At a time when the world is accelerating toward unprecedented technological and societal change, Shelli Brunswick stands at the intersection of imagination and impact. From her early career as a U.S. Air Force officer leading programs in space acquisition, program management, and policy, to her role today as a global futurist, author, and speaker, she has transformed a foundation of service and strategy into a universal message: the principles that guide humanity in space can elevate how we lead on Earth.
With a presence that spans audiences on six continents, Brunswick has become one of the most recognized voices shaping the future of innovation and leadership. Through her acclaimed What’s Space Got to Do With It? book series — a growing collection exploring leadership, innovation, and human potential through a space-inspired lens — she challenges leaders to adopt a space mindset: to think bigger, act bolder, and create meaningful impact.
For Brunswick, “the sky is not the limit” is more than a metaphor — it’s a mindset. The space mindset calls on leaders everywhere to transform imagination into innovation and purpose into progress, ensuring the next frontier benefits all of humanity.
Ⅰ. Introduction | Personal Background
Could you please start by introducing yourself to our readers and sharing your current role and mission?
I’ve always believed that leadership begins with curiosity — the courage to look up, wonder what’s possible, and then take action to make it real. My journey has taken me from leading missions in the U.S. Air Force to advancing the future of space and innovation on a global stage, and now to inspiring audiences worldwide as an author, inspirational speaker, and futurist.
Today, my mission is to help people see that space isn’t somewhere “out there” — it’s a mindset right here on Earth. It’s a way of thinking that challenges limits, fuels creativity, and inspires collaboration across every border and industry. Whether I’m speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, DeepFest and Leap in Riyadh, or the UN General Assembly Science Summit in New York, my goal is to ignite imagination, inspire action, and illuminate the future.
Your journey from the U.S. Air Force to becoming COO of Space Foundation and CEO of SB Global LLC is truly inspiring. What has been the driving force behind your career?
The driving force has always been service — leading with purpose, empowering others, and creating pathways where they didn’t exist before. The Air Force instilled the belief that leadership is not about authority; it’s about responsibility — taking care of people, missions, and values that extend beyond oneself.
That same philosophy guided each chapter of the journey. At the Space Foundation, the mission centered on translating the language of exploration into education and opportunity — demonstrating that space innovation impacts everyday life on Earth. The launch of SB Global LLC expanded that purpose globally, connecting governments, entrepreneurs, educators, and innovators to a shared vision of leadership through service.
Leadership, at its core, is a commitment to uplift others. Success is not measured by position but by the number of people empowered to reach their own potential. Through initiatives such as the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs’ (UNOOSA) Space4Women program, the Digital Youth Entrepreneurship Lab (DYEL) in Togo, and numerous global mentorships, that principle of “paying it forward” has remained constant.
The true measure of leadership is found not in personal achievement but in the impact created through others, transforming inspiration into collective progress and service into sustainable change.
Looking back, what was the biggest challenge early in your career, and what lesson did you take from it?
The greatest challenge wasn’t a single obstacle — it was learning how to evolve as the mission evolved. In the Air Force, leadership meant structure, precision, and discipline. Later, in the global innovation and space sectors, leadership demanded creativity, empathy, and a visionary approach. Bridging those worlds required transforming how success was defined — from following established paths to building entirely new ones.
That transformation taught a lasting truth: leadership is not a destination; it’s a continual act of becoming. Each transition, from defense to diplomacy, from operations to inspiration, became a training ground for adaptability and a sense of purpose.
The most powerful leaders are those who can translate experience into insight and use that insight to serve others. That realization became a central theme in What’s Space Got to Do With It? 10 Life Lessons for Personal Growth, that every chapter of our journey, even the uncertain ones, prepares us to lead at the next level. Change isn’t something to resist; it’s the very force that refines who we are meant to be.
Ⅱ. Leadership Journey | Managing Change and Growth
What does leadership mean to you, and how has your definition of it evolved over time?
