Materials.Business Newsletter ⚙️
February 06th, 2025
Podcast Guest: Shelli Brunswick
Video in English you can add subtitles in any language - see below to learn how!
Welcome to this edition of our newsletter! In this issue, we are thrilled to share insights from a recent episode of the Material Business Podcast, featuring the inspiring Shelli Brunswick. Shelli's journey from the United States Air Force to becoming an entrepreneur in the space industry is filled with valuable lessons on leadership, mentorship, and personal growth. Here are some key highlights and takeaways from our conversation.
Key Points Discussed:
Shelli Brunswick's career journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and adaptability. Her career spans four distinct chapters: joining the Air Force right out of high school, becoming an officer and space acquisition officer, working on Capitol Hill, and transitioning to the corporate world as the COO of Space Foundation before starting her own company, SB Global LLC.
Throughout her journey, Shelli emphasizes the importance of trying new things and taking risks, even when the odds are against you. As she puts it,
"Try anyways, even when the odds are against you, because you never know."
Mentorship plays a crucial role in Shelli's story. She highlights the value of having mentors, champions, and coaches throughout one's career. These relationships provide guidance, support, and opportunities for growth. Shelli's advice is clear:
"You don't want to look back in 30 or 40 years and be one of those people who says, I wish I had tried."
This sentiment reminds us of the importance of seeking out mentors and being open to learning from others. Stepping out of comfort zones and embracing new experiences is another key theme in the conversation. Both Monica and Shelli discuss the importance of trying different things to discover new passions and find one's place in the world. Shelli encourages listeners to explore various opportunities until they find what resonates with them, saying,
"If you're not sure where your passion is yet, try different things until you start finding a place that feels right."
Networking and building connections are also highlighted as essential for personal and professional growth. Monica shares how her podcast guests are often introduced through mutual connections, creating a ripple effect of collaboration. This idea is reinforced by Shelli's experience, demonstrating that it's all these connections that make it happen.
Shelli's entrepreneurial journey is filled with challenges and rewards. She shares her experience of leaving the corporate world to start her own company, emphasizing the importance of having a supportive team and prioritizing self-care. Her advice to entrepreneurs is to manage their energy levels and prioritize tasks effectively, stating,
"You have to make sure that you take care of yourself first."
Shelli also discusses the importance of taking breaks to spark creativity and maintain a visionary outlook, especially for CEOs, and that takes us to her journey as a writer, which began with a desire to share her extensive experiences and insights with a broader audience. After years of mentoring and giving speeches, she realized the value of documenting her lessons and stories. Her first book, "What's Space Got to Do with It? 10 Life Lessons for Personal Growth," is a culmination of her own experiences and interviews with 30 global thought leaders. Shelli approached the writing process with a learner's mindset, embracing the challenges and joys of writing and publishing. Her goal was to create a resource that could inspire and guide others, making her journey as a writer not just a personal achievement, but a gift to those seeking growth and inspiration. Her closing sentences are marked with powerful statements, it's only fair to quote them exactly as said:
Passion is the rocket fuel that ignites you. Perseverance is what keeps you going, but it's patience that sustains you. So you need to have all three of those things to be successful and accomplish your goals in life.
This discussion, inspires us all to be bold and dream big, it emphasizes the power of mentorship, the courage to step out of comfort zones, and the ups and downs of the entrepreneurial journey. Shelli takes us through her fascinating career, from her early days in the Air Force to her latest endeavor as a writer, sharing the importance of trying new things and building meaningful connections along the way. They also touch on the crucial role of self-care and emotional intelligence in effective leadership.
Whether you're just starting out or looking to take your career to the next level, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration. We hope you enjoy these takeaways as much as we did. Stay tuned for more engaging conversations in our upcoming newsletters!
#womeninspace #WomenInSTEM #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #MentalHealth #SelfCare #Empowerment #writer #Inspiration #Leadership
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Shelli Brunswick, CEO & Founder of SB Global LLC, is a dynamic force in the global space ecosystem. A former U.S. Air Force officer and COO of Space Foundation, she bridges space and the broader public through innovation and collaboration. A celebrated keynote speaker and author, Shelli shares insights on leadership, career success, and space’s transformative impact. As a futurist, she shapes space’s future with global think tanks. Recognized as a Top 100 Woman of the Future in Emerging Technology and a UN 100 Voices for Our Planet, Shelli champions inclusivity and sustainability across industries.
Listen on Apple podcast, Spotify or You Tube and make sure to Follow US!
If you are watching the episode on YouTube, you can translate to almost ANY language, here is how:
- Open any video on YouTube.
- Click the CC button so it is underlined in red.
- Click the Settings (Gear) Button.
- Click Subtitles.
- Click Auto-translate.
- Choose a Language.
Why Join the Materials.Business Community?
We asked our guest....
To learn and listen to other people's stories, whether it's from their walks of life and what they've done or whether it's from a technical ability that they have. It's important to learn from others, especially as the world is evolving and shifting.
You have such a unique podcast platform and audience, I am honored to be here- Shelli B.
So, this is a great platform that allows that to happen.
Joining this community isn’t just about staying informed—it’s about contributing to a collective effort to shape a more sustainable, inclusive, and innovative future in the materials industry. Ready to be part of this community?
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