Adam Steltzner: NASA Engineer

  • Described as a cross between “Einstein and Elvis Costello,” Adam Steltzner is a leader heralded for making the impossible possible. 
  • And he wants to know “How great do YOU dare to become?”

Travel & Fee Range:**

  • Travels from: Altadena, California
  • **Fee range: On Request

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. 

  • How did he keep the team focused and on task?
  • What makes a team gel and enables truly innovative thinking?
  • How do team dynamics drive that process forward or inhibit it?
  • And how can organizational culture create an environment for sustained performance?

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.

Adam Steltzner | STEM Leadership

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

Videos

Interest to Book? Send us your enquiry

Speaker Contact Form

Enquiry Form

Talent resources available for download

In order to view the below you must be logged in.

  • Powerpoint Slide – For meeting and event planners
  • Gallery Images
  • High Resolution Images
  • PDF Files
  • Books and Magazine Links
  • Music List
  • Podcast Shows
  • Courses
  • + more

View further speakers

  • (50)
Felicia Pizzonia

Felicia Pizzonia is a dynamic entrepreneur, best-selling author, and sought-after speaker renowned for her expertise in mind conditioning and sales training. As a partner at Ultimate Publishing House (UPH), she has dedicated over two decades to helping individuals harness the power of publishing to enhance their personal branding and professional credibility. With a passion for […]

  • Travels from: Boca Raton, FL
  • Sales Speakers
  • (20)
DJ Jose T

DJ Jose T is a Professional DJ conducting his entertainment business in the Atlantic County for the last 12 years.  He takes pride in what he does and takes his work seriously because his mission is to go over and above, and exceed his client’s expectations. He enjoys working for special events with anyone, getting […]

  • Travels from: Riverside, CA
  • Mobile DJ
  • (22)
Kate Vitasek-3

Kate Vitasek is a distinguished authority in collaborative business relationships, renowned for her pioneering work in transforming traditional business models into cooperative partnerships that drive innovation and mutual success. Her groundbreaking “Vested” business model has redefined how organizations approach outsourcing and strategic alliances, emphasizing a “What’s-in-it-for-We” philosophy that fosters shared value and long-term sustainability. Recognized […]

  • Travels from: Seattle, WA
  • Culture Speakers
  • (35)
Vishen Lakhiani

In a world teeming with motivational speakers and thought leaders, few individuals manage to stand out quite like Vishen Lakhiani. As a top inspirational keynote speaker, Vishen has transcended the boundaries of conventional personal development and self-help, captivating audiences around the globe with his unique approach to transformation and personal growth. With an unrelenting commitment […]

  • Travels from: New York, NY
  • Motivational Speakers
  • (14)
Sam Silverstein

Sam Silverstein is a global authority on accountability, leadership, and organizational culture. With a mission to empower individuals and businesses to achieve extraordinary success, Sam inspires transformative change through the principles of accountability. By challenging leaders to shift their priorities, cultivate a culture of ownership, and inspire teams to operate at their highest potential, Sam […]

  • Travels from: St. Louis, MO
  • Organizational Culture
  • (25)
leeperblake

Blake Leeper is not just a decorated Paralympian—he is a force of nature defying expectations and redefining the limits of human potential. As an eight-time international medalist in Paralympic Track and Field, Blake has captured global attention not only for his remarkable athletic prowess but for his unrelenting spirit. He made history in June 2018 […]

  • Travels from: Los Angeles, CA
  • Adaptive Athletes
  • (43)

Dr. Scott Parazynski is a highly decorated physician, astronaut, best-selling author (“The Sky Below”) and tech CEO. He is a widely sought after keynote speaker on innovation, risk management, mentorship and leadership under extreme adversity. Scott has lived and traveled all over the world, spending many of his grade school years in places such as […]

  • Travels from: Houston, TX
  • Leadership Speakers
  • (29)

Immaculée Ilibagiza is a remarkable and inspirational speaker whose powerful story of survival and forgiveness has resonated with audiences worldwide. A Rwandan genocide survivor, Ilibagiza’s journey from the depths of despair to becoming a leading advocate for peace and reconciliation is both moving and transformative. Her story is one of extraordinary courage and unwavering faith, […]

  • Travels from: New York, NY
  • Inspirational Speakers
Disclaimer
The profiles and images embedded on these pages are from various conference entertainers and other talent.

These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by Speakers Inc.

Fee ranges where listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only.

All talent fees exclude VAT, travel and accommodation where required.

Subscribe to our Newsletter and get connected:

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated.

We use Brevo as our marketing platform. By submitting this form you agree that the personal data you provided will be transferred to Brevo for processing in accordance with Brevo's Privacy Policy.

Our Mission:

We are your partner creating memorable and engaging experiences that go beyond the event itself.

© All rights reserved 2025.  Designed using Voxel