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Advisory Board

Shelli Brunswick, MBA

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Shelli Brunswick, MBA

Shelli Brunswick, MBA, Ph.D. (honoris causa) is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of SB Global LLC and a globally recognized visionary thought leader with over 35 years of experience transforming the global space ecosystem through strategic leadership, policy advocacy, and entrepreneurship.

Shelli brings a distinguished perspective from her 29-year career in the U.S. Air Force as a space acquisition and program management leader and congressional liaison, to her transformative tenure as Chief Operating Officer at Space Foundation, where she oversaw three primary divisions: Symposium 365, Center for Innovation and Education, and Global Alliance from January 2015 to January 2024, including serving as Acting Chief Executive Officer from October 2016 to May 2017.

Currently leading SB Global LLC, Shelli provides customized strategy formulation, strategic partnership engagement, and advocacy programs to global leaders and organizations. She serves as a World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF) Senator for the United States, representing the nation in this G20-affiliated partner organization focused on fostering innovative financial instruments for startups and SMEs.

As President of the WBAF Global Women Leaders Committee Incubator and Accelerator Subcommittee, she champions female entrepreneurs globally through strategic partnerships and access to smart finance. Her leadership extends to serving as Global Chair of the G100 Space Technology and Aviation Wing, driving cross-sector collaboration on global aviation and space strategies.

Shelli began her professional journey in the United States Air Force, serving nearly three decades in leadership roles across space acquisition, program management, and congressional affairs.

During her military career from 1985 to 2014, Shelli rose from enlisted airman to Lieutenant Colonel, serving in critical roles including Government Affairs/Congressional Budget & Appropriations Liaison to the U.S. House of Representatives from 2010 to 2014, where she advocated for Air Force budget interests across five fiscal years and promoted key policy initiatives for programs including the F-35, KC-46, Long Range Strike Bomber, and Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle.

She prepared senior military and civilian leadership for over 20 Congressional hearings and executed over 400 strategic engagements with congressional members and staff. The Congressional Record formally recognized her 29 years of distinguished service.

Shelli has contributed her expertise to research initiatives for NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA), including the ESA Futures Study “Drivers of Change of the Global Space System” from February to March 2023 and NASA Futures Roundtables “Exploring Challenges and Opportunities for NASA in the Emerging Environment” from May to June 2022. Her work with think tanks including the Hudson Institute as a Hamilton Commissioner for the Space Industrial Base and the Wilson Center shapes global discussions on space policy and innovation.

Following her military service, Shelli joined the Space Foundation, where she served as Chief Operating Officer. During her tenure, she helped expand the Foundation’s global reach, build partnerships with organizations such as the United Nations, African Union, and the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and strengthen engagement across government, academia, and industry. Under her leadership, the organization experienced unprecedented growth in programs, events, and international visibility, cementing its reputation as a global hub for space innovation, policy dialogue, and workforce development.

Shelli’s thought leadership is evident through her prolific authorship, including the acclaimed What’s Space Got to Do With It?: 10 Life Lessons for Personal Growth, What’s Space Got to Do with It?: An Interstellar Guide to Success, and What’s Space Got to Do With It?: Out of This World Leadership, a forthcoming Book 3 in the series, focused on leadership excellence, authenticity, and global influence

As a member of the Forbes Technology Council, she provides regular insights on the transformative impact of space technology on global industries. Her articles in SpaceNews and Global Trends Magazine shape discourse on innovation and leadership. She has delivered a TEDx talk on “What’s Space Got To Do With It?” and speaks at over 100 venues annually, including the World Economic Forum, UN Science Summit, LEAP, and DeepFest, advancing space technology innovation partnerships globally. 

Shelli has delivered more than 100 speeches and presentations in 2021 alone on navigating career success and workforce development to audiences in Africa, Asia, Middle East, and North America.

Her Interstellar Insights Webinar Series extends these ideas through interviews with scientists, visionaries, and leaders from around the world to discuss leadership, innovation, and purpose. She also serves as an Innovation Awards Judge for the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), evaluating technologies that shape the future of humanity. Read her keynote speaking profile.

Shelli earned her Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy in Business Leadership from Jharkhand Rai University in December 2022, awarded for her outstanding contributions to business leadership and her commitment to championing inclusivity, diversity, equity, and access.

She earned her MBA from the University of Phoenix in 1998, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Colorado State University Pueblo in 1994, and completed the Executive Space Course at the International Space University in 2020. Her additional certifications include Legislative Studies from Georgetown University (2012), the Women’s Leadership Experience from the Center for Creative Leadership (2017), and Level III certifications in both Program Management and Business Financial Management from the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA).

Shelli chairs Manufacturer’s Edge, a NIST MEP-approved center strengthening Colorado manufacturers through coaching, training, and collaboration-focused industry programs. She serves on the Governing Board of the Tod’Aérs Global Network, advancing space entrepreneurship and international partnerships, and co-leads the board of directors for the WBAF Global Women Leaders Committee.

Her board service extends to Narratize as a Customer Advisory Board Member, Resonance as an Advisory Board Member, and AeroAI Global Solutions as a Member Board of Directors. She is also Global Chair in Space Technology and Aviation wing at G100, Global Chair for the Global Council for the Promotion of International Trade, a Space Advisory Council Member of America’s Future Series, and Official Member of Forbes Technology Council. Watch her honorary doctorate acceptance speech.

Shelli has been featured in many feature stories and televised interviews of successful professionals:

Shelli is often invited to create, produce and moderate panel discussions. She launched the Space Commerce Entrepreneurship series in 2020, conducting 25+ one-on-one interviews with successful women and entrepreneurs in the global space ecosystem to date. Other highlights:

Shelli has published many articles in consumer, technology and space-related journals, including a series of emerging trend articles on the progress in developing space initiatives around the work, including Africa, Australia, India, Japan, and UAE to date:

Among her numerous achievements, Shelli was recognized as one of the Top 100 Women of the Future in Emerging Technology, received the 2022 WomenTech Chief in Tech of the Year Award, the 2021 Global Technology Leadership Award, a Global Impact Award, Thought Leader of the Year and Hall of Fame Winner by Women Changing the World Awards, and the 2020 Diversity & Inclusion Officer and Role Model of the Year Award from WomenTech Network.

She received two WomenTech Global Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023, was awarded Ambassador for Peace by Global Chamber of Business Leaders, and selected as one of the 100 Voices for Our Planet, a United Nations-linked initiative recognizing visionary leaders. The Colorado Springs Business Journal named her a Woman of Influence in 2020. She serves as one of only 35 women worldwide selected as a mentor for the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) Space4Women program, where she has guided over 55 young professional women in their career journeys.

Other honors include Diverse In: 146 Inspiring Women Leaders List 2021, I am Woman Global: Top LinkedIn Influencer for 2021, Herrington Publications: Lady Speaker Power Award Winner 2021, Interstellar: Worldwide Space Champion 2021, Pineapple Empire: Top 100 Aerospace and Aviation Professionals to Follow in 2021, and Space Tech Analytics Top SpaceTech Speakers.

Visit her LinkedIn profile and personal website. Follow her on YouTube, Instagram, X, and Facebook.