In an era defined by rapid change and rising expectations, leadership is being redefined in real time. Technical expertise still matters, but what sets leaders apart now is the ability to lead with resilience and humanity.
That idea came to life in the “Launching The Fourth Era of WLIT: A Universe of Potential” webinar, where Cloudera CMO Mary Wells sat down with former NASA astronaut Dr. Jeanette Epps for a wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation. At its core, their insights show how human-centered leadership drives success in high-stakes, high-change environments, with lessons that resonate as powerfully in the boardroom as they do 250 miles above Earth.
Mission-First Leadership in High-Stakes Environments
Mary: You’ve spoken about how leadership isn’t about the size of the team, but the influence you have on those around you. In high-stakes environments, how can women in tech balance that mission-first focus while still advocating for the unique perspectives that they bring to the table?
Jeanette: Students and other groups always ask, ‘So what was it like to be a Black female astronaut?’ And I have to remind them that, ‘Hey, I'm actually just an astronaut.’ I do the exact same work as all the guys, and I do it just as well, if not better.
That sense of belonging matters. I’m part of the crew. I’m not a separate piece of the crew that’s female and Black, I’m a fully trained, fully participating member of the team. That’s the mindset I think we need to carry forward.
At the same time, because we are female, our presence matters. Being in the room matters. You don’t have to tell people you’re the female in the room, because they already know. So our presence in these boardrooms, on missions, on teams, is everything. You show up, you participate, and you contribute as a strong member of the team. That's one of the biggest things that I try to impart to young women. Sometimes, when people focus too much on being the only one, I’ve noticed they start to shrink back, and they hesitate to participate. But when you see yourself as simply a member of the team, you step in, roll up your sleeves alongside everyone else, and get to work.
Resilience Through Setbacks
Mary: Speaking of resilience, you faced a very public challenge when you were reassigned from your 2018 mission. I think many women in technology or business face similar career reroutes. What's your advice for regrouping and recentering when a career path you've worked years for suddenly changes?
Jeanette: In 2018, I became the official backup on the Soyuz, and when the Russians declare you the official backup, it means you’ve passed everything, you’ve met all their standards.
We had taken long exams, and none of them were written. They were all oral, in front of a committee. My colleagues were amazing. We worked really, really well together. And then, at the end of all that, they said, “We’re taking Jeanette off.” This was five months before the actual mission. As you can imagine, it was a very sad time. Devastating, really. People were calling me in tears on my behalf because they were so excited to see this mission. I didn’t know what to do at first.
But what I didn’t do was overreact. I chose to be proactive. I found allies, worked with them, and controlled the narrative. Most importantly, I reminded myself of who I am and what actually happened. You can feel shame in moments like that, but it’s important to take stock of what you’ve done and what you haven’t done and be honest with yourself.
Then you show up. Just show up and keep moving forward.
That’s what I did. I showed up every day, kept moving forward, and continued to train. And eventually I was reassigned to Boeing Starliner.
Show Up, Reflect, and Keep Moving Forward
Mary: What’s next for you?
Jeanette: So I did retire from NASA, but my alma mater, the University of Maryland, is giving me the opportunity to do the commencement address this year.
Mary: Oh, right on.
Jeanette: So, in that, I'm just reflecting back on my life and how my advisor and the people there really are a part of my network and my team who really got me to this point. In my speech, I want to share a few key ideas we’ve talked about today.
First, you are not alone in what you’re going to face. Many of the challenges you encounter have happened to others before, and the most important thing is to keep moving forward. Show up. Keep going. Be a contributing member of whatever team you’re on. Roll up your sleeves, participate, and follow your dreams.
Someone once asked me why I tell students to dream big, saying it could set them up for failure. And I thought, if I had never dreamed big, I’d probably still be back in Syracuse, having never done any of this. The truth is, even if you don’t reach the exact endpoint, dreaming big pushes you much further than you would have gone otherwise.
That’s what I want students to understand. You may not get all the way to that final goal, but you will go so much further because you had it. And that’s what matters.
Because when you finally reach something like earning your degree, you realize that that’s not the end. You start asking, “What’s next?” And that’s the point. It’s not just about the milestone. It’s everything you learn along the way that shapes who you are, and then you keep moving forward.
Mary: It’s about being intentional and taking the time to pause and reflect: “Look how far I’ve come, now what’s next?”
Dr. Jeanette Epps continues the conversation with Paul Muller on The AI Forecast. Listen to the full episode on Spotify, then join Cloudera’s global WLIT LinkedIn community to keep the dialogue going with other tech leaders.
Watch the recap:
