Roar with Lakecia Gunter Grabbing the Dragon by the Tail: NASA’s Holly Ridings on Leading Under Pressure
From a young girl in Amarillo, Texas watching the Challenger launch in her school cafeteria, to becoming NASA’s first female Chief Flight Director, Holly Ridings has lived a life defined by bold moves, deep expertise, and visionary leadership. In this episode of ROAR, host Lakecia Gunter sits down with Holly for a powerful conversation about what it takes to lead missions where the stakes are quite literally life or death.
Holly opens up about pivotal moments in her career, including leading the first SpaceX cargo mission to the ISS and contributing to the Artemis program's bold return to the Moon. She shares lessons on making critical decisions under pressure, building trust within high-stakes teams, and the importance of mentors and mindset in breaking barriers. Whether you're leading in a boardroom or just starting out in STEM, this conversation offers timeless advice on leading with courage, clarity, and competence.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
- (03:34) How a sixth-grade moment sparked Holly’s lifelong mission to solve big problems in space
- (05:58) What it really felt like to become NASA’s first female Chief Flight Director
- (07:48) The unexpected pressure of becoming a role model—and how Holly embraced it
- (09:51) The two keys to staying calm in high-stakes moments at Mission Control
- (14:32) The behind-the-scenes story of SpaceX’s first ISS mission—and the make-or-break moment that almost ended it
- (20:44) What people often misunderstand about NASA leadership—and where the real risks get made
- (23:53) Why the Artemis mission is a game-changer—and what it means for humanity’s future
- (28:41) The three mentors who shaped Holly’s fearless leadership style
- (35:35) Holly’s #1 advice for young leaders—especially those who are the “first” or “only” in the room
- (36:59) Why trust, competence, and patience are the secret fuel behind every great mission
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