Monika Petrillo always knew that one day she would write and produce a movie. The only problem was that even though Petrillo was working within Hollywood’s film industry, she couldn’t imagine up a fictional screenplay idea. Who knew that she would get her chance later in life by simply holding up a digital recorder while flying herself, her father and a small plane through the skies over some of Australia’s most remote places.

Seven years later, Petrillo’s documentary “Flyabout” was released. Her debut film was inspired by Australia’s native Aborigines, who use the term “walkabout” to describe a spiritual journey. In many ways, Petrillo’s flight story is her own spiritual journey that is showcased throughout the film.

Petrillo and pilot Lynda Meeks will be sharing their stories about flight with an intimate audience at Kent State University’s Women Take Flight event on Nov. 4. The conclusion of the evening will feature a viewing Petrillo’s movie. Both Petrillo and Meeks will share not only from their own personal experiences in flight, but will be there to encourage and highlight the opportunities for women in the aviation field.

For Petrillo, the journey of circumnavigating her plane through Australia became less a documentary about the country as it did the events that unfolded during her aerial tour. With her father as co-pilot, both were faced with challenges under the pressure of a tight schedule, visibility issues and sometimes dangerous lying conditions. What emerges is a film that intimately weaves a father-daughter relationship amongst the beauty, landscape and culture of Australia.

Knowing that so many people have a story to tell, Petrillo is happy to share the film with people and hopes it can inspire people to “go after their dreams and not let life pass them by.” Lynda Meeks hopes to inspire and change the face of aviation by encouraging more girls to “dare to dream” big and literally reach for the skies. Meeks is the founder of Girls With Wings and presents at speaking events around the country.

Do you think of aviation as a male-dominated industry? Did you have a mentor encourage you to think across “gender lines” growing up?