Empowering Women Leaders in Defense and Aerospace:
LIMEP’s Three-Part Leadership Training Series
The Long Island Manufacturing Extension Partnership (LIMEP) recently concluded a three-part Women’s Leadership Training Series, designed to empower women professionals in the defense and aerospace sectors with tools to enhance communication, delegation, and leadership effectiveness. Offered free of charge to participants, the series brought together women from across Long Island’s manufacturing ecosystem — from engineering and auditing to marketing, contracts, and executive management.
The training was led by Michele Rebetti of Key Alliance, whose engaging and insightful approach helped participants explore core leadership competencies including understanding personality types, effective communication, and delegation and team empowerment. Through interactive discussions, group exercises, and real-world examples, Michele guided attendees in developing strategies to improve collaboration, strengthen workplace culture, and lead with authenticity.
Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with 100% of respondents rating the sessions “5 out of 5” for satisfaction and professional relevance. Attendees described the program as “interactive,” “eye-opening,” and “a great platform to connect with other women in leadership.”
“The Women’s Leadership Training was well executed and full of valuable takeaways,” said Zuhal Vlasak, Director of Sales at Seal Dynamics. “I especially appreciated learning practical communication strategies, like the bulletized email format, that I’ve already started using.”
“This training helped me understand personality differences and the importance of thinking before I speak,” shared Michele McNeill, Manager of Contracts & Purchasing at Lourdes Industries. “It’s helped me become a more self-aware and thoughtful leader.”
“It was a great platform to meet other women in similar industries and learn how to delegate effectively,” added Richa Sharma.
Participants noted that they planned to implement what they learned immediately — from keeping staff more engaged to applying new communication methods and fostering accountability through structured delegation.
Looking ahead, respondents expressed interest in future programming on topics such as inclusive leadership, managing upward, hiring strategies, and building executive presence.
LIMEP’s Women’s Leadership Training Series, facilitated by Michele Rebetti of Key Alliance, underscores the organization’s ongoing commitment to advancing equity, leadership, and workforce development in Long Island’s manufacturing sector. By creating spaces for women to share experiences, learn from peers, and develop new skills, LIMEP continues to build stronger, more resilient leadership pipelines for the region’s future.
