Paying it Forward: Jennifer Hamilton’s Rise Up the Ladder & A Nod to Those Who Supported Her

Jennifer Hamilton credits her rise through the ranks of Spirit’s logistics team partly to the nurturing and mentorship she’s enjoyed from women in her personal and professional life. She’s made the most of Spirit’s DE&I initiatives like the Elevate program to develop the tools required for success.  Now she’s determined to pay it forward. 

Jennifer has always benefitted from strong female role models. She was born in Newtownabbey, a town just outside Belfast, the youngest of three sisters. Her siblings were 12 and 16 when she was born, meaning she had “three mommies” keeping her in good stead. Her mother was the most inspirational figure in her early life, instilling a keen sense of hard work and determination in all three sisters. From an early age, Jennifer’s late mother taught her she could be anything she wanted to be by setting her sights and working hard for it. 

Armed with that inspiration, Jennifer embarked on a geography degree at Queens University in Belfast, aspiring to become a primary school teacher. During her studies, she became a student mentor and volunteered at local primary schools with children who required additional learning support. These activities helped develop her early mentoring and leadership skills. 

After graduating, Jennifer decided primary school teaching was not the profession for her and decided to earn a master’s degree in management. It was during an assignment focused on supply chain that her interest in the field piqued. She also took a research trip to then-Bombardier’s Belfast operations to understand their global supply chain activities and write a report on the company. This experience opened her eyes to the world of manufacturing and aerospace. 

“I remember being struck by how much it felt like a man's world,” Jennifer says. “But despite me feeling like that when I was there, as soon as I saw the job advertisement for the graduate program, I knew I was going to apply.”

She got the job and started at Spirit the same day she submitted her master’s degree thesis.

Overcoming challenges to maximize potential  

Throughout her career with Bombardier, and later Spirit, Jennifer has seen a lot of change. She began as a supply chain graduate with the procurement team in 2007 and became a fully-fledged sourcing agent two years later. In 2013, she secured her first management role at the company, as a principal buyer where she investigated, identified, and established a Moroccan supply chain for fabricated metal parts for a new facility in Casablanca. 

Further opportunities followed for Jennifer, as did challenges. In 2017, she was promoted to a specialist buyer position, overseeing a small team. For this transition, she switched from metallics to composites, which presented a steep learning curve. 

“I realized that I needed to accept these challenges in order to further my own development and fulfill my own potential,” Jennifer recalls. “And from then on, I really understood that I needed to seek out and embrace all opportunities that were available.” 

After Spirit acquired Bombardier in 2020, Jennifer continued progressing up the management ladder with the new owners. She was on maternity leave in 2021 when she saw a new opportunity for a temporary role as a supply chain section head. It was outside procurement, her area of expertise, but she knew had to go after it. Her role became permanent, and she kept it until last year, when she attended an International Women’s Day event at Spirit. 

Utilizing support from fellow Spirit women 

At the event, Jennifer heard stories from inspiring women within the company and made a decision that would change her career. 

“I was going to bite the bullet and apply for a senior strategic sourcing manager role that was advertised,” Jennifer says. “Up until that point, I really didn't think that I was capable.”

Many of the speakers at the event were working mothers, like Jennifer. She has two young children with her husband Mark and has always tried to maintain a healthy work-life balance. The stories of other working mothers in senior management positions pushed Jennifer to apply. Before long, she secured the job. 

“I realized at that point that I shouldn't let being a working mom put me off being successful as a senior manager,” Jennifer says. 

Jennifer also joined the Mentor Alliance Program at Spirit, which connects her with a senior mentor. Hers is Noreen Courtney, a program director in Belfast. Jennifer connects with Noreen regularly to discuss issues she’s having that require help and guidance. She also takes advice on how to strengthen herself as a manager and be a better leader. But Noreen isn’t the only female mentor Jennifer leans upon. 

“I'm very fortunate that there's a path of successful female leaders here in Belfast that I firmly aspire to follow. All of them have given me support, advice, and guidance as well, whenever I've needed it,” Jennifer says.

Giving back

Jennifer now wants to pay forward all the guidance, mentorship, and advice she has received during her career. She has already incorporated this approach into her management approach but wants to see herself on the other side of the Mentor Alliance Program one day. 

Jennifer particularly wants to help other working mothers who might feel that they don’t have the flexibility or mental capacity to advance upwards—the same way she felt a few years ago. She believes the work-from-home opportunities at Spirit allow working mothers to be even more flexible at work and maintain a healthy work-life balance. 

Due to programs such as those she’s benefited from and other factors, Jennifer is exceedingly positive about the future of women in aviation. She encourages women to stand up, speak out, and make themselves heard. 

“Be yourself. Find your passion. Do what makes your heart sing,” she says. 

 

A final word 

Jennifer Hamilton’s career progression is a testament to her ability, strength, and fearlessness when taking on a new challenge. Each time she has moved upwards she’s tackled new hurdles head-on, and rightly leaned on a fantastic support system to make sure each transition has been a success. Now she has her heart set on helping others as much as possible. 

“I love coaching other females to try and dispel the mindset of ‘you can't be a working mom and carve out a successful career.’ I want to inspire other girls to do the same,” Jennifer explains. “I want them to know that with the right mindset, the right support, the right coaching, they can do it.”

To get involved in Spirit's initiatives or to explore other opportunities, visit https://careers.spiritaero.com/.