Women And Drones: An Interview with Sharon Rossmark

Recently we had the chance to interview Sharon Rossmark, the founder and CEO of Women And Drones. If you haven’t heard of W&D, they’re performing some actually inspiring work within the business to assist girls who’re main the cost ahead, offering networking alternatives and a platform for girls to inform their tales.

About Women And Drones

Women And Drones was created to assist increase the profile of ladies in the united statesindustry.

“We come from different backgrounds. Our common bond is that we all have a thing for drones. We knew there were more of you out there so we set up this meeting place. We feature stories about women from around the world who are doing exciting things in the UAS Industry.”

– The W&D web site

Check out the tales part of their web site to learn inspiring accounts of ladies who’re working to remodel the drone business.

About Sharon Rossmark

Sharon Rossmark is an FAA licensed drone pilot and the founder and CEO of Women And Drones.

In addition to her work with W&D, for the previous few years Sharon has served because the COO for Aerovista Innovations, a UAV agency that gives aerial mapping and imagery options (and a UAV Coach companion for our Intro to Aerial Thermography course).

Prior to her work in the united statesindustry Sharon had an intensive and profitable profession in different enterprise sectors, primarily in insurance coverage and finance.

Begin Interview:

UAV Coach: Please describe what Women And Drones does in a single brief sentence.

Sharon Rossmark: The main mission of Women And Drones (W&D) is to share optimistic photos of ladies within the business, inspiring others, and highlighting these already making main contributions to the rising drone financial system all over the world.

UAV Coach: Fill us in on the historical past of W&D. What first led to its creation, and the way has it modified since then?

Sharon Rossmark: The thought for W&D got here to me in July of 2016.

I used to be finishing varieties for an upcoming business panel and realized I didn’t know any of the opposite girls on the panel. As I searched on-line for details about the opposite panelists, little to no data was obtainable about their expertise in the united statesindustry. I believed it will be nice to have a neighborhood for girls to attach, encourage, and encourage each other. Thus the launch of Women And Drones.

Our multimedia platform options on-line and audio podcast interviews and can quickly function videocasts. Shortly after our launch, the viewers and interview topics expanded past girls within the United States to girls across the globe. We have featured girls within the business who reside in Australia, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and Sweden.

We just lately launched a partnership with Women in Aviation International (WAI.org). The Women And Drones community can be a part of WAI at a reduced fee, obtain full membership advantages, and change into a part of the WAI sisterhood.

WAI and W&D are each world organizations, and the chance to take part in native and regional WAI occasions exposes the W&D neighborhood to the broader aviation area.

UAV Coach: It looks like your work with W&D touches virtually all elements of the drone business. What are your favourite elements of the work you do, and why?

Sharon Rossmark: What I take pleasure in about working in an rising business are that the challenges and the unknowns mix to make every day fascinating.

I’d categorize my favourite elements into a number of areas. I like the strategic and artistic improvement technique of taking an thought from idea to . And, I like the connectivity with the aviation and robotics communities. My ardour is pushed by working as a change agent to teach the general public in regards to the capabilities of drones and being an envoy encouraging extra girls to hitch us on this evolving business.

UAV Coach: You’ve been energetic within the enterprise world for fairly some time. What drew you to working with drones particularly?

Sharon Rossmark: Having labored the vast majority of my profession in insurance coverage and monetary companies, the chance to use my govt and enterprise expertise in a totally “blue sky” area was intriguing.

I’m fascinated by the potential of the “flying robot” know-how and the attainable purposes for thus many industries. I’ve all the time liked aviation, however schooling and life took me in a special course for the primary a part of my profession. Now, within the second act of my life, it’s nice to tackle the problem of a brand new journey.

women and drones-founder

UAV Coach: What drone(s) do you fly and what digicam(s) do you employ?

Sharon Rossmark: Right now my drone of alternative is the DJI Mavic Pro. I like the compact design with the collapsible rotor arms, which makes portability simple. I carry the DJI Mavic Pro nearly all over the place I’m going, simply in case there’s a possibility to fly.

