What 30 years in the cockpit taught me about clarity, resilience, and leading with purpose in times of uncertainty.
After hitting rock bottom, Jeremy Stoker reignited his 20-year dream of becoming a captain using one unexpected tool: gratitude. With 30 years of cockpit leadership, he reveals how gratitude isn’t just an attitude—it’s the fuel that drives clarity, resilience, and lasting success for leaders today and tomorrow.
Jeremy Stoker was born and raised just outside Seattle, Washington—a city known for its rich aviation heritage. His passion for flight began early and truly took off at age seven after watching Top Gun. By eighteen, he had earned his pilot’s license, and he went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Over the past three decades, Jeremy has logged more than 10,000 flight hours in a wide variety of aircraft. He currently serves as a Captain on the Airbus A320 and lives near Dallas, Texas. Beyond the cockpit, Jeremy is passionate about helping others grow—personally and professionally—through aviation-based principles. But his proudest titles are husband and father of three. 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
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