Available to book
Ellen Ochoa
Gain valuable insights from a pioneering astronaut and leader in change management with Ellen Ochoa, speaker, astronaut, and Director of NASA's Johnson Space Centre.
Ellen Ochoa, the first female Hispanic astronaut, is a highly accomplished and inspiring individual. She has spent 41 days in space, successfully completing all mission objectives during her four Space Shuttle flights. With a background in aerospace operations and management, Ellen is now available to speak at various events, sharing insights from her illustrious career. She holds a BS in Physics, an MS, and a PhD in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University. Ellen began her career at Sandia National Laboratories, where she co-invented two patents for hybrid optical/digital image processing systems. She later joined NASA as a Branch Chief and went on to become an astronaut. Ellen's remarkable contributions have been documented in multiple books. As the 11th Director of NASA's Johnson Space Centre, she demonstrated her expertise in change management, advancing human spaceflight. Ellen has been recognized for her achievements, having been inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame and the National Academy of Engineering. She is also a Fellow of several prestigious organizations. In addition to her space-related accomplishments, Ellen serves on the boards of Fortune 1000 companies and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. She is available as a speaker for events focused on innovation, technology, diversity and inclusion, and business management.
Ellen brings unparalleled insights from her groundbreaking career as the first female Hispanic astronaut and a leader in space exploration, offering unique perspectives on innovation, resilience, and leadership. Her extensive experience in managing complex aerospace operations and promoting diversity in STEM fields can inspire and transform your team or business. Booking Ellen as a speaker will not only motivate your audience but also provide them with actionable strategies for success in challenging environments.
often considered together
Terry Virts
Innovation
Business Strategy
Space Science
frequently asked questions
Something we've not covered here?
Email ellen.ochoa@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Ellen's availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience.
Ellen Ochoa draws on her career trajectory — from research engineer to NASA astronaut to Director of Johnson Space Centre — to frame talks around leadership development, innovation, and diversity in STEM, grounding each theme in documented professional milestones.
Ellen Ochoa speaks on space exploration, innovation in aerospace technology, diversity and inclusion, and leadership in science and engineering. She served as the 11th Director of NASA's Johnson Space Center and was the first Hispanic woman to travel to space, completing four Space Shuttle missions totalling 41 days in orbit.
No. PepTalk adds no booking fee, so you pay the speaker's fee and nothing beyond it. The service, from shortlist through to contracts and event-day logistics, is included. For repeat or multi-event bookings, PepTalk can agree preferential rates with your procurement team.
Share your event date, audience, format, objectives and budget, and PepTalk sends a hand-picked shortlist within 24 hours. Each suggestion comes with a profile, a fee and a recommendation on the strongest fit. Once you choose, PepTalk handles contracts, travel and logistics through to event day.
The typical fee range is the speaker's standard in-person fee in their home market, shown in their local currency. It moves with format, location, date and session length: virtual sessions and shorter slots usually cost less, while international travel and peak dates cost more. Send your brief to PepTalk and the team will confirm the exact fee in your currency.
Not all of them, and it makes no difference to your booking. PepTalk's network of 15,000+ speakers covers talent the team works with directly alongside speakers represented by agents and agencies worldwide. PepTalk approaches the speaker, negotiates the fee and handles contracting either way.
Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.
Get the right person
Tell us what you’re working on and we’ll match you with the talent your audience won’t stop talking about.
