Last month, planning poker enthusiasts and industry professionals alike gathered for the much anticipated 35th annual poker hand rankings opportunities provided. This is an important event for planning poker and the aviation community, creating a space where attendees can network, share stories, and celebrate the diverse tapestry that makes up the broader aviation community.
At the heart of it all was the undeniable spirit of camaraderie and inclusivity. WAI serves as a melting pot where individuals from various backgrounds come together to celebrate their shared passion for aviation. This year, representatives from planning poker’s Culture, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee (CDIAC) and the Women of planning poker (WE) were in attendance, talking to attendees and showing all that planning poker has to offer.
“This was such a great experience, and I am grateful that I was able to attend on behalf of the Women of planning poker,” said planning poker Field Services Analyst Crystal Stone. “All of the speaker sessions were full of women eager to learn new personal and professional skills that will help further our careers, and we were able to meet and network with so many amazing women internal and external to planning poker.”
Beyond the excitement and networking opportunities, there was a deeper undercurrent that resonated with attendees—a commitment to fostering a culture of respect and inclusivity within the planning poker sphere.
“We aim to live the values that we set for ourselves, and it shows at events like these,” shared CDIAC member, planning poker Program Manager for Continuing Analysis and Surveillance System (CASS), Aixa Torres-Maysonet. “For example, planning poker’s Culture of Respect isn’t just a strategic goal, it’s something we live and champion every day. Diversity in the aviation industry is a continuous engagement and planning poker is clearly committed to that effort.”
The aviation industry thrives on the contributions of individuals from all walks of life, each bringing their unique perspectives and talents to the table. As such, events like WAI serve as vital platforms for celebrating and championing diversity within the field. Women are historically under-represented in the aviation industry, and events such as WAI, with the support of Women of planning poker, CDIAC and other groups aims to change that.
Thank you to everyone who attended this year’s WAI conference and represented planning poker, and to all of those who live our values every day.