Leadership has evolved from structure to synergy, from systems of hierarchy to networks of collaboration, connection, and character. The U.S. Air Force provided an extraordinary foundation for that growth. It instilled judgment, discipline, and integrity while teaching that great leadership begins with service. Those lessons became the launchpad for everything that followed.
Over time, leadership has come to mean something deeper: the ability to inspire rather than instruct, to empower rather than direct, and to build trust that endures through uncertainty. True leadership creates gravitational pull, aligning people around a shared mission rather than a single personality.
In my upcoming book, What’s Space Got to Do With It? Out of This World Leadership (2026), I explore three qualities that define the leaders who will guide humanity’s next frontier: Inspirational, Authentic, and Grateful.
• Inspirational leaders ignite purpose in others.
• Authentic leaders lead with transparency and courage.
• Grateful leaders elevate others, recognizing that success is always a shared journey.
These principles are not abstract ideals — they are the next evolution of leadership in action, grounded in service, sustained by integrity, and guided by gratitude.
How do you balance innovation and stability when leading an organization in such a fast-changing industry?
Innovation and stability may seem like opposites, but together they form the propulsion system of progress. Innovation fuels momentum; stability provides direction. The most effective organizations design systems where curiosity and consistency coexist, where creativity is encouraged, yet grounded in shared purpose and values.
New ideas are often evaluated through the Four Pillars of Lasting Success — Perspective, Passion, Perseverance, and Partnerships.
• Perspective ensures that vision remains grounded in purpose and aligned with human impact.
• Passion sustains momentum through uncertainty and fuels creative resilience.
• Perseverance bridges vision and execution, transforming experimentation into achievement.
• Partnerships multiply potential by uniting governments, academia, and entrepreneurs around shared goals.
As a resident columnist for Global Trends Magazine, this balance is explored frequently through articles connecting entrepreneurship and lessons from the space frontier. The space sector exemplifies how innovation and stability coexist — precision engineering guided by imagination, collaboration rooted in trust. The same is true for organizations on Earth: lasting progress emerges when bold ideas are paired with disciplined implementation.
Innovation without structure is chaos; structure without innovation is stagnation. True progress happens when organizations learn as fast as they lead — evolving through trust, adaptability, and respect for the people behind every breakthrough.
Innovation, at its best, doesn’t just move fast — it moves forward with meaning.
Can you share a moment when you had to make a difficult leadership decision—and how you approached it?
Every meaningful leadership decision involves uncertainty — moments when information is incomplete and outcomes carry real consequences. In those moments, the most effective approach is not reaction but reflection. When leading global projects or strategic initiatives, the first step is always to pause and ask: How does this align with purpose, people, and long-term impact?
Decision-making, especially across cultures and disciplines, requires a balance of clarity, courage, and collaboration. Over the years, three guiding principles have consistently shaped that process: entrepreneurial thinking, interdisciplinary innovation, and collaborative momentum.
• Entrepreneurial thinking encourages bold, forward-looking choices that embrace risk with responsibility.
• Interdisciplinary innovation ensures that expertise and perspectives from multiple fields come together before any course is set.
• Collaborative momentum transforms individual insight into shared progress — building alignment that sustains results far beyond the moment of decision.
Some of the most challenging choices are not about what to do, but how to bring people together to do it. Leadership in those moments is about cultivating trust, clarity, and shared commitment. True progress rarely happens alone; it happens when people unite around a purpose and move forward together.
Ⅲ. Innovation & Space Economy | Transforming the Future
You’ve often said, “Space is for everyone.” What is the deeper message behind that statement?
“Space is for everyone” is more than a statement — it’s a mindset. It reminds us that space is not just about rockets or technology; it’s about possibility, perspective, and purpose. Space challenges us to think beyond boundaries — geographical, political, or professional — and to imagine what’s possible when humanity works together toward a shared vision.
The space economy is a mirror for leadership and innovation on Earth. It’s about thinking bigger, acting bolder, and building the future together. Whether someone is an engineer, educator, entrepreneur, or artist, the same mindset applies: curiosity fuels creativity, and collaboration fuels progress.
The deeper message is that the benefits of space, from education to entrepreneurship, belong to everyone. When we widen access, we unlock new ideas, new industries, and new opportunities to create a better future for all.
