Flying Through Chaos: How to Stay Mission-Ready in High-Stress Environments

In this episode of Tech Transforms, Carey Lohrenz shares powerful lessons from her experience as the first female F-14 Tomcat pilot and author of Span of Control. Rather than focusing on aviation war stories, the conversation dives into how high performers navigate overwhelm, uncertainty, and pressure by narrowing their focus to what they can actually control. Drawing on both combat aviation and personal hardship, Carey reframes stress as a necessary component of performance—and offers practical strategies to manage it effectively.

The discussion explores how elite performers build resilience through training, prioritization, and teamwork—from cockpit checklists to the “meatball, lineup, angle of attack” mindset used in high-stakes landings. Carey also highlights the importance of shared load, trust, and even small moments of celebration in sustaining high-performing teams.

Ultimately, this episode is a grounded, relatable guide for leaders and professionals alike—showing how to stay focused, effective, and human when everything feels like it’s moving at once.

Show Notes:
Carey Lohrenz Website:
➤ https://careylohrenz.com/
Carey on LinkedIn:
➤ https://www.linkedin.com/in/careylohrenz/
Carey’s Podcast:
➤ Welcome to My Office: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/trailer-welcome-to-my-office/id1564095883?i=1000520362663
Carey’s Book:
➤Span of Control - https://a.co/d/04zCzjdf