Search....
CTRL+K
Search....
CTRL+K
Keynote Topics
How Leadership, Ingenuity, and Perseverance Put a Rover on Mars
Only Adam Steltzner and his talented team at Jet Propulsion Lab could follow their “Curiosity” rover success with the stunning Mars 2020 mission to land the rover “Perseverance” on the red planet. The magnificent landing on Mars on February 18, 2021 was akin to hurling a dart from New York City to land in a 5-foot circle in Washington DC.
More than a technological achievement, the successful mission stands as an extraordinary leadership accomplishment in the midst of a global pandemic. In his exhilarating keynote, full of fascinating anecdotes and breathtaking images, Steltzner shares his own innovation challenges, leadership struggles, and flawless execution.
Most importantly, he shows how you can overcome daunting obstacles in times of uncertainty and change. The human spirit is boundless, and Steltzner leaves you unafraid to journey from your comfort zone to explore your own exciting future.
A True Story of Teamwork, Leadership and High Stakes Innovation
With a rich and varied background, Adam Steltzner had many of the needed skills to lead the landing team for the Curiosity rover. That said, his team would struggle for almost a decade with design challenges and set backs.
The challenges he and the team faced and the lessons learned from those struggles can help audiences understand how to better lead their high performing teams, manage innovation and drive towards excellence.
Curiosity has touched Adam Steltzner’s life in parallel arcs. In his personal life there is the transformation from wan-a-be rock star at 21 year of age to rocket scientist at 30, a transition started when he followed his curiosity.
In his professional life, he was responsible for landing the Curiosity rover on the surface of Mars, an act that demanded he use his curiosity to help us follow ours. Curiosity and exploration, the spark and the fire that burns from it, are powerful disruptors of human existence.
Steltzner explores these topics and asserts that when we follow our own curiosity and explore what we might be, we are better for it.
An aspiring rock star turned Ph.D. rocket scientist, Adam Steltzner is praised as a cutting-edge innovator and a leader who literally brings out the very best in his teams. Adam serves as Chief Engineer of the current Mars 2020 Mission & Rover Perseverance that has the ultimate objective of determining if life has existed on Mars. […]
An aspiring rock star turned Ph.D. rocket scientist, Adam Steltzner is praised as a cutting-edge innovator and a leader who literally brings out the very best in his teams. Adam serves as Chief Engineer of the current Mars 2020 Mission & Rover Perseverance that has the ultimate objective of determining if life has existed on Mars.
A mission ten years in the making, Mars 2020 was plunged into uncertainty at a crucial juncture by the global pandemic. Preparing a mission for Mars and not making any mistakes is immensely difficult under the best conditions. Suddenly, Steltzner and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory team of 6,000+ was forced to operate remotely. The collaborative teams pressed on and remarkably maintained all of the original assembly and launch timetables. After a 6-month journey through space, history was made on February 18th when the Rover Perseverance spectacularly landed on the Martian surface, more than 200,000,000 miles from Earth.
Adam Steltzner earlier led a breakthrough team that created the ingenious “sky crane” landing system for the Rover Curiosity that landed on Mars in 2012. The achievement prompted leadership guru Simon Sinek to state, “[Steltzner] shows us that doing what others think is impossible takes more than grit and courage. It takes the ability to inspire people . . . It takes leadership.” Steltzner was also honored with the “American Ingenuity” Award from Smithsonian Institute.
Adam is the author of The Right Kind of Crazy: A True Story of Teamwork, Leadership and High Stakes Innovation, that was named a “best leadership book of the year” by the Washington Post. CEO READ picked the book as “Editor’s Choice” for its unique strategies and perspectives.
Adam Steltzner brings a rock-star’s presence and a storyteller’s gift to the stage with his keynote speeches. Adam has mastered the art of managing complex teams and the concept of “making ideas reality.” He knows first-hand how collaborative cultures foster innovation and how team-minded engagement fuels performance. And he inspires audiences to dare greatly – to embrace the power of curiosity, creativity, and courage to do what others say is impossible.
View All Speakers and follow us on Twitter
In order to view the below you must be logged in.
Zainab Salbi is a world-renowned humanitarian, social entrepreneur, and author whose life’s work has been dedicated to advocating for women’s rights and global peace. As the founder of Women for Women International, Salbi has directly impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands of women survivors of war, providing them with the resources and support needed […]
Ari Gunzburg learned about death early in life. He experienced a traumatic moment when only 10 years old, when his teacher passed away while on a hiking trip. This would affect his life deeply and change his perspective forever. Following the death of this teacher, there was trouble afoot at school for all of the […]
India Arie is a four-time Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. She has sold over 10 million records worldwide. Her new short film “Welcome Home – Crazy/Sacred Space” was created to help calm the nation and bring focus to wellness, peace, tranquility and calmness during the pandemic. Being a fierce spiritual warrior navigating […]
John Gucci Foley is not your typical keynote speaker. With a career marked by exceptional achievements and a commitment to excellence, he stands out as a beacon of inspiration for those seeking to unlock their highest potential. From his days as the lead solo pilot of the renowned Blue Angels to his role as a […]
Dima Ghawi is a Jordanian American award-winning author, leadership keynote speaker, and executive coach. She is the founder of a global talent development company dedicated to advancing individuals in leadership. Through her compelling storytelling and insightful presentations, Dima empowers professionals worldwide to shatter limitations and embrace their full potential. Born in Ankara, Turkey, and raised […]
Angela Gargano is a keynote speaker, 6x American Ninja Warrior, Miss Fitness America, 3x Covergirl biochemist-turned-coach, and founder of a global movement that’s helped thousands of women accomplish what once felt impossible, starting with their first pull-up. After tearing her ACL live on national television, Angela didn’t just recover she redefined herself. She turned a […]
John Manzella is a world-recognized speaker (live and virtual), author of several books, and an international columnist on global business, trade policy, labor, and the latest economic trends. His valuable insight, analysis and strategic direction have been vital to many of the world’s largest corporations, trade associations and universities preparing for the business, economic and […]
Lorne Sulcas, widely recognized as “The Big Cat Guy,” is a leading figure in motivational and wildlife speaking. His compelling presentations captivate audiences around the globe, blending his profound knowledge of big cats with inspiring messages about leadership, resilience, and conservation. Lorne’s ability to communicate complex ideas through engaging storytelling makes him a highly sought-after […]
These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by Speakers Inc.
All talent fees exclude VAT, travel and accommodation where required.
Our Mission:
© All rights reserved 2025. Designed using Voxel