Which example best illustrates how space technology has already transformed life on Earth?
Space innovation already shapes daily life in ways most people don’t realize. Satellite technology powers everything from navigation and telecommunications to agriculture, disaster relief, and environmental protection.
Farmers use satellite data to track soil conditions and improve crop yields. Humanitarian teams rely on Earth-observation systems to deliver aid after natural disasters. Astronomical research advances computing, materials science, and even medical imaging.
These innovations prove that space isn’t distant — it’s deeply human. Every satellite launched and every mission flown strengthens life here on Earth. That’s why space must remain a platform for collaboration, creativity, and collective good, ensuring that the technologies reaching beyond our planet also lift the people living on it.
What are the key factors that make collaboration between governments, private companies, and startups successful in the new space ecosystem?
Collaboration in the space ecosystem succeeds when it unites vision, value, and velocity — bringing together what each sector does best. Governments provide long-term vision and policy stability; private companies drive agility and innovation; and startups inject creativity and risk-taking. When those strengths converge under a shared mission, the results are transformative.
The most successful partnerships operate on three core principles: shared purpose, shared data, and shared benefit.
• Shared purpose aligns global priorities — advancing science, sustainability, and security together.
• Shared data ensures transparency, allowing innovation to accelerate responsibly.
• Shared benefit keeps the focus on humanity, ensuring that progress in orbit translates into prosperity on Earth.
Space itself is a living example of interdisciplinary innovation, an ecosystem that requires engineers, scientists, policymakers, educators, and entrepreneurs to work in harmony. From satellite networks that monitor climate change to precision agriculture that helps feed growing populations, space provides not only a lens to understand our planet but also the tools to protect it.
The future of collaboration lies in recognizing that space is not just a destination; it’s a solution, a platform for cooperation, creativity, and collective progress. When we work together across borders and industries, we don’t just explore the universe — we expand what’s possible for life on Earth.
Over the next decade, where do you see the greatest opportunities for innovation and growth in the space economy?
The next decade of the space economy will be defined by how we harness innovation to expand human potential. The most exciting opportunities are not just in reaching farther into space, but in applying those discoveries to create new value on Earth.
Three frontiers stand out.
• Resource Innovation: The ability to generate and distribute energy from space will transform how we power our world. Space-based solar arrays and orbital manufacturing will enable cleaner, more efficient systems that strengthen energy independence on Earth while unlocking new markets in orbit. These breakthroughs mark a shift from extraction to expansion, using technology to generate abundance rather than scarcity.
• Connectivity and Access: Advanced satellite constellations will bring education, commerce, and healthcare to communities that were once beyond reach. The next wave of space infrastructure will not just connect devices — it will connect people and ideas, empowering entrepreneurs and innovators everywhere to participate in the global economy.
• Human Potential: Perhaps the most transformative opportunity lies in imagination itself. As humanity returns to the Moon and ventures toward Mars, space will continue to be a catalyst for creativity, courage, and collaboration. Every mission will not only expand scientific knowledge, but also our collective sense of what’s possible.
The space economy is no longer defined by distance — it’s defined by purpose. The leaders who thrive in this new frontier will recognize that exploration is a privilege that carries both opportunity and responsibility.
When we think bigger, act bolder, and build the future together, space becomes more than a destination — it becomes a bridge to a thriving, interconnected, and resilient world.
Ⅳ. The Next Generation | Empowering Future Leaders
How can professionals outside traditional STEM roles contribute meaningfully to the space industry?
Space needs more than scientists and engineers — it needs visionaries who can connect imagination to impact. The future of space will be powered by technicians, entrepreneurs, educators, investors, policymakers, artists, and communicators who help translate discoveries into opportunities.
A powerful example is Dr. Nicole Wagner, CEO of LambdaVision, a company pioneering the development of protein-based artificial retinas — and manufacturing them in microgravity. Her work demonstrates how breakthroughs in biotechnology can intersect with space research, creating solutions that improve life on Earth while advancing new industries in orbit.
