05/20/2026
Leela O’Brien, space scientist/engineer will share a session on how to build your dream team of advisors at work!
Building Your Dream Team: Creating and Sustaining a Collaborative Network as a Woman Engineer
Being part of a supportive and collaborative network in the workplace is essential not only to foster a healthy work environment but also to enhance your engagement, productivity, problem-solving, and innovative impact. In this interactive session with Leela, you will explore how to create and sustain a network of collaborators—including both colleagues you work with directly and others across your organization or field.
You will leave with practical strategies to:
1. Build your “all-star” group of collaborators and comrades
2. Develop and maintain a positive, effective dynamic within your group
3. Recognize and navigate toxic or unproductive behaviors in and outside of your group, while protecting your group’s culture
When: 7:30pm Thursday, June 4th
Where: Online, provided by SWE RMS via Zoom
RSVP at https://forms.gle/S2pZRb4L34Sik1Lf7
Leela O’Brien is a space scientist/engineer, Creativity Coach, and speaker. She has a PhD in Aerospace Engineering Sciences from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Leela’s STEM career has spanned various disciplines, from running high-energy-density plasma physics experiments to investigating heliospheric physics to developing space instruments. As an instrument engineer at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, Leela led the detector subsystem development for the Surface Dust Analyzer on board the NASA Europa Clipper Mission.
Leela’s professional and personal experiences led her to develop the Explorer Mindset Framework, which guides professionals to lean into creative exploration and collaboration to improve engagement, innovative contributions, and fulfillment in their careers. As a coach, she helps professionals uncover their unique brilliance and confidently bring it to the workplace. She also hosts group workshops crafted to help women collectively spark new ideas through creative and intellectual discussions/activities, engage in effective problem-solving, and build supportive relationships.
