If she were male, perhaps she would have become a mechanic — tinkering with those old Bedford, Hino and Leyland trucks that defined life for most coloured families of that era.
Growing up on Mbala Estate, popularly known as kwa Pyman in Zomba, Jane Cohen’s world was shaped by agriculture, routine and modest expectation.
Her dream then was to become an accountant. She pursued the course, but eventually withdrew when tuition ran out. That could easily have been the end of the story.
But fate had bigger plans.
The only reason Jane rarely makes it back ‘home’ is because her fleet does not fly this side of the region.
From a farm estate to the world’s major airports — this is the remarkable rise of a Malawian woman who refused to let circumstance define her altitude.
“I remember standing at OR Tambo in South Africa years ago, watching Qatar Airways and Emirates cabin crew glide past. The way they walked—confident, majestic—left me in awe. I whispered to myself, ‘one day that will be me walking through this same airport in that uniform.’ Today, that dream is my reality. Dream big. Never underestimate yourself,” said the 31-year-old.
This is Jane’s story who has soared to remarkable heights in the aviation industry—a world she once admired only from afar.
She may well be the first Malawian flight attendant to serve with three international airlines: beginning with Malawian Airlines, rising to Qatar Airways and now taking her place with the prestigious Emirates.
But her journey is bigger than the destinations she flies to. As she circles the globe earning her stripes, Jane is also inspiring countless others, especially girls locally and internationally, that dreams do come true.
Born to Rodha Cohen and a man she prefers to identify only as S.A. Chiwaya, Jane began her education at Namadidi Primary School in Zomba, before proceeding to Chinamwali Secondary School.
“In 2007, we moved to Namadidi, Kaunde Village. As a young girl, I was always curious, observant and extremely ambitious. I dreamt big even when my world felt so small. I was shy, but my imagination was loud. Deep down I always felt something bigger was waiting for me,” she recalls.
After completing secondary school, she moved to Lilongwe and enrolled at Lilongwe Technical College to pursue her dream of becoming an accountant.
“I only did one semester because I had to drop out due to lack of financial support. So I was back to being just an Malawi School Certificate of Education holder,” she says.
Feeling discouraged, Jane did not realise that her turning point was closer than she thought and it came through her sister who practically pushed her into aviation.
“She believed in me before I believed in myself,” Jane admits. “She saw potential in me and knew I would make a good flight attendant. Without her push, I don’t think I would be a flight attendant.”
“People close to me knew I loved geography. I wanted to explore the world, understand nature, culture and history. Aviation came purely by coincidence.”
In May 2015. Jane was studying in a library when she stumbled upon a newspaper advert for cabin crew vacancies at Malawian Airlines.
“I didn’t even know what ‘cabin crew’ meant,” she laughs. “My sister encouraged me to apply. That’s how I became a flight attendant. The rest is history.”
From the moment Jane stepped into the industry, she knew her life had shifted.
“Malawian Airlines taught me the basics, it ignited my passion,” she says.
Four years later, that passion took her to Qatar Airways, a leap she still considers one of the biggest turning points of her life.
“I was the only female flight attendant from Malawi. Representing my country at such a big airline made me incredibly proud,” she adds.
In 2023, she joined Emirates. Each move stretched her, sharpened her and shaped her.
“Every airline built a different layer of the woman I am today,” she reflects.
Her first day as a flight attendant was a mixture of nerves and awe.
She was scared and didn’t know what to expect, but was proud.
Jane says being inside an aircraft and talking to passengers for the first time felt surreal.
That feeling never really leaves, she admits; it simply matures into professionalism.
Aviation, she has learned, is a world where adaptability is survival.
“Every day is different — different flights, destinations, cultures, crew. You learn not to take things personally, to think fast under pressure and to stay composed no matter what’s happening,” she says.
Over time, she discovered the qualities that kept her grounded resilience, humility, emotional intelligence and a genuine love for people.
“Passengers can feel your energy,” she says. “I think they see that I’m passionate about what I do.”
Her approach to the diverse cultures she encounters is simple: respect and curiosity.
“Every passenger has a story, a culture, a need. I try to meet them where they are. That connection makes the experience smoother for both of us.”
Among countless flights, one moment from London to Doha remains etched in her heart. A seven-year-old girl handed her a drawing of Jane in her uniform with the words ‘Best Cabin Crew Ever’.
“It made me emotional,” she says. “That’s when I realised how much our work can touch people.”
Inside the fast-paced, high-pressure environment of global aviation, Jane’s calm is rooted in her faith.
“Prayer and mental discipline,” she says. “Panicking never helps. I breathe, I focus and I remind myself why I’m there.”
Her personal foundation, she adds, is built on integrity, compassion and hard work — qualities she insists cannot be faked.
Her lifestyle is intentional. With irregular schedules, long flights and demanding interactions, she prioritises her well-being.
“I rest. I disconnect when I need to. Balance is something you create, not something you wait for.”
She recharges through prayer, fasting, podcasts, time with friends and, above all, her family.
“They remind me who I am outside the uniform,” says Jane.
Despite her growing success, she has never forgotten the young girls who dream the way she once did.
She spends more of her free time mentoring other wannabes from across the region through their applications online as they seek to join her into the aviation industry.
Jane takes time to answer their questions as well as shakes off their fears.
“I know how it feels to dream without guidance,” she says. ‘That is why she mentors aspiring flight attendants informally — reviewing CVs, helping with interview preparation and offering emotional support.
“If my journey can light someone else’s path, then I know I’m fulfilling a purpose.”
Her message to young dreamers is: “Dream big, prepare well and don’t give up after rejection. It took me more than five attempts to get into Qatar Airways.”
And if she could speak to her younger self — the shy girl waiting at OR Tambo, hoping her moment would come? She smiles softly: “I would tell her your dreams are valid. Walk with confidence. Your time will come. Have faith — it will happen
