Shelli Brunswick, COO of Space Foundation, brings a broad perspective and deep vision of the global space ecosystem — from a distinguished career as a space acquisition and program management leader and congressional liaison for the U.S. Air Force to her current role overseeing Space Foundation's three primary divisions: Center for Innovation and Education, Symposium 365, and Global Alliance.
Advocating for space technology innovation, entrepreneurship, diversity and inclusion, Shelli collaborates with organizations around the world to connect commercial, government and educational sectors.
Especially for the WomenTech Network, Shelli agreed to give an interview and share her story.
Watch all Global Awards keynotes on our YouTube channel.
Want to be a part of more events we organize? Join the WomenTech Global Conference 2022 to hear Shelli's and other inspiring talks.
Congratulations on winning a WomenTech Network Global Technology Leadership Award! How did it feel when you found out you had won?
Elated, yet humbled. Standing on the shoulders of giants before me, I won this award for Space Foundation because of mentors, champions and advocates who opened doors for me, shared their knowledge and wisdom, and most importantly, believed in me. I am committed to doing the exact same thing for others – paying it forward through my mantra of service beyond self – because there is so much more work to be done.
Tell us about your background, journey in tech, and what inspired you to develop your career in this direction.
I was raised by a single mom – my hero – who set the course for a journey of self-discovery, personal growth and the confidence that there were no limits. I enlisted in the US Air Force out of high school and went to school at night earning both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees while serving my country during the day. I worked as an airman and then was accepted to become a space acquisition (program manager) officer focusing on ground stations, launch vehicles and satellites.
Pathfinders throughout my career opened doorways and helped me bolster my skill sets so I was always prepared for the next challenge or opportunity presented. This led to my dream job: serving as a congressional liaison to the U.S. House of Representatives on Capitol Hill. I was empowered to serve on behalf of the US Air Force for policy, budget and appropriations. This was instrumental in laying the groundwork for a career of advocacy and outreach and positioning me for future senior leadership positions.
My journey now finds me in my most important role as a chief operating officer at Space Foundation, a nonprofit advocate organization, founded in 1983, offering a gateway to information, education and collaboration for space exploration and space-to-Earth industries that define the global space ecosystem.
My inspiration is a deeply rooted commitment to service beyond self — my mother, mentors, military, and non-profit work at Space Foundation all contribute to nurturing and supporting my life’s work.
Any advice you would like to give to girls in STEM on pursuing their dreams?
There are no limits. There are multiple STEM career pathways in the new global space ecosystem. And, we need non-STEM talent. This means entrepreneurs and inventors, business administrators and project managers, artists and designers, and more.
When you think of space, you need to think beyond space exploration and space travel. Space technology innovations are essential to improving life on Earth in industries like telecommunications, environmental monitoring, cyber security, manufacturing, engineering and high-performance computing. The possibilities are endless.
Find your mentors. Reach out to peers and professionals to explore the possibilities through resources like WomenTech Network and United Nation’s Space4Women Network Mentors. There has never been a better time to pursue a space career.
What is the greatest challenge you hope to solve in 2022?
We need to bring Space Foundation programs to those that need them most! This is our greatest challenge as we enter 2022. Compounded by the pandemic, lost jobs, and remote working, the divide is widening. My recent travels have made it very clear that those that need our programs most are faced with the greatest challenges of access and opportunity.
So for 2022, my greatest ambition is to create an endowment at Space Foundation for entrepreneurs, innovators, young professionals and students from around the globe that want to onboard into the space industry. We have built a stellar team behind our Center for Innovation and Education, leading with K-12 student and teacher programs, Space Commerce Institute for university students and entrepreneurs, and more.
I invite our extensive partner network of stakeholders — business, government, education and local communities — to support Space Foundation in building our endowment through corporate membership, sponsorship, fundraising and grants.
