this wholeheartedly.

What is your current role at the airline, and what does a typical day look like for you?

I am a Flight Attendant and Crew Support Lead at CMA. This means that no day is ever the same! If I am operating as a Flight Attendant, a typical day is spent onboard, providing service during flights and ensuring the safety of our passengers as we travel to our destinations. As a Crew Support Lead, I work on the ground to manage the behind-the-scenes aspects of the inflight department. I like to think of myself as a professional gap-filler - if something needs to be done, I'm on it! Some of my favourite tasks associated with this role are helping to ensure on-time performance in the mornings by working with crews and CSAs, managing inflight commissary to provide high-quality food service onboard, and assisting with the creation of training programs, operational procedures, and internal communications for the inflight team. I am also a qualified Line Support Crew member, which means I have the opportunity to provide coaching to my inflight peers during flights to ensure our procedures are aligned and consistent. Having a hybrid role where I work on the ground and in the sky truly does give me the best of both worlds!

What has been the most rewarding moment of your aviation career so far?

Recently, I had the opportunity to be heavily involved in launching CMA's new scheduled services in Quebec. Working for a regional airline means I get to see projects like this happen from the ground up! It was a career highlight for me to help launch the expansion that brought CMA's services to Eastern Canada.

Was there a defining moment when you knew aviation was where you belonged?

I distinctly remember a pairing earlier in my career at CMA where it felt like everything "clicked" that day - the communication with my pilots was smooth, the onboard procedures felt natural, and I ended the day confident I had created a great experience for the passengers on every leg. It was an "aha" moment where I realized that I was in the right industry - my job had become genuinely enjoyable, and I had developed the skills to excel at it. 

What unique strengths do you think women bring to aviation and regional airline operations?

Women, by nature, are detail-oriented, communication-driven, and community-minded. All of these qualities are invaluable to an airline and to aviation as an industry. I love working for a company that champions female leadership both across departments and at an executive level. Women belong in these roles!

What challenges have you faced in your career, and how did you navigate them?

When I finished university, I made the decision to move provinces and relocate to Calgary. Being in a new city opened a lot of doors, but I also felt like I had to start over when it came to building connections and establishing a network. It was intimidating to start applying for jobs when I did not feel established or qualified enough. Navigating these challenges meant I had to adhere to a strong set of values that I possess when it comes to work in order to create opportunities for myself. I am convinced that a positive attitude and a relentless work ethic will fill the gaps where my experience might lack. 

Who has mentored or influenced you along the way?

I am very grateful to my inflight leadership team, Ian and Irene, for their mentorship as I have worked my way into new positions within CMA. I am constantly inspired to utilize effective communication, to search for ways our department can improve, and to create a culture of care within our team - all because of the positive and effective leadership I witness first-hand by these two. I am also grateful for the mentorship I receive from other departments within CMA, whether it be from flight ops, airports, HR, charters, maintenance, and more. There is always someone who is willing to answer my questions and work together with our departments to keep the operation running smoothly. Outside of the airline, I am heavily influenced by the work ethic of my parents, who taught me early on what it meant to hustle. 

What advice would you give to young women considering a career in aviation — especially in a regional airline environment?

Jump in headfirst! Aviation is a multi-faceted industry, and there is a position out there for every skillset. I recommend regional airlines because there is so much potential for upward movement if that is something you are interested in. Take advantage of smaller teams to develop connections and learn as much as possible. Keep humility at your core and accept feedback while always maintaining confidence in your own qualifications and abilities. Consistently asking questions in order to grow is a mark of ambition, not inexperience.

How do you maintain balance between a demanding aviation career and your personal life?

A career in aviation can sometimes feel like a 24/7 commitment, especially when traveling often for the job. The best way to find the balance is to create a lifestyle outside of work that feels rich and vibrant. I have had periods of time where it feels like all I do is work or sleep (welcome to aviation!). Adding creative hobbies, leisure travel, and quality time with friends and family to my personal life breaks me out of that cycle and keeps things feeling balanced.

If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of career advice, what would it be?

No experience is wasted - every odd job, volunteer position, and bit of education will add to your unique set of skills, regardless of how relevant they might seem for the career you aspire to have. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how I could make mismatched education and job experience turn into a "real" career, and the reality is that I needed it all to get to this point. Working as a fitness instructor gave me confidence on the mic, which translated to confidence speaking on the PA to a cabin full of passengers. Getting a degree in education made me an excellent communicator and qualified me to instruct, which translated to important skills needed as a line trainer to support my peers in inflight. Working in the pawn industry taught me a lot about conflict management, which translates to providing support to passengers during delays. My education in English gave me the writing skills that now inform how I create process documents. These examples are specific to my own experience, but I think the greater message here is to embrace any new experience and take away the tools that empower you to be great in the next step of your career.