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Joan Higginbotham: A Setback Is a Setup for a Comeback
Joan Higginbotham
Retired NASA Astronaut, Rocket Scientist, Electrical Engineer, & Third African American Woman in Space
- Third African American woman to travel into space
- Distinguished 20-year career with NASA as a real life rocket-scientist and astronaut, logging more than 308 hours in space
- Inspires audiences with her trailblazing journey into space and beyond, sharing how to tackle any endeavor like a NASA astronaut for success
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A retired NASA astronaut, Joan Higginbotham is a trailblazing electrical engineer, who in December 2006, flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery to become the third African American woman to travel into space. On the nearly 13-day mission, the seven-member crew continued construction of the International Space Station (ISS), embarking on four space walks with Higginbotham operating the station’s robotic arm.
Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, Higginbotham utilizes the International Space Station as the backdrop for sharing insights and lessons learned during her 20-year distinguished career with NASA, while inspiring and captivating audiences with her personal journey of breaking barriers to boldly go where few have gone: space. In doing so, she highlights the keys to succeeding in her missions – including seizing opportunities, being prepared, perseverance, working with diverse teams, and thriving in demanding, high-stakes environments – as well as how these tactics can be applied to any endeavor.
A real-life rocket scientist, Higginbotham began her career at NASA in 1987 as an aerospace technologist at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida, where she worked her way through numerous promotions and actively participated in 53 space shuttle launches during her 9-year tenure. Selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in 1996, she reported to the Johnson Space Center and was assigned various technical duties including testing modules of the ISS for operability, compatibility, and functionality prior to launch. Higginbotham has logged more than 308 hours in space, retiring in 2007 after 20 years with NASA, joining Marathon Oil to manage their corporate social responsibility office and the Bioko Island Malaria Control Program in Equatorial Guinea, Africa.
Higginbotham has had a storied career, serving as director of open innovation at Collins Aerospace, sourcing cutting-edge technologies to close current technology gaps and meet future technology needs. Prior to that role, Higginbotham managed the relationships with governmental agencies and public and private companies involved in human space exploration and also served as director of corporate social responsibility. Preceding her time at Collins Aerospace, she held multiple director positions at Lowe’s Companies, Inc., leading their community relations, supplier diversity, and global sourcing efforts. In April 2022, she stepped out on faith, resigned from corporate America, and launched her own aerospace consulting firm, Joan Higginbotham Ad Astra LLC.
Widely recognized for her accomplishments, Higginbotham has been honored by President George W. Bush at the 81st White House Black History Month Celebration, featured in Alicia Keys’ Superwoman video, is the recipient of the National Space Medal, the Adler Planetarium Women in Space Award, and the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, and was named one of Savoy Magazine’s Top Influential Women in Corporate America and one of Essence Magazine’s Top 50 Women, among other accolades.
Born in Chicago, IL, Higginbotham received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU-C), a Master of Science Degree in Management from the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT), a Master of Science Degree in Space Systems from FIT, an Honorary Doctorate in Aerospace Science from SIU-C, and an Honorary Doctorate in Humanities from the University of New Orleans.
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Joan Higginbotham: Out-of-this-World Lessons on Resilience & Teamwork
An astronaut's inspiring and winding road to space | Joan Higginbotham | TEDxBermuda
Michael P Anderson Program: Astronaut Joan Higginbotham
Breaking Barriers: An Astronaut’s Inspiring Journey to Space. Joan Higginbotham didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming an astronaut; her sights were set on a different frontier—pursuing a rewarding career as a successful electrical engineer. But when NASA came calling (literally), she answered. After spending nine years as a NASA rocket scientist, Higginbotham was among 6,000 applicants and 122 interviewees for the astronaut candidate program. Initially, she wasn’t selected. Refusing to take "no" for an answer, she doubled down on her determination, earning another graduate degree and ultimately being accepted into NASA's astronaut corps in 1996.
In this inspiring talk, Higginbotham shares her incredible journey to becoming the third African American woman in space. Taking audiences aboard her STS-116 mission to the International Space Station, she highlights the pivotal role of preparation, passion, and perseverance in overcoming challenges. Through her story, she illustrates the power of embracing opportunities and breaking barriers, leaving audiences with lessons that transcend the boundaries between Earth and space.
Managing Stress in High-Stakes Environments. Retired NASA astronaut Joan Higginbotham knows what it takes to thrive under pressure. From working through critical moments in space to contributing to 53 space shuttle launches where the stakes couldn’t be higher, Higginbotham draws from her extraordinary career to share strategies for staying composed and effective in high-pressure situations. She reveals how preparation, resilience, teamwork, and a solution-oriented mindset can transform challenges into opportunities. Through her engaging insights, audiences will learn how to navigate their own high-stakes moments with the confidence and focus of a seasoned astronaut.
Down to Earth: Elevating Corporate Social Responsibility and Social Impact. Since transitioning from her role as a NASA astronaut, Joan Higginbotham has become a leader in advancing corporate social responsibility (CSR). Drawing from her extensive experience—managing the Bioko Island Malaria Control Project at Marathon Oil, fostering community initiatives across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico at Lowe’s, and spearheading CSR efforts at Collins Aerospace—Higginbotham offers actionable insights on building a compelling CSR identity. Using real-world examples, she highlights the importance of driving social impact within organizations, inspiring them to create meaningful change across industries and communities.
Unity, Collaboration, and Acceptance from an Astronaut’s Perspective. Joan Higginbotham, the third African American woman to travel into space, draws on her experiences as part of the integrated crew (she refers to as the “mini–United Nations” crew) of Space Shuttle Discovery's STS-116 mission and her time aboard the International Space Station. In this transformative session, she shares how collaboration across differences can drive exceptional results, using her journey in space as a backdrop for exploring the strength of unified teams working toward shared goals. Joan also delves into the profound insights gained through the "overview effect"—a cognitive shift in awareness from seeing Earth as one interconnected entity—which inspired her to embrace one of the most fundamental human challenges: accepting people as they are.
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