Gwynne Shotwell

Gwynne Shotwell, President of SpaceX and one of the most influential leaders in modern technology and aerospace.

Born in Illinois, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics from Northwestern University.

Shotwell joined SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, in 2002, when the company was still in its earliest days, as Vice President of Business Development and was the 11th employee at the company.

She has since risen to become President and Chief Operating Officer, overseeing day-to-day operations, launch execution, customer relationships, and government partnerships.

Under her leadership, SpaceX pioneered reusable rocket technology, secured long-term contracts with NASA and the US Department of Defense, and scaled Starlink into a global satellite internet network.

This year, Forbes named Shotwell to its World’s Most Powerful Women list, recognizing her outsized impact on aerospace, national infrastructure, and global connectivity.

While SpaceX remains private, the company is now reported to be preparing a potential 2026 IPO, with recent media reports suggesting target valuations around or above one trillion dollars.