“I don’t want to be the richest person I know, I want to make a difference and leave a legacy in this world.”
Kirsty Ferguson, of Pinstripe Solutions, is an internationally renowned aviation interview coach and speaker. Helping people land their dream roles isn’t just business — it’s her purpose.
It all started in 2001 when she casually helped someone’s boyfriend prepare for a major airline interview. Kirsty gave it a shot, and after 10 weeks, she’d broken down the airline’s complex interview process and helped him meet the high benchmarks — and he got the job.
Shortly after that, Ansett Airlines went under, and hundreds of staff members needed help rebuilding their confidence and preparing for new roles, so Pinstripe Solutions was born.
Today, Pinstripe Solutions provides interview skills preparation and confidence coaching through on-demand courses and individual coaching, working with clients around the globe. They specialise in the aviation industry, commercial pilots and Defence Force candidates, with an additional focus on women and entry-level professionals.
With over two decades in business, Kirsty has worked with school leavers, university graduates, executives, Olympians, firefighters, big jet pilots, airline cadets, and Defence Force Top Guns.
She operates under two brands: Interview Chix and its aviation-focused arm, Pinstripe Solutions. Her coaching blends sharp insight with deep empathy, helping candidates develop both their skills and confidence to succeed in high-pressure interviews — not just in aviation, but also in sectors like emergency services, corporate leadership, and defence.
Kirsty says, “Even after 24 years, I still love to coach, because it is helping people. When they call or email to say ‘I GOT THE JOB’, I still jump out of my seat and do a happy dance. There is no better feeling.”
She is also the co-founder of High School To Hireable, an employment-readiness program for secondary schools that’s helping young people take their first steps into the working world with clarity and confidence.
In 2021, she was invited to partner with SEEK.com.au as a career and interview expert, bringing her extensive expertise to an even wider audience.
“My advice — join a group like HerBusiness way, way earlier. You can’t do it all yourself.”
Since joining the HerBusiness Network just a few months ago, Kirsty has jumped in with both feet — becoming part of a Growth Group and embracing the benefits of being in a connected, supportive community of women in business. “Join a group like this way, way earlier,” she says. “You can’t do it all yourself.”
When asked what problem the HerBusiness Network helps her solve, she says: “Isolation is a big one. In practical terms, accountability and access to a whole whoop-ass of passionate experts.”
Who’s your favourite entrepreneur and why?
Is this a tick question? Suzi, of course. I take it you are excluded from this, though. OK, Steven Bartlett of Diary of a CEO podcast fame. As a young entrepreneur, he has a vulnerable side that he is not afraid to show. I relate to his authenticity in business. He also has multiple and diverse businesses and engages with both new and more mature business leaders. As a business owner in my 3rd act, I like to surround myself with people of different generations as I learn so much from each, and yes, I have other faves in my Gen X era.
Why did you start your business and what gave you the idea?
In 2001, a work associate who I was informally mentoring approached me and said, “My Boyfriend is 23, 6’3, and can’t string a sentence together; he is a pilot and has a Cathay Pacific job interview.”
I said, “Wow. I’ll give it a shot.” After 10 weeks, I had diagnosed him, the airline interview process, and how to meet their complex benchmarks. Yup, he got the job and started referring other pilots. As he said, ‘they are all like me’.
Just after that Ansett Airlines went under, and hundreds of staff needed help with their confidence and preparing to get other roles, so Pinstripe Solutions was born.
What do you enjoy most about running your own business?
Even after 24 years, I still love to coach, because it is helping people. When they call or email to say “I GOT THE JOB”, I still jump out of my seat and do a happy dance. There is no better feeling.
On top of that, I love how business keeps me fresh and learning, and that you can “make it up” as you go along. I like to do things with my own spin or with my ideas… business allows me to put stuff out in the world that really means something.
What three pieces of advice do you wish you’d been given when you started?
- Join a group like this way, way earlier, you can’t do it all yourself.
- Move faster, ideas wait for no one.
- Have a plan and accountability. Otherwise, you can give yourself excuses.
What advice would YOU give someone thinking about starting a business?
- It is the best way to build personal wealth and independence.
- There are no guarantees in life or business, so be prepared to back yourself and take some risks.
- Ignore those who are afraid for you; there will be good intentions, but that thinking will hold you back. Get advice from trusted expert sources.
- Who cares if ‘it’ has been done before, nobody will do ‘it’ exactly the same way as you will.
- Break rules…. and stick to your personal and professional standards as reputation is a hard one and easily lost.
What skills and knowledge areas would you recommend those starting out in business get acquainted with quickly?
- AI and IT, setting up systems with the big picture in mind, will save you a lot of headaches as you grow. Cheap ‘just get by’ systems cannot grow with you, and you will find yourself re-inventing what you have already done, instead of focusing on growth/scaling capabilities.
- Define your brand/customer very, very clearly. Every time you post or write or connect, you need to know who you are talking to and talk about things that matter to them.
- Finance management. SME’s fail when they don’t understand cash flow and reporting. So get a trusted finance/accounting expert on your books.
What does your IDEAL business look like? Even if you’re not there yet, what would it look like if your business was ideal?
- Back to global saturation. Pre-covid, 35% of our business was from international clients. There is so much scope and opportunity to expand, I want to see how far we can go…
- More consistent turnover that offers me the time to create and invent rather than being in the weeds.
- A larger contract team to support the business, and one that I can provide more certainty for. My team really matters to me, and I want them to benefit in more ways than just a paycheck.
- Making over 1 million turnover a year asap.
- I don’t want to be the richest person I know, I want to make a difference and leave a legacy in this world. We’ve developed products that specifically support women’s confidence, and I want that wisdom to have a greater reach, as it is important. I was not able to have children, so this business is my contribution to the world in more ways than just ‘work’. It needs to show the world that business can be done with care, ethics, and standards, and women have what it takes to do this.
- That said, more money means I can buy more dogs, horses, and have more adventures, so let’s not forget that :)
What problem does being a Member of the HerBusiness Network solve for you and your business? And, how?
Isolation is a big one. In practical terms, accountability and access to a whole whoop-ass of passionate experts.
Learn more about Kirsty and Pinstripe Solutions.
