We recently connected with Ishitha Arekapudi and have shared our conversation below.

Ishitha, appreciate you joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

Sky Riders: Breaking Barriers for Youth in Aviation. According to Boeing’s 2024 projections, the global aviation industry will need over 790,000 new pilots by 2037 to meet the soaring demand for air travel. In just over a decade, aviation will face one of its greatest challenges yet—a shortage of pilots who can keep our skies moving. At the same time, the space industry is transforming in ways once unimaginable. Some experts predict that by 2050, thousands of people could be living and working in space, paving the way for humanity’s next chapter in the cosmos. This generation, our generation, has the chance to mark milestones in human history.

Ever since the sixth grade, I knew I wanted to be an astronaut, but while going through these experiences, I always felt a lack of guidance in finding opportunities and at times I felt like everyone knew the fundamentals of aviation while I was still trying to finding out that you could fly by yourself at the young age of 14. Then, during one of my conversations with my mentor in the Experimental Aircraft Association, he showed me a chart with ages & licenses you could get. This moment
stands as one of my most fond memories — the moment I realized I could begin gliders at 14. Two weeks later, sitting in the cockpit of a glider, I began flight training. Learning that gliders were accessible at my age was like unlocking a door I never knew existed.

Throughout this journey, I also recognized that my passion for aviation extended beyond my own aspirations. I wanted to help others open doors to similar opportunities. This realization led me to establish Sky Riders, a national aerospace and aviation program for youth aimed at breaking down barriers that prevent young people from accessing aviation and aerospace opportunities, much like those I faced. Through Sky Riders, I have had the privilege of helping young individuals discover their own paths in aviation. Witnessing their excitement and growth as they take to the sky for the first time has been one of the most fulfilling experiences.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

The idea of becoming an astronaut didn’t come from a rocket launch or meeting an astronaut, but from a middle school talk I attended unintentionally. Born and raised in Ireland until I was 12 years old, I had never heard of ongoing space exploration. As soon as I moved to Seattle, everything seemed connected to aerospace. I became deeply invested in this knowledge I had never known before and set out to explore the field.

At a Science Olympiad meeting, I stumbled upon a talk on aerospace. I took in everything said. At the time, I wanted to be an astrophysicist—however, at the time, I felt the urge to be more involved. I wanted more. I wanted to go beyond and see these things for myself. I decided then and there that I wanted to be an astronaut, even though it was far from my parents’ expectations and I had no knowledge or connections in the field.

I wasn’t willing to wait until college to begin my journey, so I found every way to start as early as possible. At 14, I thought becoming a pilot was the perfect pathway into aviation, but at the time, I didn’t know how much I would come to love it. Starting with glider training, I began my career as an aspiring astronaut.

With Sky Riders, I’m working to make aerospace and aviation more accessible for young people like me who dream big but don’t know where to start. Our mission is to break down barriers and create pathways into the field for youth of all backgrounds.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Learning that gliders were accessible at my age was akin to unlocking a door I never knew existed. It felt as though I had been handed the keys to a place I had only dreamed of. From that moment on, everything began to fall into place. I had found my direction, and I was resolute in my pursuit. From that moment, everything seemed to align, and I felt a deep sense of purpose. I was determined to pursue my dream, no matter what it took.

But the journey wasn’t without its challenges. Over one winter, I committed to waking up at 5 a.m. every day to head to the airfield. The mornings were cold and unforgiving, and I often found myself scraping ice off the glider’s wings just to prepare for a flight. It wasn’t glamorous, and I wish I could say every morning ended with me soaring through the sky. Many times, the weather had other plans, and I had to pack up without taking off.

Still, I embraced every moment, even the frustrating ones, because each step—every early morning, every icy wing, every canceled flight—brought me closer to my goal. It taught me resilience and the value of perseverance, reminding me that every effort, no matter how small, is part of the bigger picture. Those mornings weren’t just about flying; they were about proving to myself that I had the dedication to pursue my dream, no matter the obstacles.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

One of the key resources that has shaped my management and entrepreneurial thinking is the book I wrote, Cleared for Takeoff. I created this book as a comprehensive guide to help aspiring pilots, engineers, scientists, and innovators navigate the paths to careers in aviation and space. The aviation and aerospace fields are expanding, but opportunities can often seem out of reach. Through Cleared for Takeoff, I aimed to break down those barriers and empower others to explore these exciting careers by providing the knowledge, resources, and networks that open doors to new possibilities.

Cleared for Takeoff outlines the pathways to navigating your journey in aviation. It provides general knowledge about becoming a pilot, the different pilot licenses and certifications you can work towards, and the various careers in the aviation industry, including a few lesser-known ones. I also include resources for studying, opportunities for volunteering and gaining flight experience, scholarships for flight training, and aviation-related post-secondary education. The book features colleges with strong aviation and aerospace programs, tips to help you begin your journey, and everything I’ve learned from my own experience. There’s even an index for quick reference to chapters and pages for bookmarking.

This book is designed to be used as a guide that you can choose to read from cover to cover or use as individual chapters, each filled with critical information. It’s meant to be part of your journey through this incredible, sometimes chaotic, field. Organized into specific sections, it’s further divided to help you find the opportunities and resources that work best for you. I share resources gathered from my personal experience, as well as insights from industry professionals to give you a broader perspective of everything this field has to offer.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://Instagram.com/nasa.starbound
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ishitha-arekapudi-044aa2301/