UAV Coach: We love that the W&D web site has a STEM/STEAM part part [STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics; STEAM adds Art to the other four disciplines]. Can you inform us extra in regards to the work you do to assist younger girls in studying these abilities, and why you suppose it’s necessary?

Sharon Rossmark: While the first focus of the positioning promotes success tales and pictures of ladies in our business, it’s also about placing an emphasis on STEM and digital literacy in schooling.

The STEM/STEAM initiative took place on the request of the Women And Drones neighborhood. We began receiving inquiries to function STEM/STEAM applications for ladies. Our partnership with Women In Aviation International will assist additional our efforts via their Girls In Aviation programming.

Many within the Women And Drones neighborhood will take part within the varied Girls In Aviation actions being held across the globe on September 23, 2017. Our work on this area is rising as we proceed to obtain requests to take part in drone academic occasions.

We know that the profession pipeline begins as early as elementary college, due to this fact, collectively, we should give attention to encouraging our youth, particularly younger women to develop an curiosity in STEM. Our efforts at W&D are aligned to assist the pipeline to develop and encourage younger girls to pursue STEM/STEAM fields.

UAV Coach: You will need to have heard some inspiring tales via your work at W&D. Can you share considered one of your favorites?

Sharon Rossmark: Picking one could be like choosing which youngster is your favourite.

What resonates with our viewers are the unbelievable insights shared inside every girl’s journey. My favourite a part of sharing every story is the suggestions we obtain about how a narrative has inspired somebody to remain the course or broaden their efforts.

The world facet of our attain has change into a conduit for girls to attach with others in a special a part of the world who they’d not have in any other case met. We additionally hear from males who’re thrilled to have optimistic position fashions of ladies inside the business to share with their daughters.

UAV Coach: What excites you most in regards to the potential for girls within the business? This 12 months you launched the “Women To Watch In UAS” initiative. What was the impetus for the initiative and when will the winners be introduced?

Sharon Rossmark: Shortly after launching Women And Drones we began receiving suggestions about how studying one other girl’s story was inspiring others to seek out their very own method.

The extra emails we acquired the extra we knew the positioning was hanging all the proper chords with our viewers. The “Women To Watch” world initiative took place as a option to additional our mission of figuring out girls within the business who’re making an impression.

The recognition is designed to acknowledge and encourage girls who’re driving change. The choice committee is wrapping up their votes and finalists in every class will likely be introduced in September. The winners will likely be featured on WomenAndDrones.com and Drone360magazine.com and within the September/October print situation of Drone 360 Magazine.

UAV Coach: What are your predictions for the drone business? Please be happy to reply at size (what you see method down the highway, what you see for subsequent 12 months, the place you see rules headed within the U.S. and/or elsewhere, new purposes, and so forth.).

Sharon Rossmark: I’ll supply three that is probably not on the standard record of business predictions:

  • To additional develop the united statesindustry: Women will change into a significant a part of the united statesecosystem, altering the paradigm about girls in pilot and management roles!
  • In the close to future: As the drone market matures, for corporations with drone operations, danger administration practices will tackle a extra distinguished position inside their organizations. Demonstration of an funding in security administration procedures will likely be important to the monetary well-being of an organization
  • Down the highway: Flying to work in an autonomous passenger drone will change into a actuality by 2030.

Want to study extra about girls working with drones? Check out this video W&D created, showcasing 9 girls who’re making a huge impact within the drone business:

Zacc Dukowitz

Director of Marketing

Zacc Dukowitz is the Director of Marketing for UAV Coach. A author with skilled expertise in schooling know-how and digital advertising and marketing, Zacc is captivated with reporting on the drone business at a time when UAVs can assist us reside higher lives. Zacc additionally holds the rank of nidan in Aikido, a Japanese martial artwork, and is a broadly printed fiction author. Zacc has an MFA from the University of Florida and a BA from St. John’s College. Follow @zaccdukowitz or take a look at zaccdukowitz.com to learn his work.

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