The talk by Mach Khanh shares her inspiring journey of becoming a pilot, emphasizing the power of perseverance over innate talent. She begins by addressing the common misconception that being a pilot requires extraordinary natural ability. Instead, she believes effort and dedication play a more crucial role in success. Drawing from Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000-hour rule, she highlights how consistent hard work can shape expertise. Mach Khanh recalls her challenging training period, where she struggled with both theoretical knowledge and practical flying skills. Unlike those naturally gifted, she had to put in extra effort to master her weaknesses. She describes her rigorous study routines, personal sacrifices, and moments of self-doubt, yet she never considered giving up. One of her most defining experiences was completing her pilot training in the U.S. under immense time pressure, proving to herself and others that determination can triumph over obstacles. She concludes with a powerful message: if she, an ordinary girl, can conquer the skies, then anyone can achieve their dreams through persistence. The talk encourages the audience to embrace challenges, trust their efforts, and work relentlessly toward their goals. Basic information Full name: Mach Thi Thuy Khanh Graduated from University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City Working experience Co-pilot of Pacific Airlines at 25 years old. Completed Airbus A320 training at Airbus Asia Training Centre, Singapore. Approximately 1,000 flying hours on the A320 Family. Full scholarship for a master’s degree in Business Administration from Andrews University (Michigan, USA). Content creator of the YouTube channel “from khanh” and the TikTok channel “bay cùng mạch khanh,” with a total of nearly 600k followers across platforms. An idea worth spreading If men can be pilots, then women can too. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx