Learning through Failure: My Journey from Academic Probation to Executive Leadership in Aerospace

Renee Frohnert will discuss her journey from almost failing out of engineering school to becoming an executive leader in the aerospace industry by the age of 26. She will cover major challenges that faced her throughout engineering career and how she overcame those obstacles. Renee will also discuss technical highlights, mentoring, and other aspects of her engineering career including designing electronics for NASA to put the first woman on the moon.

Bio: Leading through enthusiasm and empathy, Renee Frohnert pushes the bounds of the aerospace industry. Renee is a woman in aerospace influencer (@SpaceWomanTV), reality TV star, keynote public speaker, and Leader of Business Development at L3Harris Space and Airborne Systems. She most recently led the Aitech Defense Systems USA engineering division as the Director of Engineering for NASA, Department of Defense, and commercial spacecraft programs. Prior to joining Aitech, she also held multiple positions at Lockheed Martin Space including Senior Electrical Engineer and Technical Project Manager for NASA’s humanity mission to the Moon and Mars. She was selected as one of only 15 Lockheed Martin Space leaders to participate in the Engineering Leadership Development Program. Renee has received industry awards such as U.S. Presidential Volunteer Service Award, Penn State University Engineering Alumni Award, and Lockheed Martin Extraordinary Engineering Award. She holds a M.Eng in Systems Engineering from Cornell University, a B.S. in Electrical Engineering for Penn State University, and is pursuing her M.B.A. at the University of Southern California. She is best known for her on-camera work in the entertainment industry on CBS, Amazon Prime, and FOX, and hopes to have her own science TV show.