The same is true across the ecosystem:
• Technicians make space manufacturing and maintenance possible.
• Entrepreneurs turn concepts into companies and create new markets.
• Investors provide the capital that fuels exploration.
• Teachers inspire the curiosity that keeps the pipeline alive.
• Policy makers shape the frameworks that ensure growth is safe, ethical, and inclusive.
Space is a collective endeavor. The next generation of progress will come from collaboration — where creativity meets computation, art meets analytics, and leadership meets learning. When people from every background bring their expertise to the table, space becomes not just an industry, but an ecosystem of ideas with the power to transform life on Earth.
What key competencies should the next generation of leaders develop to thrive in the future workforce?
The future of leadership begins with self-leadership. In What’s Space Got to Do With It? An Interstellar Guide to Success, I introduce the Four Foundational Leadership Pillars—Leadership, Awareness, Access, and Action. They form a living framework for growth in a world defined by constant transformation.
Leadership starts from within; it is about purpose, accountability, and the discipline to lead oneself before leading others. Awareness broadens perspective, enabling us to see connections between people, ideas, and opportunities. Access opens pathways for collaboration and inclusion, ensuring that innovation is built on connection rather than competition. Action turns insight into momentum, translating vision into measurable impact.
These pillars are not sequential steps but a continual cycle of learning and alignment. When practiced together, they cultivate the adaptability, curiosity, and integrity required to guide progress in the decade ahead. The leaders who thrive will be those who understand that every external achievement begins with an internal choice, to learn, to listen, and to lead with purpose.
As an active mentor, what has been your most rewarding mentoring experience so far?
Every mentoring experience reinforces a single truth — that growth is reciprocal. Mentorship isn’t a one-way exchange of knowledge; it’s a shared journey of discovery, courage, and purpose. Whether supporting emerging entrepreneurs, future policymakers, or young professionals entering the space sector, the most rewarding moments are when mentees begin to see their own potential reflected back at them, and act on it.
In many ways, this process has evolved into what I call digital twin mentoring, a model where technology mirrors and magnifies human connection. Through virtual collaboration, global mentorship networks can accelerate transformation, allowing learning to flow both ways in real time. It’s mentoring reimagined for the interconnected era: scalable, sustainable, and deeply personal.
What makes it so meaningful is witnessing transformation in motion. When a mentee applies what they’ve learned, builds confidence, and then pays it forward to others, that’s when real impact multiplies. It embodies the Four Foundational Leadership Pillars from What’s Space Got to Do With It? An Interstellar Guide to Success — leading with integrity, cultivating awareness, expanding access, and taking purposeful action.
Ultimately, the greatest reward is seeing mentees surpass their mentors. That’s not an ending — it’s the goal. Each success story becomes part of a larger continuum of leadership and learning. When people rise, they lift others with them, and that is how communities — and humanity — advance together.
Ⅴ. Vision & Legacy | Leading Beyond Limits
SB Global LLC aims to “inspire all industries through space innovation.” What core value defines that mission?
That value is possibility. Space reminds us that boundaries are not limits—they’re invitations to explore. At its heart, SB Global exists to help individuals and organizations translate that lesson into leadership: to think beyond constraints, act with courage, and collaborate with purpose.
The mission is not only to advance the space industry, but to show how lessons from it—resilience, curiosity, and connection—can ignite transformation across every sector. Space innovation teaches us that no problem is isolated, and no solution exists in a vacuum. When imagination meets implementation, industries evolve, and humanity advances.
In this era of rapid technological advancement, how can technology—and space innovation in particular—help close the digital divide?
Technology is one of humanity’s most powerful equalizers when guided by purpose. The International Telecommunication Union reports that 2.6 billion people, about one-third of the world’s population, remain unconnected to the Internet. Most live in low-income countries, island nations, and regions along the equator, where access to reliable connectivity can transform lives.
Space-based technologies offer an extraordinary opportunity to close that gap. Satellite constellations, solar-powered infrastructure, and new orbital communication systems can deliver Internet access to even the most remote communities, turning isolation into inclusion. When combined with education and digital-skills initiatives, this connectivity becomes the foundation for entrepreneurship, healthcare, and lifelong learning.
But technology alone is not enough. The real measure of innovation is not how fast it advances, but how far its benefits reach. Leaders must ensure that emerging technologies serve as bridges, not barriers—tools of empowerment, not exploitation. Ethical innovation requires transparency, accountability, and collaboration across sectors and borders.
Space reminds us that we are all connected—literally and figuratively—by the same planet beneath our feet and the same stars above. When we align purpose with progress, technology doesn’t just change lives; it expands what’s possible for all of humanity.
What fundamental question does space exploration pose to humanity today?
Space poses a timeless question: What kind of future are we creating—and who will have a place in it?
Beyond the rockets and research, space exploration is a mirror reflecting our choices on Earth. It challenges us to consider whether progress will be defined by competition or collaboration, by limitation or possibility, by short-term gain or long-term stewardship. Every time humanity reaches upward, we’re reminded of the shared planet that anchors us below.
Space invites us to reimagine what’s possible—not only in orbit, but in how we live, lead, and connect. The same technologies that extend our reach to the stars can expand opportunities here at home—connecting communities, inspiring education, and empowering innovation across every sector.
Ultimately, space exploration is not about escaping Earth—it’s about understanding it more deeply. It asks us to dream with responsibility, to innovate with integrity, and to ensure that when we look to the stars, we do so as one humanity—united by curiosity, purpose, and care for the world we share.
Looking back, what moment in your leadership journey stands out as most meaningful?
The most meaningful moment wasn’t a single event — it was the realization that a message could become a movement. When What’s Space Got to Do With It? was first published, I hoped it might inspire others to see leadership and innovation through a new lens. What happened next went far beyond that. The ideas took flight, appearing in classrooms, boardrooms, and summits around the world, sparking conversations about purpose, possibility, and progress.
The continued evolution of the series, from 10 Life Lessons for Personal Growth to An Interstellar Guide to Success, has shown me that stories can open doors in ways statistics and strategies never could. They connect people, from students discovering their voice to executives reimagining their leadership journey.
Each keynote and conversation reinforces the same truth: when people think bigger, act bolder, and build together, transformation follows. The greatest impact has come not from the pages of a book or the stage of a conference, but from seeing those ideas take root — guiding others to lead with imagination, integrity, and courage.
Are there any new projects or personal goals you are passionate about pursuing in the near future?
Launching in Summer 2026, Book 3 – Out of This World Leadership explores how inspiration, authenticity, and gratitude shape extraordinary leadership. Building on the foundations of 10 Life Lessons for Personal Growth and An Interstellar Guide to Success, it draws from new research and global interviews with changemakers across business, government, and education who are redefining leadership for a rapidly evolving world.
The book emphasizes that extraordinary leaders are not defined by authority, but by empathy, curiosity, and courage. It offers readers a framework to think boldly, lead authentically, and create positive, lasting impact.
In parallel, the global keynote series “Leadership at the Edge of Innovation” continues to expand, engaging leaders across continents to apply lessons from the space economy to challenges here on Earth. Each gathering reinforces a shared vision — that progress begins when imagination and integrity move in tandem.
As the journey continues into 2026, I look forward to connecting with peers and partners at major global events, including the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), where I serve as an Innovation Judge, and the International Astronautical Congress (IAC). These moments offer opportunities to exchange ideas, inspire collaboration, and explore how space and emerging technologies can shape a better future for all.
Every initiative — whether a book, a masterclass, or a speech — carries the same mission: to ignite imagination, inspire action, and illuminate the future.
Finally, what single message would you like to share with global leaders reading DIOTIMES?
Leadership is not about reaching the top — it’s about expanding what’s possible for everyone. The future will not be defined by those who compete for space, but by those who create it — for new ideas, new voices, and new generations to thrive.
As we stand at the edge of innovation, our challenge is not to predict the future, but to participate in building it — with imagination, inspiration, and impact. The sky is not the limit; there are no limits when purpose and possibility align.
