Leadership Masterclass with Space Scientist, Dr. Tara Ruttley

“I help people to better adapt to any situation by inspiring them to try new experiences beyond their routine. We can all be Routine Explorers.”

- Tara M Ruttley, PhD

Leaders can be so busy pushing themselves in their daily lives, that they often get swept away by this routine of showing up, giving it all, advancing, and doing it all again. While it may yield professional success (and sometimes it doesn’t) there is something missing – the joy of exploration and discovery.

Our brains are literally rewired forth better when we try new experiences. This makes it easier for us to adapt to change and build resiliency. Big experiences, small experiences, memory making, revisiting old passions.

This masterclass class touches on the fun science behind what the brain does with new experiences (hint: it changes, big time!). Find out how this can help us overcome barriers so that we can meet our full leadership potential. Plus, it helps us live more fully!

Located in Washington, DC, Dr.Tara Ruttley’s role consists of representing and communicating all research happening on the International Space Station (ISS), and supporting NASA’s Chief Scientist in developing research recommendations to NASA Headquarters. Combining her love for biology and human spaceflight, she pursued her BS degree in Biology and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Colorado State University.

Upon completion of her MS degree, she came to work for NASA at the Johnson Space Center in 2001 where she began her career as a biomedical engineer for the medical equipment and human research hardware used on the ISS. While working as an engineer, she concurrently pursued her Ph.D. in Neuroscience and then joined the ISS Program Science Office, where she spent over a decade playing an active role in ISS science activities, before moving to NASA Headquarters in 2019.

Dr. Ruttley has also recently completed a MA degree in Anthropology-Archaeology from the University of Houston; has authored numerous publications ranging from hardware design to neurological science, and also holds a U.S. utility patent: www.tararuttley.com.