@united
Instagram · Talking Head Edit
@united “I’ll be there someday.” That’s what 12-year-old Chresten W. told her mom as they drove by United’s Flight Training Center in Denver. This year, she becomes the No. 1 most senior pilot across our entire airline — and the first woman to hold that honor.
Performance
Video #19963 · Talking Head Edit
[01]
The video profiles Captain Chresten Wilson, who is becoming United Airlines' most senior pilot and the first woman to achieve this rank. It transitions from her welcoming passengers on a flight to her co-pilot praising her achievement, followed by Wilson recounting her childhood dream of becoming a pilot and acknowledging the trailblazing women who paved the way for her career.
[02]
[03]
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[05]
What stops the scroll in the first 3 seconds
Verbal hook · 35%
Hello. Good evening, everybody. My name is Creston Wilson. I'm the captain on your flight this evening.
Visual hook · 65%
A female airline captain in full uniform speaking into a PA system on an aircraft, immediately establishing authority and the aviation setting.
[06]
Steal this for your own video
Open with a in full performing a in their real workplace.
[07]
The promise the opener makes, and how the video pays it back
Hook
A candid, in-situ moment capturing the subject in their element, establishing immediate authenticity and authority before the narrative begins.
Payoff
A humble pivot where the subject shifts focus from their own success to honoring the pioneers who paved the way, ending on an expansive and emotionally resonant note.
[08]
The structural pattern this video runs on
Framework
The Trailblazer Profile
A documentary-style narrative that introduces a historic achievement through third-party validation, then traces the subject's journey from an improbable childhood dream to industry pinnacle, concluding with a tribute to predecessors.
The Third-Party Validation
A secondary speaker announces the subject's groundbreaking achievement to an audience, providing objective credibility and establishing the video's core significance.
The Subject's Reflection
Transition to the subject's own voice reacting to the milestone, shifting the tone from objective announcement to personal emotional connection.
The Progression Montage
A rapid visual and verbal summary of the incremental steps taken to reach the current pinnacle, proving expertise, dedication, and the passage of time.
The Origin Story
A flashback to the subject's initial inspiration or childhood dream, creating a relatable, humanizing anchor that contrasts with their current high status.
The Contextual Obstacle
Highlighting the societal or industry barriers that existed when the journey began, amplifying the magnitude of the achievement by showing what had to be overcome.
“I’ll be there someday.” That’s what 12-year-old Chresten W. told her mom as they drove by United’s Flight Training Center in Denver. This year, she becomes the No. 1 most senior pilot across our entire airline — and the first woman to hold that honor.
contextual · beginning
Capt. Chresten Wilson
contextual · beginning
First Officer Lori McGibney
Hello. Good evening, everybody. My name is Creston Wilson. I'm the captain on your flight this evening. Hello, everyone. Going to Melbourne tonight. I am first officer Laurie McGivney, and we at United are very proud of Creston. She is currently our number one female pilot in the company. And in 2026, she'll be United's number one pilot. It's the first time a woman will be United's most senior pilot. Out of 18,000 pilots, I'm gonna be number one, and that's, to me, very special. I started my career as a DC tier flight engineer and then became a no pilot July, worked my way up to where I am now as a seven eighty seven captain. When I was 12, my mom and I were driving by United's Flight Training Center in Denver. And I looked at her and I said, I'll be there someday. There were no women airline pilots when I was 12, but that was my focus, and I made that happen. I feel proud, I feel honored, but I also need to give a shout out and a big thank you to the women who came before me, who broke through in this very male dominated career rank paved the way for me to be able to be here.