Eileen Collins: Through the Glass Ceiling to the Stars

Colonel Eileen M. Collins, USAF (retired), earned a place in history as the first American woman to pilot, and later to command, a space mission. She flew on the space shuttle four times, twice as commander – including the 2005 “return to flight” mission after the tragic Columbia accident. She is the subject of the documentary movie Spacewoman and author of the book Through the Glass Ceiling to the Stars: The Story of the First American Woman to Command a Space Mission (Amazon, Bookshop)*.

We all have times in our careers where all eyes are on us. In this conversation, Eileen and I explore the critical moments of her career and how she stayed grounded while soaring among the stars.

Key Points

• Until we are tested, we don’t know what we are capable of.


• Nerves creep in at times for all of us. When they do, it’s helpful to think about representing your role instead of representing yourself.


• When decisions become difficult, always come back to, “What’s the mission?”


• Train for the skill, not for the task.


• During high-stakes times, remember your family and personal life. They will help you stay grounded.

Resources Mentioned

• Through the Glass Ceiling to the Stars: The Story of the First American Woman to Command a Space Mission by Eileen Collins (Amazon, Bookshop)*


• Spacewoman documentary, featuring Eileen Collins

Interview Notes

Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required).

Related Episodes

• How to Lead and Retain High Performers, with Ruth Gotian (episode 567)


• The Way to Handle Q&A, with Matt Abrahams (episode 681)


• How to Start the Top Job, with Scott Keller (episode 752)

Discover More

Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.