SPEAKING

LEADERSHIP AT 17500 MILES PER HOUR

Strong leadership is a cornerstone of the human space program where leaders make decisions that carry risk to billions of dollars of equipment and to people’s lives. The leaders process and use massive amounts of information in a complex and dynamic environment that is also subject to budgets, stakeholders, schedules, and competition. These are also the attributes of today’s business environment. Steve will describe the practices of leadership in the challenging space business and how the practices can be used by business leaders to be effective in today’s competitive, uncertain global business arena.

Steve Smith is one of America’s most experienced astronauts with 4 flights and 7 spacewalks. Back on Earth, he quickly rose to the number two leadership position in the Astronaut Corps, was selected to lead multiple equipment failure investigations and teams, and was a Diplomat overseas for 12 years serving as NASA’s negotiating liaison in Europe. As a leader in space and back on Earth, he used a collection of practices and attitudes called The Explorer’s Mindset™.

Takeaways:

• Key leadership techniques used in difficult environments
• How to improve your organizations’ cohesiveness, resilience, and success
• The Explorer’s Mindset™ attributes specifically for leadership in extreme uncertain times

THE EXPLORER’s MINDSET™: ACHIEVE and BALANCE

Exploration is a dangerous business that requires taking risks and making very tough decisions. To cope with extreme environments and challenges, explorers draw on a particular set of attributes and habits that includes creative thinking, resiliency to setbacks, and perseverance. It’s The Explorer’s Mindset™.

Steve Smith first dreamed of being an astronaut at age 7. He pursued that dream with determination for nearly three decades despite multiple, serious setbacks until he became one of America’s most experienced astronauts and spacewalkers.

Steve used The Explorer’s Mindset™ to guide him on that difficult path to NASA and to survive and succeed as an astronaut. He will describe how individuals and teams can and must adapt the mindset to succeed in today’s fast-paced, dynamic, uncertain business environment. He’ll also provide useable advice on how to still maintain a balanced, joyful life.

Takeaways:

• An understanding of the mindset and practices of explorers
• Motivation to adapt the mindset to increase your professional and personal advancements
• Techniques to improve your life balance and joy while still advancing

AN ASTRONAUT’S JOURNEY: CHILDHOOD DREAMS TO RIDING ROCKETS

Steve Smith knows what it’s like to travel seven times the speed of a bullet at 17,500 MPH. He did it as an Astronaut but only after a 3-decade effort to get his first rocket ride and fulfill a dream expressed in childhood drawings. Along the way NASA rejected him 4 times and even rejected him permanently, or so NASA thought, by medically disqualifying him from applying. He’ll describe what inspired him to continue and how he became one of America’s most experienced astronauts and a leader in the Astronaut Corps. Steve will provide advice for all ages on thinking big, being creative, overcoming disappointment, and remaining strong and inspired.

Through the use of personal stories, gorgeous photos, and a passion and skill for sharing his experiences, Steve will describe how spaceflight can be everything from joyous to serious to comical. He’ll take you along on the ride. He’ll vividly describe the view of our planet from a distance and how that brought him joy for its beauty, but concern for its environmental fragility. He will inspire all to be good to nature – and to each other.

Takeaways:

• How to think creatively and to set big goals
• Skills to overcome obstacles at any point in your life
• Techniques to improve your life balance and joy while still advancing
• Have fun hearing about flying in space and seeing the Earth